Hammer record smashed as weird Santry day turns wonderful

Two terrific young throwers broke new ground at the National Athletics Championships

Sean Breathnach of Galway City Harriers AC, on his way to winning the Men's Weight for Height with a throw of 4.60m during Day One of the Irish Life Health National Senior and U23 Athletics Championships in Santry. Picture: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile 

It was a day of high winds, long throws, empty stands and eerie silence. Never before had there been a nationals like this, but that did nothing to stop two terrific young throwers from breaking new ground.

On the first day of action at the Irish Life Health National Championships in Santry, hammer throwers Nicola Tuthill and Brendan O’Donnell turned a weird day into something wonderful, the precocity of their power on full display from the outset.