Maher sets sights on double glory

PATRICK MAHER (Davis College, Mallow) will compete in both the 400m and 400m Hurdles at the Munster schools championships in a week’s time after a one lap cruise at the second session of the South Munsters at the CIT Track in Bishopstown yesterday.

The conditions may not have been quite as good as they were when he set a new Irish 400m hurdles junior record at the same venue a couple of weeks ago and, in the process, posted his qualifying standard for the world junior championships later this summer but he hardly broke a sweat as he coasted to a 51.41 sec victory – he ran 50.08 secs to win the national junior indoor title earlier this year.

It leaves him with the option of doubling up at the Munster schools and Irish schools championships over the coming weeks, renewing his rivalry with some of the most promising young athletes in the country.