An exhilarating two days of athletics action came to a close in fitting style this afternoon as the stars of Irish track and field shone in front of a full house on the final day of the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships (Feb 23rd).
Sarah Healy (UCD AC) broke her own 1500m championship record with a stunning 4:08.74 CR, while there was also a gold medal-winning performance from 400m star Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) who retained her title in 51.91.
There was also drama in the short sprints with Bori Akinola (UCD AC) getting the better of defending champion Israel Olatunde in a thrilling men’s 60m which saw Max O’Reilly of Riverstick/Kinsale AC split the pair on his way to claiming the silver medal.
Day 2 Summary
Healy (UCD AC) broke the 1500m championship record for the second time this weekend, clocking a 4:08.74 CR to better the 4:12.37 CR she set just 24 hours previous.
Speaking after the race Healy said: “It felt pretty good out there. I actually felt I ran more of an even race yesterday, but it was hard to run out there on my own and I’m happy with the time. I don’t get to race at home too much so it’s fun to get to see everyone and for my mum to get to see me race.”
Lucy Holmes (West Waterford AC) ran a huge race to take silver in 4:23.10, with Amy O’Donoghue (Dundrum South Dublin AC) back on another national podium in third in 4:23.74.
Clonliffe’s Cathal Doyle retained his national 1500m title in dominant fashion with the Paris Olympian running clear of the field with 400m to go to cross in a winning time of 3:58.10.
Speaking after the race, Doyle said: “The plan was to stay out of trouble and take it up at 400m, and to try wind it up. I’ve been racing in quick races for the last month, so I tried something different today. I heard the bell and put the foot down, but I was confident when I couldn’t hear any steps heading around the final bend that I had it”.
Doyle continued: “I’m racing Friday in Madrid and then all going well I’ll be selected for Europeans. I like racing and find I get sharper that way, so I feel I’m getting the hand of indoor running now”.
Lughaidh Mallon (U.C.D. AC) was second in 4:00.61, with Brhane Gebrebrhan (Annadale Striders) third in 4:00.85.
The women’s 400m was one of the deepest finals of the weekend and those in attendance were treated to another outstanding performance from Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) who stormed to gold in a winning time of 51.91.
Speaking after spending almost two hours signing autographs, Mawdsley said: “I wanted to make sure I attacked the first 200m and feel like I did the job better today than yesterday. I felt strong out there and I managed to avoid any traffic at the break. I’ll reset, but focus is very much the European indoor championships now and I’m excited for that”.
It was a dramatic race from the break with lots of jostling for position which resulted in Lauren Cadden being bumped out on the bend. Phil Healy (Bandon AC) 53.25 and Rachel McCann (North Down AC) 53.37 enjoyed an epic battle for the silver medal heading into the final 200 meters with Healy staying on strong down the home straight to secure the second placed spot on the podium.
The rising stars of men’s 400m running stole the show in today’s men’s final. 17-year-old Conor Kelly of Derry Track Club produced another outstanding performance to clock a new U20 national 400m record to take gold in 46.54, bettering the record he posted in yesterday’s first round of 46.63.
David Bosch (U.C.D. AC) 47.54 and Sean Doggett (Athenry AC) 47.69 chased hard but were unable to catch Kelly who hung on for his first national senior title. Donore’s Jack Raftery unfortunately pulled up injured heading down the back straight.
Israel Olatunde went out on his shield in defence of his 60m title, handing over top spot on the podium to Bori Akinola (UCD AC) who stormed to a 6.61 to claim his first senior title in a thrilling finish.
With much focus on the battle between Akinola and Olatunde, it was Riverstick/Kinsale’s Max O’Reilly who would run himself into silver in 6.69 to back up his recent indoor performances. Olatunde would settle for bronze in 6.72.
The women’s 60m final saw Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley) regain the women’s national sprint title in 7.39, finishing ahead of a resurgent Ciara Neville (Emerald AC) who looked to be returning to the form that saw her claim the 2020 title on the back of an injury plagued few seasons. Sive O’Toole (St. L. O’Toole AC) rounded out the podium in third in 7.52.
Sean Tobin (Clonmel AC) and James Gormley (Carmen Runners) produced one of the finishes of the day in the men’s 3000m. Tobin was first to make his move and held on superbly to cross in a winning time of 8:09.18 from Gormley in second in 8:09.19. Calum Morgan (CNDR Track) completed the podium in third in 8:11.27.
Roisin Flanagan (Finn Valley) ran away from the field to take the women’s 3000m title in a winning time of 9:13.51. Ide Ni Dhomhaill (West Limerick AC) crossed in second in 9:21.45, with last year’s silver medallist Niamh Kearney (Raheny Shamrock AC) taking bronze in 9:27.95.
Louise Shanahan (Leevale AC) retained her 800m title convincingly to clock 2:07.82 ahead of Emma Moore (Galway City Harriers AC) 2:08.63, and Pia Langton (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) 2:08.82.
Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen AC) rolled back the years to claim his first senior track title in the men’s 800m in 1:51.11. Finn Woodger (Metro/St. Brigids AC) ran McGrath all the way to the line in 1:51.74, with Callum Hurley (Ferrybank AC) third in 1:51.98.
David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley AC) made it FIVE national indoor walks titles in a row, taking today’s 5,000m in a winning time of 19:04.76. Oisin Lane (Mullingar Harriers AC) followed him home in 19:39.09, with Joe Mooney (Adamstown AC) third in 20:34.48.
Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) also continued her domination of the senior walks ranks, picking up her 8th indoor title in a row over 3000m in a time of 13:24.02. Aisling Lane (Mullingar Harriers) stayed on strongly for silver in 13:57.28, with Ciara Wilson Bowen (Dundrum South Dublin AC) securing bronze in 14:23.33.
17-year-old Michael Kent (DMP AC) walked away with his first national senior title with a lifetime best of 4.70m in the men’s pole vault competition. Joshua Fitzgerald (Leevale AC) picked up silver with a best clearance of 4.50m, with Shane Power (St Joseph’s AC) bronze with 4.40m.
Meabh Corkery (Midleton AC) is the 2025 pole vault champion thanks to a 3.40m indoor PB clearance. Chloe Lynch (Gowran AC) was second with 3.15, while defending champion Kara Morrissey (St. L. O’Toole AC) was third with 3.15.
Lauren Callaghan (Finn Valley AC) turned last year’s silver medal into gold in the women’s long jump competition. The Finn Valley athlete’s second jump of 5.94m proved her best of the day and was enough to secure the 2025 national title. Laura Frawley (Nenagh Olympic AC) picked up her second medal of the weekend with a best of 5.70m, while Anna McCauly (City of Lisburn AC) completed the podium with a 5.66m jump.
Colm Bourke (Raheny Shamrock AC) won a tightly contest men’s long jump with a best of 7.15m ahead of Ben Fisher (7.07) and Luke O’Carroll (Tralee Harriers AC) 6.85.
Michaela Walsh (Swinford AC) took her 8th indoor title in a row in the women’s shot, throwing a best of 14.41m. Ciara Sheehy (Emerald AC) 12.87m claimed silver once again, with Ashleigh McArdle (Lifford Strabane AC) bronze 11.93m.
Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock AC) lived up to the favourites tag in the men’s shot with the Raheny athlete taking gold with his opening throw of 19.40m proving his best of the day. John Kelly (Finn Valley) secured silver with 17.85, and Callum Keating (North Cork AC) bronze (14.34m).
The 4x400m relays signed off this year’s indoor championships in style with UCD women’s team of Molly Hourihan, Renee Crotty, Ellie Hartnett, and Hollie Kilroe setting a new national club record with a time of 3:47.66 on their way to gold.
The Ratoath men’s team of Jason Murray, Darragh Masterson, James Kelly, and Cillian Conway took gold in the men’s 4x400m race with a winning time of 3:20.07 CR.
Finals Results Summary:
Men’s 5000m Walk
1 David KENNY Farranfore Maine Valley AC 19:04.76
2 Oisin LANE Mullingar Harriers A.C. 19:39.09
3 Joe MOONEY Adamstown A.C. 20:34.48
Women’s 3000m Walk
1 Kate VEALE West Waterford A.C. 13:24.02
2 Aisling LANE Mullingar Harriers A.C. 13:57.28
3 Ciara WILSON BOWEN Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 14:23.33
Women’s 3000m
1 Roisin FLANAGAN Finn Valley A.C. 9:14.02
2 Ide NICDHOMHNAILL West Limerick A.C. 9:21.45
3 Niamh KEARNEY Raheny Shamrock A.C. 9:27.95
Men’s 3000m (A)
1 Sean TOBIN Clonmel A.C. 8:09.18
2 James GORMLEY Carmen Runners A.C. 8:09.19
3 Callum MORGAN CNDR Track A.C. 8:11.27
Women’s 1500m
1 Sarah HEALY U.C.D. A.C. 4:08.74 CR
2 Lucy HOLMES West Waterford A.C. 4:23.10
3 Amy O DONOGHUE Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 4:23.74
Men’s 1500m
1 Cathal DOYLE Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 3:58.10
2 Lughaidh MALLON U.C.D. A.C. 4:00.61
3 Brhane GEBREBRHAN Annadale Striders 4:00.85
Women’s 400m
1 Sharlene MAWDSLEY Newport A.C. 51.91
2 Phil HEALY Bandon A.C. 53.25
3 Rachel MCCANN North Down A.C. 53.37
Men’s 400m
1 Conor KELLY Derry Track Club 46.54
2 David BOSCH U.C.D. A.C. 47.54
3 Sean DOGGETT Athenry A.C. 47.69
Women’s 60m
1 Sarah LEAHY Killarney Valley A.C. 7.39
2 Ciara NEVILLE Emerald A.C. 7.41
3 Sive O`TOOLE St. L. O’Toole A.C. 7.52
Men’s 60m
1 Bori AKINOLA U.C.D. A.C. 6.61
2 Max O`REILLY Riverstick/Kinsale A.C. 6.69
3 Israel OLATUNDE Tallaght A.C. 6.72
Women’s 800m
1 Louise SHANAHAN Leevale A.C. 2:07.82
2 Emma MOORE Galway City Harriers A.C. 2:08.63
3 Pia LANGTON Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. 2:08.82
Men’s 800m
1 Kevin MCGRATH Bohermeen A.C. 1:51.11
2 Finn WOODGER Metro/St. Brigids A.C. 1:51.74
3 Callum HURLEY Ferrybank A.C. 1:51.98
Men’s Pole Vault
- Michael KENT D.M.P. A.C. 4.70
- Joshua FITZGERALD Leevale A.C. 4.50
- Shane POWER St. Joseph’s A.C. 4.40
Women’s Pole Vault
1 Meabh CORKERY Midleton A.C. 3.40
2 Chloe LYNCH Gowran A.C. 3.15
3 Kara MORRISSEY St. L. O’Toole A.C. 3.15
Women’s Long Jump
1 Lauren CALLAGHAN Finn Valley A.C. 5.94
2 Laura FRAWLEY Nenagh Olympic A.C. 5.70
3 Anna MCCAULEY City of Lisburn A.C. 5.66
Men’s Long Jump
1 Colm BOURKE Raheny Shamrock A.C. 7.15
2 Ben FISHER City of Lisburn A.C. 7.07
3 Luke O CARROLL Tralee Harriers A.C. 6.85
Women’s Shot Put
1 Michaela WALSH Swinford A.C. 14.41
2 Ciara SHEEHY Emerald A.C. 12.87
3 Ashleigh MCARDLE Lifford Strabane A.C. 11.93
Men’s Shot Put
1 Eric FAVORS Raheny Shamrock A.C. 19.40
2 John KELLY Finn Valley A.C. 17.85
3 Callum KEATING North Cork A.C. 14.34
- Full Results Here
ENDS
NOTES
- Photos available FOC on Sportsfile
