O'Keeffe nails down new hammer record

Kilkenny City Harrier Eileen O'Keeffe threw a new national record of 68.14 metres to claim hammer gold at the Woodies DIY Irish Track and Field Championships in Santry today.

The 24-year-old, who was breaking through the 68-metre barrier for the first time, copperfastened her place on the Irish squad for next month's World Championships with her fifth straight national title.

O'Keeffe also threw 43.34m to earn discus gold.

Elsewhere, another Kilkenny star Emily Maher ruled the roost in the 200m final as she clocked 23.39 seconds for her first title, a championship best and her fastest time for five years.

Maher, 24, took gold by overtaking Leevale's Ailis McSweeney (24.06) and six-time champion Ciara Sheehy, who notched a season's best of 23.44, in a climatic finish.

Athens Olympian Paul Brizzel also came from behind to beat Nenagh veteran Gary Ryan for the men's 200m title.

With 2005 leader Paul Hession out injured, the Ballymena & Antrim sprinter grabbed gold in a time of 21.08 secs, with Ryan (21.15) second and schools intermediate champion Gerard O'Reilly of Shercock (21.98) third.

In the walks, there were wins for Togher's Rob Heffernan, who retained his crown over the 10-kilometre distance (40 minutes 32.74 secs), while Loughrea woman Olive Loughnane also reclaimed her 2004 title in the 5k in 21:52.56.

Meanwhile, St Malachy's Joe McAllister edged out Killian Lonergan of Clonliffe Harriers, who took it up with five laps to go, in the men's 5000m final.

McAllister, a 10,000m winner last year, bulldozed through on the final lap to take gold in 30:18.80, two seconds ahead of Lonergan.

Crusaders' Eugene O'Neill eased through to another 3000m Steeplechase title in 9:03.73, while there was victory also for Darragh O'Farrell in the long jump. The Borrisokane man jumped 7.12m, although he was helped by an untimely groin injury sustained by favourite Ciaran McDonagh.

In the 400m heats, Tipperary's Tomas Coman, a shock winner in Santry 12 months ago, Dundrum's Rob Daly, former World Indoor bronze medallist Paul McKee and David McCarthy of Le Cheile were all notable qualifiers for tomorrow's final.

2005 European Indoor champion David Gillick pulled out of the event on Friday due to a hamstring injury.