Barr and Healy shine at AAI Games on busy weekend

Barr and Healy shine in Abbotstown on busy weekend

Thomas Barr (Ferrybank) and Sarah Healy (Blackrock) were two of the star performers at the Irish Life Health AAI Indoor Games in Abbotstown today (February 4).

They saved the best till last with the 400m hurdles indoors, the first ever in Ireland, at the end of the programme in the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena. To find full results click HERE

Barr duly delivered winning in 50.50 seconds which was an Irish best – the seventh best performance ever and the third fastest European performance. Training partners Paul Byrne (St Abban’s) finished second in 52.46 and Ben Kiely (Ferrybank) was third in 53.28.

16-year-old middle distance prospect Sarah Healy (Blackrock) ran 4:16.03 to win the women’s 1500m – breaking Ciara Mageean’s Youth and U20 indoor records with a classy performance.

A red hot pace was set in the women’s 800m going through 400m in 58 seconds with UCD’s Claire Mooney outlasting the rest of the field in 2:04.75 from club mate Alanna Lally in second in 2:06.00 and Jenna Bromell (Emerald) third in 2:06.26. 17-year-old Jo Keane (Ennis Track) was fourth in 2:08.70.

Karl Griffin (UCD) came through at the finish to win the men’s 800m in 1:50.32 from John Fitzsimons (Kildare) in 1:50.47 and Kieran Kelly (Raheny Shamrock) in 1:50.67.

Laura Nicholson (Bandon) was another youngster to impress in winning the women’s 3,000m in 9:38.48 while Darragh McElhinney (Bantry) had a repeat performance from last year finishing second in the men’s 3,000m in 8:13.80 – a new youth and junior indoor record behind John Travers (Donore Harriers) who won in 8:10.87.

Megan Marrs (City of Lisburn) had a nippy 8.19 second win in the women’s 60m hurdles ahead of Sarah Lavin (UCD) in 8.39 while Matthew Behan (Crusaders) was the fastest of the men in 7.98.

Joan Healy (Bandon) was the fastest woman over 60m with a swift 7.38 seconds with Leon Reid (Menapians) the fastest man in 6.79 with Marcus Lawler (SLOT) running 6.82.

Catherine McManus (DCH) continued her busy weekend with a fine 54.15 second clocking in the women’s 400m – a new personal best and quickest time of the day.

Saragh Buggy (St Abban’s) won the women’s triple jump with a best of 13.25m. Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers) won the men’s shot put with a best of 17.28m.  

In Karlsruhe Phil Healy (Bandon) continued her fine form on the international circuit to finish second behind Lea Sprunger in 52.67 in a top quality field.

Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerard’s) set a new junior and senior pentathlon record finishing fourth in Tallinn, Estonia with 4,150 points.  

At the fabled Millrose Games in New York, Ciara Mageean (UCD) finished third in the women’s Wanamaker mile in 4:30.99 while Sean Tobin (Clonmel) ran 3:58.25 for 4th in the invitational mile.

Kate Veale (West Waterford) finished second in the women’s 1 mile race walk in 6:44.17.

Abbie Taylor was the best Irish performer at the European Clubs Cross Country Championships in Portugal finishing fourth in the U20 race with her club DSD finishing fifth in the team standings. Galway City Harriers were 9th in the men’s U20 race.

Lizzie Lee led Leevale to 7th in the women’s race finishing 17th individually. Kevin Dooney finished in the same individual position in the senior men’s race with his club Raheny Shamrock finishing 9th.