Sprinters to the fore at Indoor Championships

There were some top quality performances at the National Indoor Championships in Nenagh today with sprinters in particular, catching the eye.

Ailis McSweeney set a stadium record to narrowly miss Michele Carroll's 13 year old National 60m Record in an top quality final, winning her first senior title by beating Emily Maher with five-time champion Ciara Sheehy in third.

The victory guaranteed Sweeney selection for the European Indoors in Madrid. Unfortunately for Maher, her time was .02 outside the required standard but she will have another attempt at the British

Championships in Sheffield next weekend.

In the men's equivalent, Jer O'Donoghue had an outstanding run to win his second title over 60m in a

personal best of 6.76, .01 outside the required standard for Madrid.

Gary Ryan showed he has lost none of his appetite when he took his sixth title over 200m in 21.89 while Ciara Sheehy took her seventh successive crown in the women's equivalent.

David McCarthy, too guaranteed himself selection for the 400m in Madrid with his fourth successive crown over 400m, while Derval O'Rourke did likewise in the 60m, winning her seventh successive title in a stadium record of 8.27.

Meanwhile in Ghent, Belgium, Colin Costello made a huge breakthrough to break his own National Junior 1500m record with a time of 3.46.17.

RESULTS

AAI National Senior Indoor Track and Field Championships at Nenagh.

MEN

60m: 1, J. O’Donoghue (Leevale) 6.76; 2, P. Hession (Athenry) 6.81; 3, D. Gillick (DSD) 7.02.

200m: A: G. Ryan (Nenagh Olympic) 21.89; 2, P. Stafford (DSD) 22.60; 3, K. Cogley (Menapians) 22.93.

B: 1, G. Kennedy (Tullamore Harriers) 22.46; 2, D. Duff (Leevale) 23.15.

400m: 1, D. McCarthy (Le Cheile AC) 48.39; 2, B.Murphy (UCC) 48.72; 3, K. Walsh (Togher AC) 51.39.

800m: 1, D. Greene (Dunleer) 1:53.70; 2, D. Campbell (St. Coca’s) 1:53.89; 3, E. Everard (Kilkenny Cith

Harriers) 1:55.08.

1,500m: 1, D. McCarthy (West Waterford) 3:56.77; 2, C.O Lionaird (Leevale) 4:03.97; 3, P. Fleming

(Rathfarnham WSAF) 4:09.30.

3,000m: 1, M. Hanrahan (Leevale) 8:40.08; 2, P. Fleming (Rathfarnham WSAF) 8:44.12; 3, B. Maher

(Kilkenny City Harriers) 8:44.44.

60m Hurdles: 1,. I. McDonald (Crusaders) 8.40; 2, C. McDermott (Roscommon) 8.57; 3, P. Kearney (Tralee Harriers) 8.62.

5,000m Walk: 1, R. Heffernan (Togher AC) 19:20.8 (HT); 2, C. Griffin (Ballinamore AC) 20:17.62; 3, J. Cassin (Finn Valley) 22:14.90.

Junior Men’s 5,000m Walk: 1, P. Muldoon (Shercock) 23:06.27; 2, B. Boyce (Milford AC) 23:35.95; 3, M.Doyle (Cushinstown) 23:36.46.

High Jump: 1, B. Flatley (Claremorris) 1.93; 2, S. Herron (St. Columbas, Derryh) 1.90; 3, A. O’Donnell

(Carrick-on-Shannon) 1.85.

Long Jump: 1, D. O’Farrell (Borrisokane) 7.01; 2, S. Cullinane (Nenagh Olympic) 6.86; 3, S. Darcy (St.L. O’Toole’s) 6.78.

Triple Jump: 1, A. Saulters (Abbey AC) 14.03; 2, D. Finnegan (Spa Muckross) 13.57; 3, P. Curran (North Down) 13.46.

Pole Vault: 1, L. Houlihan (West Waterford) 4.00; 2, S. Greene (Raheny Shamrock) 3.80; 3, A. McCreery (Clonliffe Harriers) 3.70.

Junior Men’s Pole Vault: 1, M. Bannon (West Waterford) 3.20; 2, R. Flanagan (Youghal AC) 2.60.

Shot Putt: 1, J. P. Leahy (Limerick AC) 15.85; 2, P. Crowe (Menapians) 15.62; 3, J. Mullens (Limerick AC) 14.31.

56 lbs Distance: 1, P. Crowe ( Menapians) 8.19; 2, S. Fitzpatrick (North Laois) 8.01; 3, E. Byrne (Brow

Rangers) 7.49.

Women

60m: 1, A. McSweeney (Leevale) 7.40; 2, E. Maher (Kilkenny City Harriers) 7.42; 3, C. Sheehy (DCH)

7.54.

200m: A: C. Sheehy (DCH) 24.34; 2, M. Crowe (DCH) 24.63; 3, F. O’Friel (UCD) 25.44. B: G. Hynes (Galway City Harriers) 25.66; 2, Zita Murphy (DSD) 25.84; 3, A. Darcy (Loughrea) 26.67.

400m: 1, C. Cuddihy (Kilkenny City Harriers) 56.45; 2, C. Bergin (DSD) 57.03; 3, D. Kelly (Belgooly) 60.20.

800m: 1, A. Byrne (DSDF) 2:09.68; 2, M. McCarthy (DCH) 2:11.80; 3, r. Murphy (GCH) 2:18.83.

1,500m: 1, S. Peoples (Tir Chonaill) 4:53.19; 2, O. Drumm (UCC) 4:54.53; 3, E. Connery (S. L. O’Toole AC) 4:55.73.

3,000m: 1, S. Doyle (DSD) 10:40.83; 2, S. O’Doherty (Borrisokane) 10:41.98.

60m Hurdles: 1, D. O’Rourke (Leevale) 8.27; 2, N. Cummins (KCK) 9.15; 3, A. Dillon (DSD) 9.19.

3,000m Walk; 1, O. Loughnane (Loughrea) 12:50.86; 2, C. McMahon (St. Mary’s) 14:40.52; 3, M. Hamilton (Kilmurry/Ibrickane) 15:37.72.

Junior Women’s 3,000m Walk: 1, L. Reynolds (Mohill AC) 14:24.55; 2, S. Prendiville (Lios Tuathaill AC) 15:03.88.

High Jump: 1, R. Daniels (Na Fianna) 1.65; 2, H. Buckley (Raheny Shamrock) 1.60; 3, L. Byrne (St. L.

O’Toole) 1.60.

Long Jump: 1, M. McLoone (Tir Chonaill) 5.69; 2, B. Furlong (Slaney Olympic) 5.05; 3, D. Cronin (Youghal) 4.89.

Triple Jump: 1, M. McLoone (Tir Chonaill) 11.94; 2, B. Furlong (Slaney Olympic) 11.38; 3, R. Daniels (Na Fianna) 11.27.

Pole Vault: 1, E. O’Meara (Borrisokane) 2.60; 2, G. Finegan (Dunleer) 2.00; 3, S. Cormack (Unattached) 2.00.

Junior Women’s Pole Vault: 1, S. Brackett (West Waterford) 2.40; 2, S. Lonergan (West Waterford) 2.20. Shot Putt: 1, G. Stewart (Tir Chonaill) 12.25; 2, L. Cogan (Newbridge) 11.41 (National Junior Record); 3, D. Murphy (Leevale) 10.67.