Second fastest indoor 400 catapults Phil Healy into Euro contention

Georgie Hartigan and Leon Reid also produced standout performances in Abbotstown

Phil Healy of Bandon AC, Cork, crosses the line to win the Women's 400m, with a PB of 51.99, during day two of the Irish Life Health Elite Athlete Indoor Micro Meet at Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena at the Sport Ireland Campus in Dublin. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Phil Healy, Georgie Hartigan and Leon Reid produced the standout performances on day two of the Irish Life Health elite micro-meet in Abbotstown on Sunday. Healy clocked the second fastest indoor 400m in history by an Irishwoman with 51.99, Hartigan the second fastest 800m ever indoors by an Irishwoman with 2:01.48, while Reid moved to second on the Irish all-time list over 60m by clocking 6.68.

Healy’s time ranked behind only Karen Shinkins’ national record of 51.58 and catapulted the Bandon AC athlete into contention for the European Indoor Championships in early March. The time puts her sixth on this year’s European rankings and 13th in the world. Back in second, national outdoor 400m champion Sophie Becker booked her place at the European Indoors with a PB of 53.20, as did Sharlene Mawdsley with a PB of 53.56.