Athletics: Lavin powers to victory, Healy back to winning ways

Sarah Lavin will spearhead the Irish challenge at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow next month.

STAR PERFORMANC: Sarah Lavin of Emerald AC powers to victory in the 60m hurdles in 7.91s. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Sarah Lavin turned in the star performance on day one of the 123.ie National Indoor Championships in Abbotstown on Saturday, the 29-year-old powering to victory in the 60m hurdles in 7.91. That equalled the PB she set in Kazakhstan last month and brought the Emerald AC athlete home well clear of Molly Scott (8.31).

“It was really nice to equal my PB, to be talking about (running) 7.80-something is wonderful, but unfortunately for those kind of performances you can’t put a limb wrong and everything is really, really exact,” said Lavin, who was typically self-critical when reviewing her race.

“It was a good drive into the first hurdle, I kept the arms nice and tight, but my lead leg got too far away from me at the end. I need to shorten my step into the hurdle. My head came up after two steps. The cadence of my legs needs to be better.” 

Despite those imperfections, it proved another crisp display from Lavin, who has run under eight seconds a remarkable eight times in the past three weeks. She will spearhead the Irish challenge at the World Indoor Championships in Glasgow next month.

Another who looks destined for Glasgow is Phil Healy, who hopes to compete in the women’s 4x400m there. She proved a class apart in the women’s 200m final, the Bandon AC sprinter clocking 23.37 to equal her season’s best and hit the line well clear of Katie Bergin (24.26).

“It’s great to be back,” said Healy, who was below her best for much of the past two years after being diagnosed with Hashimoto’s disease. “I didn’t get out as well in the final compared to the heat, but the rest of the run felt faster, I felt strong. It’s been a very clean winter, things are back in a good place. I’m really happy with this and I’ll take this on to the next few weeks.” 

Robert McDonnell pulled off an upset in the men’s 200m, the Galway City Harrier beating national record holder Mark Smyth to gold in 21.05, with Smyth taking silver in 21.20. The 21-year-old missed a significant chunk of last year through injury and tweaked his hamstring again on the way to gold, saying he felt “sharp pain” as he approached the finish.

“It’s great to be back in the racing environment, having fun again, instead of sitting at home watching,” he said. “I had a great January training but I had missed a month (before that) so I had a bit of nerves. I felt Mark on my shoulder straight away, I was worried about my leg but adrenaline kicked in and I kicked off the top of the bend.” 

Adam Nolan was a comfortable winner of the men’s 60m hurdles in 8.02, an event that was high on quality but low on quantity with just three participants.

Dana Kealy produced the standout performance in the field events, the St Abban’s athlete clearing 1.82m to win gold. “I’m ecstatic, I didn’t expect to equal my PB, it’s unreal,” she said.

Saragh Buggy won her eighth straight indoor gold in the women’s triple jump, her 20th national title overall, the St Abban’s star jumping 12.67m despite tearing a ligament in her ankle a fortnight ago. “I wasn’t sure what to expect from myself today so I have to be happy with that,” she said.

David Cussen of Old Abbey was a comfortable winner of the men’s high jump with 2.10m, while Jai Benson of Lagan Valley was best in the men’s triple jump with 14.25m. Leevale’s Matthew Callinan Keenan claimed gold in the men’s pole vault, clearing 4.60m. His clubmate Michael Healy took the men’s weight for distance title with 8.86m, while the women’s went to Kotryna Pacerinskaite with 7.20m.

In the men’s 1500m, Cathal Doyle and Nick Griggs breezed to victory in their respective heats, setting up an enthralling clash in Sunday’s final. Sharlene Mawdsley was most impressive in the women’s 400m heats, advancing to the final in 52.57, where she will take on Róisín Harrison and Sophie Becker, who both won their respective heats. Jack Raftery was quickest in qualification for the men’s 400m final, running 47.66 to win his semi-final.