Barr and Healy to shine in Santry
The Irish Life Health National Combined Championships and AAI Games take place in Morton Stadium this weekend (May 26/27) where Phil Healy (Bandon) and Thomas Barr (Ferrybank) will be the star attractions.
Thomas Barr will open his season over 400m hurdles having withdrawn from the Loughborough international last week due to a slight niggle and will be hoping to put down a solid marker ahead of his build-up to the European Athletics Championships in August.
Phil Healy is set to double in the 100m and 200m. The weather for the weekend is set to be good which could see Healy better the 100m national record of 11.40 with the right wind conditions.
Shane Aston (Trim AC) and Amy McTeggart (Boyne AC) will be looking to retain their respective multi-event titles over the course of the two days.
Aston will face competition from Enniscorthy AC pair Peter O'Connor and James Fortune along with Michael Breathnach (Galway City Harriers A.C.) and Brian Flynn (Lusk A.C.).
McTeggart’s rivals include (Eva McPartlan St. Coca's A.C.), Laura Frey (Lagan Valley A.C.), Alix Hughes (Crusaders A.C.) and Karen Dunne (Bohermeen A.C.).
There will be good competition in the underage and masters’ categories too.
Sunday will see the sprints take centre stage. Phil Healy will face off against her sister Joan in both the 100m and 200m along with Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton). Sarah Murray (Fingallians) will also provide competition in the 100m with Catherine McManus (Dublin City Harriers) in the 200m.
Israel Olatunde (Dun Dealgan) will be looking for a good performance in the men’s 100m while David McDonald (Menapians) is entered in the 200m and 400m. Cathal Crosbie (Dooneen) has been in good form over 400m and will look for another strong showing.
The women’s 400m sees Catherine McManus take on young up-and-coming athletes in Ciara Deely (Kilkenny City Harriers) and Davicia Patterson (Beechmount Harriers).
Sarah Lavin (UCD AC) returns this year and will face good competition from Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown) in the women’s 100m hurdles. Morland is also in the long jump.
Two of the main competitors in the men’s 800m should be Charlie O’Donovan (Leevale) and Conall Kirk (Annadale Striders).
Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers) returns to the shot put looking for another strong showing having fond memories of his performance in the AAI Games last year.
Marguerite Furlong (Adamstown) will be aiming for good performances in the shot put and discus.
It will be a busy weekend of action with St Abban's women and Clonliffe Harriers' men competing in the European Clubs Track and Field Championships in Finland.
Irish athletes are also competing in Belgium at the IFAM meeting in Oordegem along with a group of Irish throwers going to the Halle throws meet in Germany and the 22nd European 24 Hour Championships in Romania
