Day 2 of the Woodie’s DIY Senior Track and Field championships produced another crop of worthy champions, with weather conditions at Morton Stadium quite reasonable in spite of the damp conditions.
First title of the day went to Olympics bound Colin Griffin (Ballinamore AC) who easily won the 10,000m walk in a time of 41:47.66 to take his first Senior title.
The Woodie’s DIY athlete of the meet was named as Irish 400m Record Holder, Joanne Cuddihy (KCH). The Kilkenny woman won the 200m in convincing style in 23.15 (+2.5 m/s) on day one of the championships from Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank) in 23.62 and Steffi Creaner (DCH AC) in 23.71. Although wind assisted this is one of Cuddihy’s best 200m times. She then went onto the do a double by dominating the 400m crossing the line in 51.89. Follow 4×400m team members, took the other medal places; Marian Heffernan (Togher AC) was second in 53.32 with Michelle Carey (Dublin Striders AC) third in 53.50.
Brian Murphy (Crusaders AC) successfully defended his 400m title, crossing the line in 46.97, with Paul McKee (Beechmount Harriers) second in 47.67 and Richard Morrissey (Havering Mayesbrook) third in 47.76.
Two 800m races saw two outstanding performances, with both winners showing some serious speed in the final straight. Siobhan Eviston (Raheny Shamrock AC) sprinted past long time leader Laura Crowe (An Riocht AC) and won in style in a time of 2:06.04, with Crowe second in 2:07.15 and Rose Anne Galligan (Newbridge AC), who lost a shoe with 120m to go, third in 2:07.95.
The men’s race was equally eventful with Irish junior champion Dean Cronin (Blarney Inniscarra AC) hitting the front with 50m to go to ad his first senior title to the junior crown. Cronin clocked 1:52.48, with Brian Kelly (St. Abban’s AC) second in 1:52.78 and Billy Ryan (Ferrybank AC) third in 1:52.86.
David Flynn (Clonliffe Harriers) won the 3,000m steeplechase in 9:06.58.
Conor McCulough (Crusaders AC), who was fourth in the American trials, won the hammer with a throw of 72.51m.
Jason Harvey (Crusaders AC) chased Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) all through the 400m hurdles, but it was Barr who was strongest and he won in a time of 50.87, with Harvey 51.43 and Paul Byrne (St. Abban’s AC) third in 53.49.
European finalist Jessie Barr, sister of Thomas won the 400m Hurdles in 57.33. Barr had been bidding to achieve the Olympic standard of 55.50 although unsuccessful she will be on route to London as she has been named on the women’s 4×400m relay squad.
The men’s 5,000m was a thriller with four runners involved in the last mile. Dan Mulhare (Portlaoise AC) set a strong pace with four laps remaining, but Mark Hanrahan (Leevale AC) was fast to respond and chased the leader. With a lap remaining Hanrahan went for home and opened a lead that looked to be decisive. However, Mulhare wasn’t finished and he closed in the last 100m but Hanrahan wasn’t going to be denied and he won in a time of 14:13.80 to Mulhare’s 14:14.65, with David Rooney (Raheny Shamrock AC) third in 14:16.72.
Paul Hession (Athenry AC) had just one hundredth of a second to spare over Jason Smyth (City of Derry) in the men’s 100m, winning in a time of 10.37, but Amy Foster (City of Lisburn AC) won the women’s 100m by a big margin from Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC). Foster clocked 11.60 to Proper’s 11.84.
The men’s 1,500m saw Colin Costello (Star of the Sea AC) overtake Eoin Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers) in the last 50m to win by two hundredths of a second in 3:54.57.
Orla Drumm (UCC AC) Was a good winner of the women’s 1,500m in 4:19.55 from Claire Tarplee (Dundrum South Dublin AC) in 4:20.23.
Clare Fitzgerald (Tralee Harriers) made it a double by winning the shot with a best throw of 14.30m.
To round off a great day of competition Crusaders AC won the 4X400m relay in a time of 3:10.59, a new Irish club record. The team of Brian Murphy, Jason Harvey, Eoin Mulhall and Richard Morrissey broke the record of 3:12.21 which was held by Dublin City Harriers.
Results in Results section
