Healy whirs to 200m championship record
Phil Healy (Bandon) set the track alight with a championship record of 23.16 seconds in the women’s 200m on day 1 of the Irish Life Health National Indoor Championships (February 29).
Healy is doubling in these championships, she’s also running the 60m tomorrow, for ‘fun’ and went in lane 6. An excellent first bend at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena set up the race for the Bandon athlete with Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght) one lane inside. Healy sped away to 23.16 with Adeleke settling for silver in 24.08 and Catherine McManus (DCH) in third in 24.31. Full results are HERE
Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock) was equally impressive in the men’s 200m storming away (thankfully indoors from Storm Jorge) to win gold in 21.04 from Paul McDermott (Donore Harriers) second in 21.73 and Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers) in third in 22.06.
There was plenty of excitement in the men’s 5,000m race walk, even with only three competitors lining up. But it was a quality three with Alex Wright (Leevale) the defending champion in with world 6th placer Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley) and up-and-comer David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley).
25 laps of the indoor track awaited, and they ticked off at a quick rate with some risks being taken and yellow cards being dished out. Wright was to the fore early on but then the lead changed hands with Kenny and Boyce pushing forward. Wright went back in front but a red card and a trip to the time penalty zone was in the offing which he refused as he walked off the track. Effectively his race was over and it was a duel between Robert Heffernan’s stable.
Kenny had the gap though and held on for an excellent gold in 19:45.57 to Boyce’s 20:07.52.
Sarah Glennon (Mullingar Harriers) gave a gutsy effort in the women’s 3,000m race walk but Kate Veale (West Waterford) had to much strength to retain her national title in 14:47.05. Veronica Burke (Ballinasloe and District) came back for silver in 14:54.68 with Glennon settling for bronze in 14:56.38.
Ciara Wilson (DMP) caused a stir with a runaway victory in the women’s 3,000m as the rest of the pack watched her build an unassailable lead – she won in 9:35.67. Niamh Allen (Crusaders A.C.) and Niamh Kearney (Sli Cualann) won the race for silver and bronze with 9:47.78 and 9:48.30 respectively.
Field of gold
There was a tie for gold in the women’s high jump with Pippa Rogan (Sli Cualann) and Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) sharing the spoils with 1.75m. Similarly it was a shared bronze for Daena Kealy (St Abban’s) and Shannon Sheehy (Clonliffe Harriers) with 1.70m.
Sean Roth (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.) returned from his German base to win the men’s pole vault with 4.90m. Yuri Kanahsh (West Waterford A.C.) was second with 4.65m clearance and Peter Glass (Letterkenny A.C.) third with 4.55m.
Antony Daffurn (S.R.L. A.C.) won the men’s triple jump with 14.79m followed by Mark Burton (City of Lisburn A.C.) with 14.77m and Abraham Miyares-Cuesta (Athlone IT A.C.) with 14.71m.
Saragh Buggy (St Abban’s) won the women’s long jump with 6.05m and now will be favourite for double gold in the horizontal jumps with the women’s triple jump tomorrow. Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton A.C.) was second with 5.87m with Jennifer Hanrahan (Tallaght A.C.) third with 5.71m.
Michaela Walsh (Swinford A.C.) kept up her medal-winning way in the women’s shot put to claim gold with a best of 14.37m followed by Casey Mulvey (Inny Vale A.C.) in second with 13.06m with Ciara Sheehy (Emerald A.C.) third with 13.03m.
Of other action that caught the national headlines, Shane Healy (MSB) made the men’s 1500m at the grand old age of 51 with an M50 world indoor record of 4:05.05.
Day 1 results
Women
200m
Phil Healy (Bandon) 23.16, 2. Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght) 24.08, 3. Catherine McManus (Dublin City Harriers) 24.31
3,000m
1. Ciara Wilson (D.M.P. A.C.) 9:35.67, 2. Niamh Allen (Crusaders A.C.) 9:47.78, 3. Niamh Kearney (Sli Cualann A.C.) 9:48.30
3,000m race walk
1. Kate Veale (West Waterford A.C.) 14:47.05, 2. Veronica Burke (Ballinasloe and District) 14:54.68, 3. Sarah Glennon (Mullingar Harriers A.C.) 14:56.38
High jump
Pippa Rogan (Sli Cualann), 1. Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) 1.75m, 3. Daena Kealy (St Abban’s), 3. Shannon Sheehy (Clonliffe Harriers) 1.70m
Long jump
Saragh Buggy (St. Abbans A.C.) 6.05m, 2. Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton A.C.) 5.87m, 3. Jennifer Hanrahan (Tallaght A.C.) 5.71m
Shot Put
1.Michaela Walsh (Swinford A.C.) 14.37m, 2. Casey Mulvey (Inny Vale A.C.) 13.06m, 3. Ciara Sheehy (Emerald A.C.) 13.03m
Men
200m
1. Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock A.C.) 21.04, 2. Paul McDermott (Donore Harriers) 21.73, 3. Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers A.C.) 22.06
5,000m race walk
1. David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley A.C.) 19:45.97, 2. Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley A.C.) 20:07.52
Pole vault
1. Sean Roth (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.) 4.90m, 2. Yuri Kanash (West Waterford A.C.) 4.65m, 3. Peter Glass (Letterkenny A.C.) 4.55m
Triple jump
1. Antony Daffurn (S.R.L. A.C.) 14.79m, 2. Mark Burton (City of Lisburn A.C.) 14.77m, 3. Abraham Miyares-Cuesta (Athlone IT A.C.) 14.71m