Harriers turn the tables on Crusaders

THE dominance of Dublin City Harriers in the Mazda/AAI Track and Field League final continued in Tullamore when they captured the Men’s Premier Division title for the 16th time since the inauguration of the competition in 1974.

Runners up to Crusaders in last year’s final, DCH turned the tables on their great rivals by 144 points to 139, with DSD filling third place with 102.

For good measure, DCH completed the Premier Division double by also taking the women’s title. Their tally of 113 1/2 points edged out Tír Chonaill AC with Dublin Striders in third place.

The happiest group of competitors on the day were the members of Laois club St Abban’s, who finally achieved their ambition of gaining promotion by winning the Men’s Division One title, defeating newcomers Menapians from Wexford by 12 points.

The closest finish came in the Women’s Division One final in which Navan/Na Fianna had just three points to spare over Lagan Valley, who in turn pipped Abbey AC for third place after both finished level on points.

The individual highlight of the meeting was a national junior record in the Premier Men’s Pole Vault in which Ruairí Ó Briain (Crusaders) cleared 4.55m.

Eileen O’Keeffe (KCH) was also in sparkling form, winning the Women’s Premier Division hammer title with a throw of 58.78m which bettered her own championship best achieved last year.