Day 1 of the Woodie’s DIY Senior Track and Field championships were held in bright sunny conditions at Morton Stadium Santry today. The day produced some superb competition over a range of events.
There were also disappointments, with Steven Colvert (Crusaders AC) achieving the Olympic standard in the heats of the 200m only to find that the wind was +3.0, above the legal limit of +2.0. He followed up by winning the final in a time of 20.78, with Marcus Lawlor (St. Laurence O’Toole AC) second in 21.37 and Dara Kervick (Carrick on Suir AC) third with 21.46.
Joanne Cuddihy (Kilkenny City Harriers) was a clear winner of the women’s 200m in a time of 23.15 with Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank AC) second in 23.62 and Steffi Creaner (Dublin City Harriers) third in 23.71.
One of the happiest athletes in the stadium was Denis Finnigan (Leevale AC) who won the triple jump. After years of trying to better the 15m mark he finally achieved his goal and proceeded to better 15m on no fewer than five times in the same competition. There was a bonus as well because his winning jump of 15.55m had a legal wind of +1.5. His second best jump was 15.35m and that also was legal with +1.2.
The men’s shot putt was a close affair with Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers) throwing 15.85m in the third round. Tomas Rauktys (Clonliffe Harriers) also had his best throw of 15.78m in the third round, and that is how the competition finished with just 7cm separating them.
Michelle Finn (Leevale AC) was never threatened as she raced to victory in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase in a time of 10:45.49.
Olympic bound Tori Pena (Finn Valley AC) cleared 4.20m at the second attempt and followed up by clearing 4.35m at the first attempt. She then attempted 4.45m but did not succeed in clearing it. Zoe Browne (Raheny Shamrock AC) was second with a clearance of 3.95m.
Irish junior record holder Cara Kennedy (Ferrybank AC) had a throw of 56.22m in the first round of the women’s hammer and that proved good enough to win the title. Rachel Akers (Marian AC) was second with 52.37m.
Maeve Curley (Craughwell AC) was another to win by a clear margin when she won the 5,000m walk in a time of 24:41.07.
Claire Fitzgerald (Tralee Harriers) won the discus with a throw of 49.48m with Sophie Parkinson (Gowran AC) second with 44.35m and Deirdre Murphy (Leevale AC) third with 40.46m.
In the two distance races, 5,000m for women and 10,000m for men, both winners were never headed as they raced to victory. Brian Maher (Kilkenny City harriers) had David Campbell (UCD AC) for company for much of the first half of the race, but when Campbell dropped out it was left for Maher to complete the race on his own, winning in a time of 30:17.07, with Gary O’Hanlon (Clonliffe Harriers) second in 30:33.99.
Maria McCambridge (Letterkenny AC) also won by leading from the start and crossed the line in 16:02.52, with Siobhan O’Doherty (Borrisokane AC) second in 16:56.16.
Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) made a welcome return to competition and won the long jump with a best of 6.33m, with Mary McLoone (Tir Chonaill AC) second with 6.17m.
Anita Fitzgibbon (Dundrum South Dublin AC) had plenty to spare when winning the javelin with a throw of 49.54m.
Results in Results section
