Seven-in-a-row as O’Keeffe nails new national hammer record
The 26-year-old Kilkenny thrower went to the circle hoping to reach the magical 70-metre mark for the first time in competition. She beat it with a first throw of 70.68m. She followed it up with a massive throw of 72.63m on her second visit to the cage.
Her fourth throw was historic. On an underfoot surface that was way better than she expected, and in weather conditions that were perfect, she launched the hammer to a new national record of 73.21m.
She would go on to reclaim her national discus title in the afternoon to repeat her double of two years ago but nothing was going to compare to one of the most exciting competitions in the history of the championships.
Victory secured her the A qualifying standard for both next month’s World Championships in Osaka and next year’s Olympic Games in Beijing.
“It has opened up a lot of doors for me,” she said. “Now I can be thinking in terms of the Grand Prix meetings. Before the weekend I was virtually unknown but with 73m they are coming looking for me.”
“I knew I was in great shape but you never know what you can do until you go into the circle,” she said. “It was one of those days you dream about.’’
She now looks forward to the World Championships in Osaka and, further afield, to next year’s Olympic Games.
In the more immediate future, she will go to the World Student Games in Bangkok later this month where she will be a medal favourite. Two years ago in Turkey she finished seventh.
Coach, Jim Kilty, predicted she will throw even further in the near future.
“She is scheduled to compete in Sweden midweek but we will have a look at that now. Personally I’d like to see her go there as that is the type of competition she needs right now.”
The weather changed dramatically yesterday and Derval O’Rourke, battered and bruised from a fall at the end of the 100m, retained her 100m hurdle title in a deluge. The 13.45 secs was a brilliant time under the circumstances.
“I was disappointed I did not win the 100m as well. I thought I was just passing her before the line when I fell,” she said. “I am just having one of those years when I do a lot of dodgy things. Hopefully it’ll be over before Osaka.
“I go to Finland now and that should be good because training has been going great. Then I go to Belgium and then I am doing Stockholm before the World Championships.”
Emily Maher (KCH) reclaimed the 100m title after eight years when she held on to win in 11.83 secs, one hundredth of a second ahead of O’Rourke. The Kilkenny athlete, who won the 200m title in 2005, is back after a lengthy lay-off due to a back injury.
Meanwhile Joanne Cuddihy (UCD) had to fight out a battling finish with Ciara Sheehy (DCH) in the 200m to retain her title in ideal conditions and then yesterday she had a battle with the elements to retain her 400m title in 51.86 secs — a very good time under the circumstances — indicating that her preparations for the World Championships are well on target.
She is scheduled to race in the Norwich Union Super Grand Prix in Crystal Palace on Friday week.
Orla Drumm (UCC) knocked 16 seconds off her personal best when she won the women’s 800m in 2:06.15 in a flying finish with Kelly Reid (City of Lisburn). It was her first senior outdoor title having won indoor titles at 1,500m and 3,000m while this season she has improved her outdoor best over 1,500m three times, as well as once over 3,000m.
Sonia O’Sullivan bade farewell to fans when she went to the line for the women’s 5,000 — a race which Maria McCambridge dominated and won convincingly in 16:01.84 with the former world champion second in 16:34.17 ahead of Siobhan O’Doherty (Borrisokane), 16:49.78.
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