National Indoor Championships Day 1: Marcus Lawler wins gold in spectacular fashion

Elsewhere Sarah Lavin also proved a class apart as she claimed her seventh national indoor title in the 60m hurdles. 

TOP THREE: Men's 200m medallists, Marcus Lawler of Clonliffe Harriers AC, Dublin, gold, centre, Adam Murphy of Tinryland AC, Carlow, silver, left, and Luke Timlin of Crusaders AC, Dublin, bronze, right. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

It’s been nine long years since Marcus Lawler last won an Irish indoor title over 200m, but the Carlow sprinter returned to the top in spectacular fashion at the 123 .ie National Indoor Championships in Abbotstown on Saturday, setting a championship record of 20.74 to take gold.

He came home well clear of Adam Murphy of Tinryland (21.75), with Luke Timlin of Crusaders third in 21.76. Lawler, who turns 30 next week, claimed his fifth national indoor 200m title by dominating the race from the outside lane to break the championship record of 20.77 by Mark Smyth.

“I went out really, really hard and tried to really attack that back straight,” said Lawler.

“I suppose I was the form runner coming into this with a couple of PB’s along the way, but it’s a long time since I picked up a national title. I was delighted when I saw the time.”

Sarah Lavin also proved a class apart as she claimed her seventh national indoor title in the 60m hurdles. 

Lavin recovered from a significant blunder at the first barrier to power to victory in 8.11, her 17th national senior title including her outdoor tally.

The Emerald AC athlete managed to stay on her feet despite two early mistakes and reached the line well clear of Molly Scott (8.34) and Arabella Adekoya (8.71).

“I hit the first, I hit the second, there was a side-step, but once I was up and running it was actually fine,” said Lavin.

Adam Nolan also recovered from a big mistake at the first barrier to take gold in the men’s 60m hurdles, the St Laurence O’Toole athlete hitting the line in 7.95 ahead of Sean Carmody of Leevale (8.33) and Emmanuel Osas (8.40).

“I absolutely smashed the first hurdle but I said to myself, ‘Stay aggressive, stay composed, get to the line,’” said Nolan, who’d lost gold in last year’s national outdoor final due to an error at the last barrier.

Sarah Lavin of Emerald AC, Limerick, crosses the finish line to win the women's 60m hurdles final. Pic: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile.

Katie Bergin of Moyne AC produced a fine performance to take her first national indoor title in the women’s 200m, smashing her PB with 24.03 ahead of Kate O’Connell of Lucan Harriers (24.41) and Molly Hourihan (24.42).

“I tried to get out as hard as I could as I know Kate and Molly are savage out of the blocks, I knew I’d have to drive,” she said.

“I really wanted to see a 23 come up on the screen, but I’m delighted with today.”

Sharlene Mawdsley coasted into Sunday’s 400m final with facile victories in both her heat (54.44) and semi-final (52.86).

Fellow Olympians Rachel McCann and Phil Healy were the only other two athletes under 54, with McCann edging Healy to victory in the second semi-final – 53.63 to 53.98.

Rising star Conor Kelly turned in a huge performance in the semi-finals of the men’s 400m, the 17-year-old Derry Track Club athlete powering to victory in an Irish U-20 indoor record of 46.63 ahead of Jack Raftery (47.55).

It broke the previous record of 46.66 by David McCarthy.

Sarah Healy set a championship record of 4:12.37 in the heats of the women’s 1500m, the Dubliner clearly preparing for the back-to-back racing she’ll face at next month’s European Indoors with a swift time despite running well within herself.

Fellow Olympian Cathal Doyle coasted into the final of the men’s 1500m by finishing second in his heat in 3:56.14. Both will be overwhelming favourites for gold on Sunday.

Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley edged victory in the women’s high jump, both she and Tara O’Connor clearing a best of 1.81m, with Lecky taking gold on countback.

Lorcan Murphy of Dundrum South Dublin took the men’s title with 1.95m.

Saragh Buggy of St Abban’s won her ninth Irish indoor title in the women’s triple jump with 12.85m, while David Onwudiwe of Ennis Track took the men’s title with 14.29m.

Kotryna Pacerinskaite of Fanahan McSweeney AC (8.30m) and Michael Healy of Leevale (8.78m) claimed the weight for distance titles.

There was a thrilling finish in the women’s 4x200m relay where Dundrum South Dublin edged gold in the final metres in 1:40.96 ahead of Leevale, while Tallaght took the men’s title in 1:29.72.