Athletics: Doyle edges Griggs in dramatic fashion, Shanahan clocks championship record

Louise Shanahan clocked a championship record in the 800m in a time of 2.03.54.

DRAMATIC FINISH: Nick Griggs of CNDR Track AC and Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers AC dive for the line in 1500m final. Pic: ©INPHO/Bryan Keane

As quickly as he had captured and captivated the Abbotstown crowd, Cathal Doyle disappeared out of sight.

When he re-emerged some time later, the left forearm of the newly crowned national indoor 1,500m champion was heavily strapped. The fingers peeping out amid the many layers of bandaging were a worrying shade of blue.

The price of gold, eh?

“I keep telling myself that it looks worse than it is,” said Doyle.

“I don't know what it is yet. I'll get a scan tomorrow and see. It doesn't feel great, to be honest. Moving the hand is a bit of an issue, but we'll deal with that tomorrow.

“The win is worth it. I needed to get that win today.” 

Doyle’s by-a-hand victory was the enthralling event of the 123.ie National Indoor Championships. The 26-year-old’s victory didn’t so much come down to the dip as it did who fell first across the line.

After six-and-a-half laps, the Clonliffe Harriers clubman hit the front at the bell. Nick Griggs hopped straight on his heels. There Griggs remained until swinging wide on the home stretch and coming up alongside the leader. Stride for stride to the line. It was a finish line both men collapsed over.

A race for the ages at the https://t.co/8kNu8qkSSg National Indoor Championships as Cathal Doyle gets the better of Nick Griggs in a dive for the line 🤩👏🙌

Championship racing at its brilliant best!!!
🥇Cathal Doyle 3:49:11
🥈Nick Griggs 3:49:15
🥉Lughaidh Mallon… pic.twitter.com/rpi1DLa74k

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) February 18, 2024

In the wait for confirmation as to who had fallen first, the stadium commentator stood over the pair and called for first aid assistance.

Doyle had been out-dived by Andrew Coscoran at the Morton mile two years ago. On this occasion, the verdict swung in his direction. The screen eventually showed he had triumphed in 3.49.11, Griggs a mere four hundredths of a second behind.

“I probably could have broken my fall better. In fairness, I didn’t have much time to think,” Doyle laughed afterwards.

“I could see Nick in the corner of my eye with 40 yards to go. And I knew I was tying up a small bit. I said to myself, I am going to need to dive here. I was buzzing when I saw my name come up first.” 

Equally buzzing was Louise Shanahan. She clocked a championship record of 2.03.54 in the 800m.

“I didn’t know what the championship record was coming into it, so that was a pleasant surprise when I crossed the line,” said the Leevale lady.

“My indoor season to date has been quite messy. I have spent more time falling on my face and getting kicked than running in a straight line. But any indoor season where you pick up a national title is a good one.” 

Louise Shanahan (Leevale) makes history once more, clinching the women’s 800m National Indoor title while setting a blazing new championship record of 2:03.54🏆

🥈Georgie Hartigan (DSD)
🥉Susie Nestor (UCD)#NationalSeniors @Ask123ie pic.twitter.com/hQ9VpM7KWT

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) February 18, 2024

Cian McPhillips (1.52.79) claimed the men’s 800m, with Carla Sweeney (4:21.61) the women’s 1,500 champion.

Of those bound for the World Indoors in Glasgow in a fortnight, Sharlene Mawdsley picked up her first national indoor title over 400m. In only her third race of the indoor season, she crossed in 52.04 to equal her season’s best. But such were the strides Mawdsley made last summer, the Newport sprinter wanted to go quicker here.

“I would have liked to have gone faster, but it is a good stepping stone toward Glasgow. Hopefully, I will have consistency and then the times will drop,” she said.

Behind Mawdsley were Sophie Becker (52.98) and Roisin Harrison (53.87), and along with Phil Healy, they will likely comprise the Irish 4x400m relay quartet in Glasgow.

Healy was in action on day one of the national indoors on Saturday. The Bandon speedster proved a class apart in the women’s 200m final. Her 23.37 clocking matched her season’s best.

After a frustrating two years because of Hashimoto’s disease, Healy beamed in the aftermath of her 16th national title that “it’s great to be back”.

Robert McDonnell pulled off an upset in the men’s 200m when beating national record holder Mark Smyth to gold. McDonnell’s Galway City Harriers teammate Cillin Green won his third indoor crown over 400m.

Israel Olatunde (6.71) and Molly Scott (7.36) were the respective 60m champions. For the former, it was back-to-back wins, for the latter it was a third gold in this event.

The sprinting performance of the championships came from Sarah Lavin. The 29-year-old hit the line in 7.91 to equal her 60m hurdles indoor PB. It was her eighth sub-eight second clocking of the past three weeks.

“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 when reviewing her race.

CHAMPION: Sarah Lavin of Emerald AC equalled her 60m hurdle indoor PB in a time of 7.91. Pic:©INPHO/Bryan Keane

Along with Lavin, Doyle, and Griggs, another to captivate the healthy attendance was Reece Ademola. The 21-year-old Leevale long-jumper, who has twice rewritten the Irish indoor U23 record this winter, threatened and threatened the eight-metre mark. In the end, though, he had to be content with twice registering 7.82m.

“For every jump, the crowd had my back. I was really feeling them out on the track, hoping for it to be the eight-metre jump. This indoor season and training have been going really well, so I have many thanks to give to my coach (Liz Coomey).”