Clonliffe Harriers AC (Men’s) and Ratoath AC (Women’s) claimed the AAI National Indoor League titles today (February 8th) at the TUS International Arena in Athlone.
Tokyo Olympians Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers) and Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) also starred in the guest races held after the conclusion of the league, during the afternoon session of action.
Morning Session – League
Ratoath AC comfortably won the women’s league title with several impressive performances throughout the session.
Chief amongst them was the efforts of their 4x400m relay team of Niamh Murphy, Laura Kelly, Katie Doherty and Aisling Stratford who combined to win that event in 3:55.32.
The aforementioned Doherty was second overall in the 200m (25.05), Erin Friel (Letterkenny AC) winning in 24.98.
The men’s competition was a much tighter affair with Clonliffe Harriers narrowly edging out fellow Dublin club Dundrum South Dublin AC.
Sean Cronin produced an impressive performance in the Men’s 3000m to finish second in 8:33.70, just behind Raheny Shamrock’s Juan Ignacio Pena (8:32.67).
Clonliffe’s Niall Allen won the Weight for Distance with a best throw of 6.59m to claim an all-important victory for his club.
Afternoon Session – Guests
Tokyo Olympians Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers) and Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) stormed to new indoor personal bests in the afternoon session.
Greene, who was part of the Irish mixed 4x400m relay team who won bronze at the World Athletics Relays in the Bahamas last May, won his guest 400m race in 46.49. This moves him up to seventh on the Irish indoor all-time list for the event.
Lawler raced in the guest 200m and won his race in a new indoor best of 20.80. That moves the Carlow native to joint third on the Irish indoor all-time list alongside Paul Hession.
Over 60m both Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley AC) and Gabriel Kehinde (Nenagh Olympic AC) recorded two victories. In the opening series Leahy ran 7.42, before lowering that time to 7.38 later in the day. Kehinde’s two winning times were both 6.80.
Molly Scott (St. Laurence O’Toole AC) claimed victory in the Women’s 60m Hurdles in 8.38.
In the Women’s 200m Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers) clocked 24.54 to win ahead of Aoife Lynch of Donore Harriers (24.76).
Meabh Corkery (Midleton AC) was a convincing winner of the Women’s Pole Vault clearing 3.35m, while the Men’s Triple Jump was won by Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC, who had a best effort of 12.75m.
AAI National Indoor League – Results
Men’s
- Clonliffe Harriers AC – 223 points
- Dundrum South Dublin AC – 212 points
- Ratoath AC – 185 points
Women’s
- Ratoath AC – 250 points
- Dundrum South Dublin AC – 218.5 points
- Craughwell AC – 182.5 points
