Lawler and Healy deliver the thrills at the University Championships

Lawler and Healy deliver

Marcus Lawler and Phil Healy were the star performers at the Irish Universities Championships in Morton Stadium over the weekend (April 15-16).

Lawler, representing Carlow IT, smashed the intervarsity record when running 20.98 in the men’s 200m. Lawler also took victory in the 100m, running 10.58 seconds, a run aided by a tailwind of 3.70 m/s.

Sisters Joan and Phil Healy of UCC also impressed. Joan took a narrow victory over Phil in the 100m, 11.64 to 11.66, while Phil proved a cut above the 200m field, winning in 23.93 ahead of DCU’s Sarah McCarthy (24.25).

Phil closed the competition with a memorable anchor leg in the 4x400m, overcoming a massive deficit to hand UCC victory over UL and CIT. It was a thrilling last leg that engrossed the crowd right to the line.

UL’S Michelle Finn proved her Olympic preparations are well on track by setting a record in the women’s 3000m steeplechase of 9:54.88, while there was also a record in the men’s shot put with Letterkenny IT’s John Kelly throwing  16.16m for the title.

DCU again took victory in both men’s and women’s team events, their tallies of 178 points in the men’s and 156.5 in the women’s more than double that of their closest challengers. 

For full results of the championships click here

Watch day 1 

Watch day 2