Barr to star in AAI Games

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Barr to star in AAI Games

Thomas Barr (Ferrybank) is set to race in Ireland’s first 400m hurdles indoors at the Irish Life Health AAI Indoor Games in the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on Sunday (February 4).

In an exhibition race Barr will compete against training partners Paul Byrne (St Abban’s) and Ben Kiely (Ferrybank). Byrne holds the Irish best of 51.79 which he set in France last year.

There will be a full programme of events with some international competitors sprinkled in to add to the depth of good domestic competition. Link to full entries and timetable HERE

Good competition in the sprints

The sprints should provide more good competition. In the 60m, Leon Reid (Menapians) and Marcus Lawler (St Laurence O’Toole) are among the lead male entrants with Joan Healy (Bandon) and Molly Scott (SLOT) in the women’s.

Over 200m, national junior 400m champion Cathal Locke (Dooneen) is entered alongside Stephen Gaffney (Rathfarnham) and Great Britain’s Theo Campbell and Ronnie Wells. 400m specialist Sinead Denny (DSD) also drops down in distance with Patience Jumbo Gula (Dundalk St Gerard’s) and Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton) among her competitors.

Cathal Locke is also entered in the 400m with internationals Andrew Mellon (Crusaders), Luke Lennon Ford (Clonliffe Harriers) and Leon Reid listed.

Canada’s Caroline Muir, a former world university bronze medallist should provide good competition for Sophie Becker (St Joseph’s), Catherine McManus (DCH) and Ciara Deely (Kilkenny City Harriers) – an event which has a number of good competitors entered.

In-form Mooney goes over 800m

Claire Mooney (UCD) heads a good women’s 800m field that includes training partner Alanna Lally (UCD), Jenna Bromell (Emerald) and young gun Jo Keane (Ennis Track). Mooney is unbeaten in her two races to date and a sub 2:04 is certainly in the offing.

Kieran Kelly (Raheny Shamrock) and Karl Griffin (UCD) head the men’s 800m entries where a number of young athletes will be looking to make their mark.

There will be a good sprinkle of experience and youth in the women’s 1500m with Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle), Laura Crowe (An Riocht), Sarah Healy (Blackrock – Dublin) and Jodie McCann (DSD) entered. Healy, who won European Youth 1500m gold last summer, and McCann will be aiming to put it up to their more senior rivals.  

Danny Mooney (Letterkenny), Eoin Everard (Kilkenny City Harriers) and Rory Chesser (Ennis Track) are among those on the men’s 1500m start sheet but Everard is more than likely set to race the 3,000m.

The Kilkenny man should come close to the 8 minute mark with young Darragh McElhinney (Bantry) looking to have an impact again at this meeting. McElhinney set an Irish youth record of 8:18.88 last year.

Youth in Laura Nicholson (Bandon) and Siobhra O’Flaherty (SLOT) will be looking to take on more seasoned runners such as Ciara Durkan (Skerries) in the women’s 3,000m.  

Matthew Behan (Crusaders) will be fresh from his 7.97 second run to win the U23 60m hurldes title last week and will look to go faster in Abbotstown.

Sarah Lavin (UCD) will have stiff competition against Megan Marrs (City of Lisburn) and Mollie Courtney of Great Britain.

St Abban's athletes to impress in jumps

St Abban’s athletes will be among those starring in the jumps. Saragh Buggy takes to the women’s triple jump with Ruby Millet in the long jump and Barry Pender in the high jump.  

Howard (Bandon) is among the lead competitors in the men’s long jump while Sarah McCarthy should also feature in the long jump.

Shane Martin (Ballymena & Antrim) and Ellen McCartney (City of Lisburn) are among the lead pole vault entrants.  

Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers) is one of the leading throwers on the day and will be testing out his winter training. 

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