Olympians, Cross Country Stars all turn out for AAI Games
Irish athletes have been on fire this indoor season, with several Irish records being broken in recent weeks. The action continues this weekend with what looks sure to be a thrilling AAI National Indoor League Final at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena (NIA) on Saturday February 12th. Spectators are welcomed back to the NIA free of charge for what is set to an exciting weekend of athletics.
Dundrum South Dublin will be looking to bring their lead all the way to top spot in the Women’s League Final while in the Men’s it will be a tough battle between Leevale AC and Clonliffe Harriers to claim the win.
60m
The Women’s 60m race is filled with emerging talent and experienced professionals such as Olympian Sophie Becker from Raheny Shamrock and Lauren Roy from City of Lisburn AC. It’s the first race of the season for Becker in both the 60m and 400m races. Roy will be going up against the Olympian after her impressive start to the 2022 indoor season with podium finishes in both the Irish and Northern Ireland University competitions.
Craig Newell of Ballymena and Antrim A.C will be up against club mate Dean Adams in the 60m event. Both have had impressive starts to their 2022 season with podium finishes at the Irish and Northern Ireland competition circuits. Just back from competing with Team Ireland at the European Athletics Team DNA Competition, Gerard O’Donnell from Carrick-on-Shannon A.C makes an appearance in both the 60m and the 60m Hurdles.
200m
An always intense event the 200m for this indoor season is set to be an event to watch, after a strong 2021 season where she set a new outdoor PB of 23.83 for this distance, Catherine McManus (Dublin City Harries) is back to compete in both the 200m and 400m races. Also in the race is Laura Frey, (Lagan Valley A.C) who just set a new indoor 400m PB of 57.23 at the National Indoor Arena on January 19th.
Olympian Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers A.C) takes to both the 200m and 400m start lines. After an impressive 2021, Lawler has started the 2022 season with gold medal finishes in both round 1 and 2 of the League and set a new PB in the 400m, at 48.12. Talents Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock A.C) and Robert Mc Donnell (Galway City Harriers A.C) will also be joining Marcus on the start line in what looks a competitive line-up.
400m
Olympians continue to glitter the schedule in the 400m, Phil Healy (Bandon AC) returns to the National Indoor Arena, having almost secured a new PB at the National League in January before putting in a stellar performance at the World Athletics Indoor Tour in Germany. She is most definitely one we will be watching during this weekend’s action.
Eanna Madden (Carrick-on-Shannon A.C) and Olympian Cillin Greene, (Galway City Harriers A.C) take to the 400m. Eanna took top spot in the League Round 2 competition before putting in a strong performance with Cillin as part of Team Ireland at the European Athletics DNA Glasgow competition.
800m
One year ago, almost to the day, Iseult O Donnell (Raheny Shamrock A.C), set her PB (2:02.29) in the Sport Ireland NIA. After a series of consistent performances both at home and away in 2021, the 2020 National 800m Champion will be looking to continue her progress and edge in on closing that two-minute barrier.
In the Men’s 800m, Roland Surlis (Annalee A.C) is a strong contender among the likely favourites having set a PB in this event at 1:49.04 earlier this year, just seconds behind his outdoor PB of 1:46.74 set at the Belfast Millers Meet in early 2021.
Looking to challenge Roland will be Louis O’Loughlin (Donore Harriers) who posted strong performances throughout 2021, such as the U23 European Athletics Championships and setting a new outdoor PB in the Belfast Irish Millers Meet at 1:48.66.
1500m
After her brilliant performance at the European Athletics Cross Country Championships, Aoife Ó Cuill of St. Coca's A.C is back indoors for the 1500m. She will be looking to build on her PB for this event which she set back in 2018 at 4:58.90. She took gold for this event outdoors at the Irish U23 Championships in 2021 setting her PB of 4:29.96.
Ellie Hartnett, (U.C.D. A.C) set a new PB for the 1500m indoors at the TUS International Arena earlier this year at 4:26.63 and will have her eyes on taking top spot for this race.
Athletics star, Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster A.C) will be looking to put in a strong performance for his debut at the indoor games. Griggs will be joined by the experienced John Travers (Donore Harriers) as he returns to Irish competition after putting in strong performances at the BMC Sheffield Indoor Grand Prix and the Indoor Regio 3 in Luxembourg.
3,000m
Olympian Michelle Finn (Leevale A.C) started her 2022 season outdoors at the Portugal ECCC Cross Country with a fifth-place finish. Reverting indoors she will be looking to build on her fantastic start to the year, Finn set her 3,000m indoor PB in around this time in 2021 at 9:02.34.
In the Men’s 3,000, Jamie Battle (Mullingar Harriers A.C) who was part of that Euro Cross Country U23 Gold medal winning team will be joined by Nick Griggs and John Travers for a competitive 3,000m.
Pole Vault
The talent on the track is mirrored in the field. One’s to watch in the Pole Vault include Leevale’s Una Brice (PB 3.40m) and Conor Callinan (PB 4.75m) who have been in sparkling form this season, with Callinan securing records in his last two competitions.
Matthew Callinan Keenan, (St. L. O'Toole A.C) who set his PB of 4.80m earlier this year will be part of the action, making this event one not to be missed.
Long Jump
After setting her new PB of a staggering 6.40m at the European Athletics DNA Competition, Ruby Millet is one to watch in the High Jump.
High Jump
Ciaran Connolly, (Le Chéile A.C) and Ciara Kennelly, (Killarney Valley A.C) will be ones to watch in this year’s High Jump season. After a great start to the year Connolly has shown great form and will be looking to build on his progress. Kennelly set her PB for the High Jump in January at 1.75m, at just 19 and with an already impressive start to 2022, she is set to be an athlete to watch over the coming season.
Shot Put
On the back of setting his new PB at the TUS International Arena in January of 16.93m and putting in a strategic performance at the European Athletics DNA Competition, James Kelly is one to watch in the Shot Put this season.