Championship Records tumbled, new stars announced themselves on the senior stage and one of Ireland’s greatest athletes received a fitting tribute as the 123.ie National Senior Track & Field Championships concluded in memorable fashion at Morton Stadium today (July 26).

Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) and Benjamin Richardson (Waterford AC) both rewrote Championship Record with impressive victories, while Cian McPhillips (UCD AC), Rachel McCann (North Down AC), Madison Mooney (Tullamore Harriers AC), Elle-Kate McRae (Midleton AC), Fintan Dewhirst (Tír Chonaill AC), Michael Kent (DMP AC) and Rory Michael Devaney (Raheny Shamrock AC) were among those celebrating maiden senior outdoor national titles.

There were emotional scenes midway through the evening programme as more than 400 juvenile athletes from clubs across Ireland joined European champion Ciara Mageean for the special ‘Run with Ciara’ celebration. The 150-metre tribute provided one of the defining moments of the championships, as the Irish athletics community came together to honour one of the country’s greatest-ever athletes.

Cian McPhillips (UCD AC) produced a commanding display to claim the first senior outdoor 800m title of his career, going one better than his runner-up finish 12 months ago with victory in 1:47.76. Cillian Kirwan (Raheny Shamrock AC) mounted a brave challenge to the pre-race favourite before taking the silver medal in 1:49.36, while Bobby More (Bray Runners AC) completed the podium with bronze in 1:51.05.

Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) produced one of the performances of the championships to reclaim the women’s 1500m title, storming to victory in a Championship Record of 4:05.62. In doing so, she eclipsed the previous mark of 4:07.09, set by her mother, Sonia O’Sullivan, in 1995. Laura Nicholson (Bandon AC) also dipped inside the previous championship record with 4:08.27 to claim silver, while Jodie McCann (Dublin City Harriers AC) completed a remarkable race with bronze in 4:09.54.

Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) reclaimed the men’s 1500m title for the first time since 2021, producing a superb performance to halt Cathal Doyle’s bid for a fifth consecutive outdoor crown. Coscoran crossed the line in 3:44.07 to prevail in one of the highest-quality races of the championships, with Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers AC) taking silver in 3:44.79 and Nick Griggs (CNDR Track AC) completing a stellar podium in third with 3:45.02.

Darragh McElhinney (Bantry AC) produced a decisive surge over the closing stages to reclaim the men’s 5,000m title, his first national outdoor crown in the event since 2020. The Bantry athlete clocked 13:31.71 after reeling in long-time leader Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers AC) over the final 1,000 metres to take the Tom O’Riordan Memorial Cup. O’Leary held on bravely for silver in 13:35.54, while Brian Fay (Raheny Shamrock AC) claimed the bronze medal in 13:45.29.

Niamh Allen (Leevale AC) successfully defended her women’s 5,000m title in style, producing a personal best of 15:26.54 to retain her national crown. Fiona Everard (Bandon AC) went with her all the way, claiming silver in 15:30.34, while Danielle Donegan (Tullamore Harriers AC) completed the podium with brave bronze in 15:50.68.

Benjamin Richardson (Waterford AC) stormed to the men’s 100m title in a Championship Record of 10.13 to completes the weekend’s sprint double having taken the 100m yesterday. Defending champion Bori Akinola (UCD AC) ran 10.21 to claim silver after a fiercely contested final. Sean Aigboboh (Tallaght AC) completed a high-quality podium, taking bronze in 10.26.

Ciara Neville (Emerald AC) underlined her dominance in the women’s 100m, successfully defending her national title in 11.44 to claim the third senior outdoor crown of her career. Mollie O’Reilly (Dundrum South Dublin AC) secured the silver medal in 11.63, while Molly Scott (St. Laurence O’Toole AC) completed the podium with bronze in 11.67.

Rachel McCann (North Down AC) captured the first senior outdoor national title of her career in the women’s 400m, breaking the 53-second barrier outdoors for the first time with a winning performance of 52.93. Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC) claimed the silver medal in 53.23, while Michelle Duggan (UCD AC) completed the podium with bronze in 53.72.

Jack Raftery (Donore Harriers AC) edged a thrilling men’s 400m final to claim a third consecutive senior outdoor title, crossing the line in 46.12. Andrew Egan (Galway City Harriers AC) pushed the champion all the way, taking silver in 46.16, while Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) claimed the bronze medal in 46.89.

Madison Mooney (Tullamore Harriers AC) came out on top in one of the finishes of the weekend to claim her first senior outdoor 800m title, edging a thrilling duel with Emma Moore (Galway City Harriers AC). Mooney crossed the line in 2:04.38, just 0.21 seconds ahead of Moore (2:04.59), while defending champion Alex O’Neill (Limerick Track AC) mounted a brave defence of her crown to secure the bronze medal in 2:05.50.

Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) further cemented her place among the greats of Irish athletics by claiming a record 11th senior outdoor 100m hurdles title – and a sixth consecutive crown – in a winning time of 13.34. Amy Timoney (Finn Valley AC) secured the silver medal in 14.11, edging Abigail Farrell (Donore Harriers AC), who took bronze in 14.13 after a closely contested finish.

Adam Nolan (St. Laurence O’Toole AC) successfully defended his men’s 110m hurdles title, crossing the line in 15.01. Clubmate Reuben McCarthy (St. Laurence O’Toole AC) took silver in 15.95.

Elle-Kate McRae (Midleton AC) continued her remarkable breakthrough season by claiming her first senior outdoor national title in the women’s 400m hurdles in one of the finishes of the day. Fresh from an outstanding fourth-place finish at the European U18 Championships, the teenager stormed to victory in 58.35, setting new Irish U18 and U20 records at her first senior outdoor championships. Arlene Crossan (Finn Valley AC) was just four hundredths of a second behind in 58.39 to take silver, while Cara Murphy (UCD AC) claimed bronze in 58.98 after a thrilling, closely fought final.

Fintan Dewhirst (Tír Chonaill AC) claimed the first senior outdoor national title of his career with victory in the men’s 400m hurdles, crossing the line in 51.76. Jason O’Reilly (Killarney Valley AC) secured the silver medal in 53.52, while Adam Courtney (Ballymena & Antrim AC) completed the podium with a time of 53.75.

Ruby Millet (St. Abbans AC) produced a superb return to form to claim the women’s long jump title with a best of 6.47m, securing her first senior outdoor crown since 2019. Lauren Callaghan (Finn Valley AC) bettered her winning mark from last year’s championships with a leap of 6.45m but had to settle for silver in a high-quality contest, while Elizabeth Ndudi (Dundrum South Dublin AC) took bronze with 6.42m.

Sam Healy (Leevale AC) regained the men’s long jump title with a winning leap of 7.61m, claiming his third senior outdoor crown and first since 2022 following a superbly competitive contest. Ryan Onoh (Cork City AC) pushed Healy all the way with a best of 7.57m to take silver, while Shane Howard (Bridevale AC) secured the bronze medal with 7.43m.

Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) secured her fifth senior outdoor hammer title – and fourth in succession – with a best of 70.16m produced in the final round to cap another impressive display of consistency.

Margaret Hayden (Tallaght AC) also saved her best for the final round, producing a personal best of 63.61m to claim silver, while Kotryna Pacerinskaite (Fanahan McSweeney AC) completed the podium with a best of 57.22m.

Rory Michael Devaney (Raheny Shamrock AC) claimed his maiden national senior title with a winning throw of 71.86m in the men’s hammer. Sean Mockler (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC) took the silver medal with 60.57m, while Simon Galligan (Clonliffe Harriers AC) secured bronze courtesy of a best effort of 58.36m.

Anna Gavigan (LSA AC) reclaimed the women’s discus title with a championship-winning throw of 54.51m, securing her second senior outdoor crown after last winning in 2022. Tara Laverty (Carrick Aces AC) claimed the silver medal with 48.16m, while Holly Wright (Crookstown Millview AC) completed the podium with a best of 42.64m.

Michael Kent (DMP AC) claimed his first senior outdoor national pole vault title, clearing 4.60m to secure gold. Joshua Fitzgerald (Leevale AC) took the silver medal with a clearance of 4.30m, while clubmate Fionn Naughton (Leevale AC) completed the podium after clearing 4.15m.

Clodagh Walsh (Abbey Striders AC) claimed her third senior outdoor pole vault title, clearing 3.65m to successfully defend her national crown. Una Brice (Leevale AC) secured the silver medal with a clearance of 3.25m, while Meabh Corkery (Midleton AC) took bronze after clearing 3.15m.

Selected Day 2 Results

5000m Women

1. Niamh ALLEN Leevale A.C. 15:26.54
2. Fiona EVERARD Bandon A.C. 15:30.34
3. Danielle DONEGAN Tullamore Harriers A.C. 15:50.68

Pole Vault Men

1. Michael KENT D.M.P. A.C. 4.60
2. Joshua FITZGERALD Leevale A.C. 4.30
3. Fionn NAUGHTON Leevale A.C. 4.15

Pole Vault Women

1. Clodagh WALSH Abbey Striders A.C. 3.65
2. Una BRICE Leevale A.C. 3.25
3. Meabh CORKERY Midleton A.C. 3.15

Long Jump Women

1. Ruby MILLET St. Abbans A.C. 6.47
2. Lauren CALLAGHAN Finn Valley A.C. 6.45
3. Elizabeth NDUDI Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 6.42

Hammer Throw Men

1. Rory Michael DEVANEY Raheny Shamrock A.C. 71.86
2. Sean MOCKLER Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C. 60.57
3. Simon GALLIGAN Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 58.36

Hammer Throw Women

1. Nicola TUTHILL U.C.D. A.C. 70.16
2. Margaret HAYDEN Tallaght A.C. 63.61
3. Kotryna PACERINSKAITE Fanahan Mc Sweeney A.C. 57.22

400mh Men

1. Fintan DEWHIRST Tír Chonaill A.C. 51.76
2. Jason O REILLY Killarney Valley A.C. 53.52
3. Adam COURTNEY Ballymena and Antrim A.C. 53.75

400mh Women

1. Elle – Kate MC RAE Midleton A.C. 58.35 NU18R NU20R
2. Arlene CROSSAN Finn Valley A.C. 58.39
3. Cara MURPHY U.C.D. A.C. 58.98

Long Jump Men

1. Sam HEALY Leevale A.C. 7.61
2. Ryan ONOH Cork City A.C. 7.57
3. Shane HOWARD Bridevale A.C. 7.43

Discus Women

1. Anna GAVIGAN LSA A.C. 54.51
2. Tara LAVERTY Carrick Aces A.C. 48.16
3. Holly WRIGHT Crookstown Millview A.C. 42.64

100mh Women

1. Sarah LAVIN Emerald A.C. 13.34
2. Amy TIMONEY Finn Valley A.C. 14.11
3. Abigail FARRELL Donore Harriers A.C. 14.13

110mh Men

1. Adam NOLAN St. Laurence. O’Toole A.C. 15.01
2. Reuben MC CARTHY St. Laurence. O’Toole A.C. 15.95

5000m Men

1. Darragh MCELHINNEY Bantry A.C. 13:31.71
2. Jack O LEARY Mullingar Harriers A.C. 13:35.54
3. Brian FAY Raheny Shamrock A.C. 13:45.29

100m Women

1. Ciara NEVILLE Emerald A.C. 11.44
2. Mollie O REILLY Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 11.63
3. Molly SCOTT St. Laurence. O’Toole A.C. 11.67

100m Men

1. Benjamin RICHARDSON Waterford A.C. 10.13 CR
2. Bori AKINOLA U.C.D. A.C. 10.21
3. Sean AIGBOBOH Tallaght A.C. 10.26

800m Women

1. Madison MOONEY Tullamore Harriers A.C. 2:04.38
2. Emma MOORE Galway City Harriers A.C. 2:04.59
3. Alex O NEILL Limerick Track A.C. 2:05.50

800m Men

1. Cian MC PHILLIPS U.C.D. A.C. 1:47.76
2. Cillian KIRWAN Raheny Shamrock A.C. 1:49.36
3. Bobby MORE Bray Runners A.C. 1:51.05

400 Women

1. Rachel MCCANN North Down A.C. 52.93
2. Sophie BECKER Raheny Shamrock A.C. 53.23
3. Michelle DUGGAN U.C.D. A.C. 53.72

400m Men

1. Jack RAFTERY Donore Harriers A.C. 46.12
2. Andrew EGAN Galway City Harriers A.C.46.16
3. Sean DOGGETT Athenry A.C. 46.89

1500m Women

1. Sophie O’SULLIVAN Ballymore Cobh A.C. 4:05.62 CR
2. Laura NICHOLSON Bandon A.C. 4:08.27
3. Jodie MC CANN Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:09.54

1500m Men

1. Andrew COSCORAN Star of the Sea A.C. 3:44.07
2. Cathal DOYLE Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 3:44.79
3. Nick GRIGGS CNDR Track A.C. 3:45.02

ENDS

NOTES

• Day 1 Report HERE
• Full list of results HERE
• Watch back on Athletics Ireland YouTube HERE