Thrillers as Ciara Neville and Phil Healy lead the charge

Ciara Neville (Emerald) kept her cool to clinch gold after a poor start in the women’s 60m while Phil Healy (Bandon) secured the European standard for the 400m on a weekend full of back stories and close finishes at the Irish Life Health National Indoor Championships in Abbotstown, Dublin.

“I had a terrible start,” said 17-year-old Neville at the new Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.

The Castletroy schoolgirl recovered to win in a photo finish in 7.43 seconds from Bandon’s Joan Healy, sister of Phil, and Molly Scott (SLOT), who were both given the same time of 7.45.