TITLE NUMBER THIRTEEN FOR LIGHTENING LAVIN AT MORTON STADIUM
Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) claimed her 13th national senior title on day 1 of the 123.ie National Track and Field Championships at a windswept Morton Stadium this afternoon (July 29th).
Lavin was the star attraction on the opening day of the 151st edition of these championships and duly delivered with a superb performance to claim her 8th outdoor 100m hurdles title.
The 2023 European Games bronze medallist showed all her class in negotiating the hurdles and gusting headwind to cross in a time of 13.13 (-5.5 m/s).
Lavin was followed across the line by Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St. Gerards AC) in 14.14, and Lilly-Ann O’Hora (Dooneen AC) who walked away with bronze in 14.29.
The men’s 110m hurdles saw a new name make his mark on the event with James Ezeonu (Leevale AC) coming out on top in a stride for stride finish with Gerard O’Donnell (Carrick-on—Shannon AC). The Leevale athlete made a winning dip for the line to cross in 14.28 ahead of O’Donnell in 14.29.
Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock AC) retained his 200m title with an expertly judged 20.87 performance. The Irish indoor 200m record holder breezed around the home bend before stretching away from Colin Doyle (Leevale) who backed up his recent European U23 performances to claim silver in 21.17. Andrew Egan (Galway City Harriers AC) picked up the bronze in 21.51.
Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) continued her superb season in the women’s final, following up her recent U23 gold in the 100m to claim today’s senior 200m crown in 24.60. Bergin was chased home by Laura Nally (Galway City Harriers AC) 25.18 and Janine Boyle (Finn Valley AC) 25.21.
The women’s 3000m s/c saw Michelle Finn (Leevale AC) secure her 9th national steeplechase title in a solo run from the gun. Finn, who crossed in a winning time of 10.00.14, is also entered in tomorrow’s 5,000m and could very well make a reappearance.
The women’s hammer saw UCD’s Nicola Tuthill produce another brilliant performance, claiming gold with a best throw of 67.67m which was just 18 centimetres off her own Irish U23 record. Margaret Hayden (Tallaght AC) 61.63m and Adrienne Gallen (Lifford Strabane AC) 56.05m joined Tuthill on today’s podium.
The first gold medal of the 151st edition of these championships went to Sean Mockler (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC) who won the men’s hammer throw with a best of 64.49m earlier this morning.
National record holder, Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock), regained the shot put title he won in 2019 in some style, posting a championship record of 19.19m on his way to a dominant win.
Saragh Buggy’s 8th straight outdoor triple jump title continued a remarkable year-on-year consistency of performance from the St Abban’s athlete, adding to her medal haul with her best and final jump of 13.03m.
In the vertical jumps, Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) claimed the gold medal with a best clearance of 1.80m, while David Cussen (Old Abbey AC) saved his best performance of the season to take today’s men’s high jump title in 2.15m.
The 4x100m relays rounded out today’s action with Dundrum South Dublin AC claiming gold in the women’s race (50.65) , while Tallaght AC took the gold in the men’s race (41.81).
- Results summary below.
- Full results here.
Day 2 (Sunday Day 30th)
The walks events, which bookend the heats of the 100m, will lead out proceedings on day 2 with Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) and David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley AC) likely to dominate the women’s 5,000mW and men’s 10,000mW races respectively.
The women’s 5,000m will take to the gun at 4pm and a stacked field should see an ultra-competitive race. Michelle Finn (Leevale AC) could look to double up, while Roisin and Eilish Flanagan (Finn Valley AC) are sure to be right in contention alongside Shona Heaslip (An Riocht), marathon champion Courtney Maguire (Clonmel AC), and national indoor 3,000m champion Cheryl Nolan (St Abbans).
Reece Ademola (Leevale) is likely to face stiff opposition from Shane Howard (Bandon AC) and Sam Healy (Leevale AC) in a Cork dominated long jump competition from 2pm.
The women’s long jump could be one of the events of the weekend with Ruby Millet (St Abbans), Saragh Buggy (St Abbans), and Elizabeth Ndudi (Dundrum South Dublin) all capable of going well over the six-meter mark from 3.30pm.
The pole vaulters will be hoping for a break in the forecasted weather come Sunday afternoon. Ellie McCartney will likely be last standing in the women’s pole vault from 5.30pm having already cleared 4.25m this season.
RTE coverage of this year’s championship is live from 6.05pm on Sunday and viewers could be tuning in for race of the championships with the men’s 5,000m likely to set the tone for the evening session.
A 26-strong field includes national record holder Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC), Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers), and Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers), all of whom have broken 13:40 this season including Fay who has posted a blistering 13:01:40NR on July 15th.
Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) looks the standout name in the long hurdles with the double Olympian set for a reappearance at 6.50pm.
The women’s 800m promises to be a thriller with Louise Shanahan (Leevale), Georgie Hartigan (Dundrum South Dublin) and Jenna Bromell (Emerald AC) all safely progressing through today’s heats.
The men’s 800m final will follow and it could provide one of the finishes of the day with a host of familiar names all booking their place in the final set for 7.15pm including Cian McPhillips (UCD), John Fitzsimons (Kildare AC), Harry Purcell (Trim AC), and Irish 1500m record holder Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC).
A new women’s 100m champion will be crowned shortly after 7.45pm on Sunday evening with previous champions Rhasidat Adeleke (2022,2021) and Phil Healy (2020) opting for the 200m and 400m respectively. Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley AC) was very impressive in taking the 60m indoor title earlier this year, while Joan Healy (Leevale AC), Lauren Roy (City of Lisburn), Molly Scott (SLOT) and Lucy May Sleeman (Leevale AC) could all be in the shake up for podium places.
Israel Olatunde (UCD AC) will be the star attraction in the men’s 100m sprint final. Olatunde lit up the senior indoor championships with a blistering 6.57 to win gold in the 60m on his way to breaking Paul Hession’s 2007 national indoor record of 6.61.
The UCD athlete looked very composed in reaching the final at the European U23 Championships earlier this month and those in attendance can expect another bold showing from the Dundalk athlete should he safely negotiate the heats earlier in the day.
An intriguing rematch between European U23 medallists Sophie O’Sullivan and Sarah Healy (UCD AC) makes the women’s 1500m a race not to be missed, while teenager Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) could be right amongst the senior athletes come the final meters of the men’s race.
Rounding out the 150th Anniversary of the 123.ie National Track and Field Championships will be the ever dramatic 4x400m relays from 8.30pm.
Day 1 Select Results Summary:
Women’s 100mH
1 Sarah LAVIN Emerald A.C. 13.13
2 Katherine O CONNOR Dundalk St. Gerards A.C. 14.14
3 Lilly-Ann O HORA Dooneen A.C. 14.29
Men’s 110mH
1 James EZEONU Leevale A.C. 14.28
2 Gerard O DONNELL Carrick-on-Shannon A.C. 14.29
3 Matthew BEHAN Crusaders A.C. 14.95
Women’s 200m
1 Katie BERGIN Moyne A.C. 24.60
2 Laura NALLY Galway City Harriers A.C. 25.18
3 Janine BOYLE Finn Valley A.C. 25.21
Men’s 200m
1 Mark SMYTH Raheny Shamrock A.C. 20.87
2 Colin DOYLE Leevale A.C. 21.17
3 Andrew EGAN Galway City Harriers A.C. 21.51
Women’s 3,000mSC
1 Michelle FINN Leevale A.C. 10:00.14
2 Eleanor FOOT Bray Runners A.C. 11:17.20
3 Clare BARRETT D.M.P. A.C. 11:26.39
Men’s Hammer Throw
Sean MOCKLER Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C. 64.49
Simon GALLIGAN Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 63.86
John DWYER Templemore A.C. 50.40
Women’s Hammer
Nicola TUTHILL U.C.D. A.C. 67.67
Margaret HAYDEN Tallaght A.C. 61.63
Adrienne GALLEN Lifford Strabane A.C. 56.05
Men’s Shot Put
Eric FAVORS Raheny Shamrock A.C. 19.91 CR
James KELLY Finn Valley A.C. 16.79
Gavin MCLAUGHLIN Finn Valley A.C. 16.04
Women’s Shot Put
1 Michaela WALSH Swinford A.C. 15.17
2 Ciara SHEEHY Emerald A.C. 13.04
3 Aoibhín MC MAHON Blackrock (Louth) A.C. 12.12
Women’s Triple Jump
1 Saragh BUGGY St. Abbans A.C. 13.03
2 Caoimhe MC DONAGH South Sligo A.C. 11.32
3 Grace FITZGERALD Tipperary Town A.C. 11.25
Men’s Triple Jump
1 Michael ALAJIKI Dundealgan A.C. 14.74
2 Conall MAHON Tír Chonaill A.C. 14.69
3 Jai BENSON Lagan Valley A.C. 14.68
Women’s High Jump
1 Sommer LECKY Finn Valley A.C. 1.80
2 Daena KEALY St. Abbans A.C. 1.75
2 Philippa ROGAN Sli Cualann A.C. 1.75
Men’s High Jump
1 David CUSSEN Old Abbey A.C. 2.15
2 Jack FORDE St. Killian's A.C. 1.90
3 Emmanuel OSAS Ratoath A.C. 1.85
ENDS
NOTES