The performance of the day came when Dara Kervick (Clonliffe Harriers AC) won his 400m heat in 46.80 seconds, well inside the 47.20 qualification standard for European Indoor Athletics Championships which takes place in Prague 6-8 March. This time significantly improves on his previous best of 47.26 set this year at the AAI Games and moves him to number seven on the all-time list. Tomorrow’s Men’s 400m final should be a cracker with a quality field of athletes looking to secure spots on the men’s 4x400m relay team for Prague. Qualifiers are Dara Kervick 46.80, Eanna Maddden 48.71 Paul Murphy 48.36, Timmy Crowe 48.39, Harry Purcell 48.09 and Brandon Arrey 49.07.
Proper Takes her 17th National Title
In the field, Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) won an impressive 17th national indoor title with a leap of 6.22m in the Long Jump, further confirming herself as Ireland’s greatest ever indoor athlete. However there was disappointment for the Waterford athletes as the jump was outside the needed European standard of 6.45m. Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton AC) continued her string of good indoor performances finishing second with 6.09m. Proper will line up in the 60m heats tomorrow morning and the 200m straight final.
Stadium Record in Men’s Pole Vault
There was a new stadium record for the Clonliffe duo of Ian Rodger and David Donegan who both cleared 4.80m in the Pole Vault and were both awarded first place. Elsewhere in the field Cathriona Farrell (Craughwell AC) took the High Jump with 1.77m while the women’s Shot Putt title went to Alana Frattaroli (Limerick AC) with 12.72m. Men’s Triple Jump was won by Niall Counihan (Dooneen AC) with a leap of 14.34
Endurance
The women’s 3000m title went to Maria McCambridge (DSD AC) in 9:26.77. McCambridge who has accumulated 17 national titles outdoors including Marathon wins, last won an indoor title in 2004.
Alex Wright (Leevale AC) retained his national title in the Men’s 5000m Walk winning in 19:52.36 from Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC) with Luke Hickey (Leevale AC) in third. The women’s 3000m Walk was won by Veronica Burke (Ballinasloe & District AC) in a time of 14.40.89.
Results for Day 1 and Qualifiers for Tomorrow’s Finals
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Timetable Day 2
BE THERE for Super Final Sunday!
Tickets are available to purchase on the door €10 / Children U16 go Free
RTÉ 2 Coverage
If you can’t make it to see all the action unfold you can catch a special highlights package on RTÉ 2 6.30pm on Sunday, 22nd of February. They will also show extensive coverage of the European Indoor Athletics Championships in Prague