Irish Record For Sam Healy

Sam Healy (Leevale AC) produced the performance of the day setting a new Irish Record in the Junior Men’s 60m Hurdles running 7.89 at the GloHealth Junior/U23 Track and Feld Championships at the AIT, International Arena Athlone. Healy had equalled the previous record of 8 seconds held by Trevor McGlynn since 1997, at the Munster Championships on 4th January. Healy also took the long jump title in a new indoor personal best of 7.24m.

Sprints

There was a sprint double for Marcus Lawler (SLOT) who took the U23 title 60m title in 6.96 seconds and the 200m in 21.33. In the women’s U23 60m there was also an upset with Phil Healy disqualified for false starting, leaving it for Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.) to take the title in 7.64 from Sarah Lavin (UCD AC), who was also awarded the same time. Lavin went onto to take the 60m Hurdles title in 8.67 in her season opener over the barriers. Healy had some compensation for the early DQ winning an open 60m race in 7.41, her third fastest time over the distance, and taking the 200m U23 title in an indoor personal best of  24.21.

The Junior Men’s 60m produced the upset of the day with Sean O’Driscoll from Raheny AC taking the title from race favourite Zac Irwin (Sligo AC). Both athletes were given the time of 6.90, just off the Irish record of 6.88 set by Keith Doherty last year.  It wasn’t to be Irwin’s day with Sean Lawlor of Donore Harriers taking the 200m title in a personal best of 21.86  to the Sligo man in 21.91.

Ciara Neville (Emerald AC) did a double winning the Junior women’s 60m race in an impressive 7.58 moving her into the top 20 All-time list and the 60m Hurdles. Paul Murphy (Ferrybank AC) produced the best performance over the 400m races winning in a personal best of 48.03 with 400m Hurdler specialist Brandon Arrey second in 49.69.

Long Jump & Shot Putt

In the field Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton AC) jumped a personal best of 6.07m to take the U23 title while John Kelly (Finn Valley A.C.) won the Shot Putt by over 5m with a winning throw of 17.65m

800m

Junior athlete of the year 2014 Karl Griffin (UCD AC), made an impressive start in the U23 ranks   with a convincing win in the 800m in 1:51.18.  Katie Kirk (Queens University AC) also dominated the women’s U23 race winning in 2:08.19 from Aislinn Crossey (U.C.D.  A.C.) in 2:10.40. In the Junior women’s 800m there was a real battle in the 800m between Louise Shanahan (Leevale AC) and  Alanna Lally (GCH AC) with Shanahan taking the title in 2:20.15. There was also a welcome return to competition for double schools champion Harry Purcell (Trim AC) who took the 800m title in 2:01.59.

Kevin McGrath  (Bohermeen A.C.) put in an impressive 27 second last lap to overtake race leader Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea A.C.) to take the U23 1500m title in 4:03.27  with Pierre Murchan (Celtic A.C.) in third.

European QT

At the 2015 New Balance Games in New York, John Travers (Donore Harriers) won the Sub 4 minute Mile 3.59.62 inside the qualification for the 1500m of 4.01 for the mile