An exhilarating two days of athletics action came to a close in fitting style this afternoon as the stars of Irish track and field delivered a thrilling finale at the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships, played out in front of a sold-out Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena (March 1st).
Day 2 showcased the very best of domestic athletics, with dramatic track finals dominating an afternoon session broadcast live for the first time on Virgin Media 2. Earlier in the day, the tone had been set in spectacular fashion by Kate O’Connor, who produced one of the standout performances of the championships in the women’s long jump.
O’Connor’s opening-round leap of 6.50m was not only a personal best, but also a championship record which had the thousands in attendance on their feet. That jump moved O’Connor to third on the Irish all-time list and capped a remarkable weekend following her personal best run in the 60m hurdles (8.21) on Saturday.
Speaking after her event, O’Connor said: “I’ve be training well and I was never going to enter myself into something I’m not training well in. It’s one thing doing well in training, but another thing to come out and do it when you’re under the pressure of competition. You’ve three chances to put in a good attempt as a multi-eventer, so I’m delighted I put that jump in on my first attempt.”
O’Connor continued: “Last year I made leaps and bounds forward, but I ended last year knowing I had so much more potential. I didn’t feel in any way that I had maxed out any of the events and that’s what we’ve been working on all winter. This is my job now and I’m working towards my goals for 2026.”
The track events delivered drama on drama, headlined by the 3000m finals which saw Nick Griggs and Louise Shanahan walk away with the gold medals. The win saw Griggs claim his first senior indoor title (8:14.52) following a dramatic final lap which saw him battling it out with Darragh McElhinney (8:15.08) after Andrew Coscoran came down on the final bend.
Speaking after securing his first senior title, Griggs said: “It’s special to win my first senior title in the circumstances where it was basically a race-off. Who knows what the selectors will do but I’ve secured my auto qualification for the World indoors. There was a lot more pressure on nationals this year, usually nationals you can go out and enjoy it a bit more, so I’m delighted I was able to deliver on my race plan.”
Louise Shanahan timed her finish to perfection in a thrilling women’s contest, bursting through in the closing metres (9:22.47) to add the 3,000m indoor title to last year’s 800m indoor title. Shanahan came out on top of the thrilling finish to cross ahead of Zoe Toland (CNDR Track AC) 9:22.59 and Michelle Finn (Leevale AC) 9:23.03.
The 1500m finals continued the theme of tactical racing and late finishes. Lucy Holmes emerged victorious in the women’s race to secure her first senior indoor title (4:31.10), while the men’s event produced one of the finishes of the day as Lughaidh Mallon launched a decisive move to pass Luke McCann in the final strides to capture gold in dramatic fashion in a winning time of 3:43.45.
The sprint events also lit up the arena. Sharlene Mawdsley underlined her dominance in the women’s 400m with a composed performance to claim a third consecutive national indoor title in 51.89. The men’s 400m was decided in a lung-busting finish, with Sean Doggett holding firm under immense pressure from Fintan Dewhirst to take his first senior indoor crown in 47.33.
In the short sprints, Ciara Neville (7.27) returned to the top step of the podium in the women’s 60m, securing her third national indoor title and her first since 20120. In the men’s equivalent, Bori Akinola (6.60) was in imperious form as he successfully defended his title, continuing his strong early-season momentum as attention now turns towards the upcoming World Indoor Championships.
The 800m finals were also closely contested with Hannah Seagrave claiming her first senior indoor title in the women’s race. The men’s event produced a championship highlight, with Cillian Kirwan a hugely popular winner as he stormed to victory in a new championship record time of 1:47.68 CR.
The day’s first track titles were decided in the race walks, where Kate Veale delivered another masterclass to claim an extraordinary tenth consecutive national indoor title, while Oisín Lane impressed with a commanding performance to secure his first senior indoor crown in the men’s event.
Eric Favors broke the championships record in the men’s shot with 19.57m, while Michaela Walsh picked up her 9th indoor title in a row. Michael Kent retained his title in the men’s pole vault with a best clearance of 4.50m.
Day 2 Results Summary:
Men’s 5000m Walk
1 Oisin LANE Mullingar Harriers A.C. 19:39.92
2 Seamus CLARKE Moy Valley A.C. 20:33.19
3 Matthew GLENNON Mullingar Harriers A.C. 21:09.38
Women’s 3000m Walk
1 Kate VEALE West Waterford A.C. 13:50.48
2 Aisling LANE Mullingar Harriers A.C. 14:07.13
3 Ciara WILSON BOWEN Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 14:21.79
Women’s 3000m
1 Louise SHANAHAN Leevale A.C. 9:22.47
2 Zoe TOLAND CNDR Track A.C. 9:22.59
3 Michelle FINN Leevale A.C. 9:23.03
Men’s 3000m (A)
1 Nick GRIGGS CNDR Track A.C. 8:14.52
2 Darragh MCELHINNEY Bantry A.C. 8:15.08
3 Callum MORGAN CNDR Track A.C. 8:16.30
Women’s 1500m
1 Lucy HOLMES Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:31.10
2 Niamh CARR Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:32.39
3 Madison MOONEY Tullamore Harriers A.C. 4:32.80
Men’s 1500m
1 Lughaidh MALLON U.C.D. A.C. 3:43.45
2 Luke MC CANN U.C.D. A.C. 3:43.51
3 Ronan MCMAHON-STAGGS Dublin City Harriers A.C. 3:44.77
Women’s 400m
1 Sharlene MAWDSLEY Newport A.C. 51.89
2 Arlene CROSSAN Finn Valley A.C. 54.12
3 Jenna BREEN City of Lisburn A.C. 54.39
Men’s 400m
1 Sean DOGGETT Athenry A.C. 47.33
2 Fintan DEWHIRST Tír Chonaill A.C.47.84
3 Hugo MAGEE Crusaders A.C. 48.92
Women’s 60m
1 Ciara NEVILLE Emerald A.C. 7.27
2 Precious AKPE-MOSES Blackrock (Louth) A.C. 7.33
3 Molly SCOTT St. Laurence. O’Toole A.C. 7.37
Men’s 60m
1 Bori AKINOLA U.C.D. A.C. 6.60
2 Max O`REILLY Riverstick/Kinsale A.C. 6.69
3 Craig DUFFY Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 6.71
Women’s 800m
1 Hannah SEAGRAVE Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 2:07.76
2 Emma MOORE Galway City Harriers A.C. 2:08.06
3 Pia LANGTON Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. 2:09.19
Men’s 800m
1 Cillian KIRWAN Raheny Shamrock A.C. 1:47.68 CR
2 Callum HURLEY Ferrybank A.C. 1:48.37
3 Finn WOODGER Metro/St. Brigids A.C. 1:49.60
Men’s Pole Vault
1 Michael KENT SEN M D.M.P. A.C. 4.50
2 Shane POWER St. Joseph’s A.C. 4.40
3 Matthew ROSSITER St. Abbans A.C. 4.00
Women’s Long Jump
1 Katherine O`CONNOR Dundalk St. Gerards A.C. 6.50 CR
2 Lauren CALLAGHAN Finn Valley A.C. 6.44
3 Anna MCCAULEY City of Lisburn A.C. 6.05
Men’s Long Jump
1 Sam HEALY Leevale A.C. 7.56
2 Reece ADEMOLA Leevale A.C. 7.49
3 Ryan ONOH Cork City A.C. 7.11
Women’s Shot Put
1 Michaela WALSH Swinford A.C. 14.15
2 Caoimhe GALLEN Lifford Strabane A.C. 13.02
3 Niamh MADDEN Nenagh Olympic A.C. 12.16
Men’s Shot Put
1 Eric FAVORS Raheny Shamrock A.C. 19.57 CR
2 John KELLY Finn Valley A.C. 18.19
3 James KELLY Finn Valley A.C. 15.49
ENDS
NOTES
- Photos available FOC on Sportsfile
