Sarah Lavin: Athletics is having a moment in this country right now

Lavin won the Cork City Sports 100m hurdles on the new track at Munster Technological University on Tuesday.

IN THE MOMENT: Athletes, from left, Ebony Morrison of Liberia, Sarah Lavin of Ireland, and Talie Bonds of USA, competing in the Athletics Ireland 100m Hurdles final during the Cork City Sports at MTU Athletics Track. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile

Standing room only. The debut outing for the new track at Munster Technological University (MTU) attracted quite the audience on Tuesday evening.

Hardly surprising, though. As Sarah Lavin put it after winning the Cork City Sports 100m hurdles, athletics is having a moment in this country right now.

“Massive, absolutely massive to see that crowd. And it is really honest and pure support too,” said Lavin.

“I heard stand tickets were sold out. And I think Morton Games is the same on Friday. It just goes to show where athletics is at in this country.

“It is fair to say athletics is having a moment in this country right now, and it is off the back of really good performances, not even just this year, but even going back to the Europeans in Munich in 2022. 

"Olympic fever has set in. To have the Games so close to home and to have so many friends and family travelling, it is magic.”

Lining up for a race where America’s Talie Bonds had a season’s best just two hundredths of a second slower than Lavin’s 12.66, the Limerick hurdler was delighted to achieve a comprehensive victory.

Her 12.83 had clear daylight to Bonds’ 12.95.

“Conditions were cool and chilly which are not optimal for sprints, but thankfully it was dry because when I looked out the window this morning, I was like, 'oh no'.

“Heavy week of training this week. We go again at Morton on Friday, and I guess I am using these competitions to practice a few technical things under pressure and also my speed endurance sessions for the week.

“So when there is a little bit of fatigue in the legs, to get the win then is a bonus because those girls are not slow. Delighted to come out on top.”

Lavin has not been behind the door about her Olympic ambitions. She wants to be in the line-up when the 100m hurdles final goes to the blocks.

There is an expectation for at least one individual Olympic sprint finalist in Rhasidat Adeleke, Lavin is hoping she too can negotiate the heats and semis.

“To make the final would be history. And to be able to make history would be magic.”