Marcus Lawler the star turn

The Leevale Sports showcased some of Ireland’s best talent on Saturday with Marcus Lawler leading the way, clocking 21.14 seconds in the 200m, while Matthew Behan broke the national junior record in the 110m hurdles.

The sprint hurdles kicked off the programme in the Cork IT sports grounds in Bishopstown with a bang. Elizabeth Moreland (Cushinstown) ran 13.93 for the 100m hurdles for a European Youth Olympic Games (EYOF) qualifying time.

Then it was time for the Sam Healy (Leevale) and Matthew Behan (Crusaders) rivalry in the 110m hurdles. Unfortunately Healy clipped a hurdle, and was unable to finish, but Behan was undeterred and hurdled to a new national junior record of 13.99 – the first junior ever to dip under 14 seconds. His record run was also a qualifying time for the European junior championships in Sweden in July and earned him the male athlete performance of the meet.

This was a highly impressive performance from Behan, who has had to do a lot of his training on an astro-turf pitch due to the Ringsend track being out of action. “I’m delighted with that,” said Behan afterwards. “I owe my coach Maria Hetherington a lot. She’s been working really hard with me and it’s great to get the result.”

A blustery, biting crosswind didn’t prove conducive for fast times in general but there were imposing performances nonetheless. Marcus Lawler (SLOT) ran 10.91 to win the 100m final and then stepped it up in his favoured 200m with 21.14 seconds. The time qualified the Carlow man for the European U23 championships and he looks like he is getting back to his best after a disappointing summer last year.

The 400m provided some good runs with Eanna Madden (Carrick-on-Shannon) running 48.51 seconds but it was 15-year-old Aaron McGlynn (Finn Valley) who impressed most with a 49.94 in the second race. The trip from Donegal was well worth his while as he garnered an EYOF qualifier.

Laura Crowe (An Riocht) led home the women’s 800m in 2:07.50 followed by Nadia Power (Templeogue) in a personal best of 2:11.77 and Louise Shanahan (Leevale) in 2:13.76. This earned Crowe the female performance of the meet and the Cork-based athlete is rediscovering her best form after an indifferent last couple of months.

Rhona Pierce (Leevale) led much of the women’s 3,000m until Shona Heaslip (An Riocht) took over with two laps to go and triumphed in 10:01.16. Pierce ran 10:08.86 with Bantry’s Caoimhe Harrington third in 10:22.20.

David McCarthy is set to join Leevale and he completed a middle distance double taking the 800m in 1:55.02 and the 1500m in 3:53.67. Sam Healy recovered from his hurdles disappointment to win the long jump with a best of 7.27m.

Leevale’s Colm Sheahan won the Liam Horgan memorial trophy by taking victory in the men’s 3,000m in a respectable 8:43.96.