MCELHINNEY, MCDONNELL, AND MAWDSLEY MASTER DAY 1 OF NATIONAL INDOORS

Darragh McElhinney (UCD AC), Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers), and Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) starred on day 1 of the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena (February 26th).

McElhinney, who recently broke the Irish 3,000m (U23) record showed all his class and experience to take the 3000m gold medal in what turned out to be a hugely tactic race, crossing the line in 8:02:84.

It was a stacked 3000m race, and fans got to see the exciting Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) going with the injection of pace set from McElhinney with 5 laps to go. Griggs, the Irish U20 record holder, stayed on bravely to cross for silver in 8:05:8. Keenan Kilrehill of Moy Valley AC completed the podium in 8:12:14.

The men’s 200m was a brilliant race with Olympians Robert McDonnell and Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) going toe to toe in a brilliant nip-and-tuck lap of of the NIA track. 19-year-old McDonnell would eventually come out on top in a blistering time of 20.86CBP which saw the Galway star go third on the Irish all-time list.

Sharlene Mawdsley secured the women’s 200m in ultra-impressive style, breezing through the morning’s heats before battling it out for gold with Sarah Leahy of Killarney Valley AC in the final. Mawdsley looked all class in the final and maintained her form coming around the final bend to cross in a winning time of 24.05.

Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) secured the 60m hurdles title with a superb 8:12 display. The Emerald AC Olympian will now turn her attention to the World Indoors next month having already secured the qualifying standard. Matthew Behan of Crusaders AC took the men’s title in 8.14, his performance matched by only his post-race celebration as he continues his national championship medal collection.     

Walks Action        

The walks got the action underway on day 1 of these championships, with Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) securing yet another national indoor 3k title in a time of 13:32:04. Olympians Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley AC) and David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley) clashed in the men’s 5k walk final, with Kenny taking the gold in 19.36.38. Boyce now heads for the World Athletics Race Walking Team Championships in Muscat, Oman (March 4th & 5th).

Field Events

There was also action aplenty in the field events, with Eric Favors making the trip from stateside all the more worthwhile by taking the shot put title in 19.48CBP. Zoe Mohan (Cushinstown AC) secured the other throws title on offer today, claiming the WFD gold with a 6.67 throw in a close fought competition.

Saragh Buggy claimed yet another indoor triple jump title. The St Abbans athlete has been knocking on the door of the national record of 13.28 lately and continued her brilliant early season form with a jump of 13.05 to take the title.

David Cussen of Old Abbey AC had the crowd willing him on as he bid to clear 2.15 in the men’s high jump competition. He cleared on his 3rd attempt to secure the gold medal from Ciaran Connolly of Le Chéile AC in second (2.05).

Ellen McCartney (City of Lisburn) lived up to favouritism in the pole vault, entering the competition at 3.85 before bowing out with a winning clearance of 4.00m. Una Brice of Leevale was second in 3.50, with Clodagh Walsh of Abbey Striders in 3rd (3.35).

The men’s long jump was a super competition and the crowd really got behind the athletes, cheering on Shane Howard of Bandon AC to a winning jump of 7.47 from Reece Ademola of Leevale in second (7.40). Adam McMullen of Crusaders took the bronze with 7.16.

Heats Action

The heats of the 800m also took place today, with Claire Mooney Naas AC posting the fastest time with a 2:14.54. The final is set for 14.25pm tomorrow. Roland Surlis (Annalee AC) was fastest of the men’s 800m heat times, clocking 1:52.55 (final tomorrow 14.35pm). Olympians Mark English and Louise Shanahan both looked comfortable as they progressed to tomorrow’s final.

Fellow Tokyo 2020 teammates, Phil Healy (Bandon AC) and Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrocks) also progressed safely through to tomorrow’s 400m final with comfortable 54.87 and 54.77 times respectively. Cillín Greene (Galway City Harriers AC) completed the Tokyo trio to make it through to their respective 400m finals tomorrow, crossing the line for 47.22.

The heats of the 1500m also whetted the appetite for tomorrow’s schedule, with recent 1000m record-breakers Luke McCann (U.C.D. AC) 3:58.18 and Georgie Hartigan (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 4:34:35 posting the fastest qualifying times.

Tomorrow’s action starts at 11.00am with the heats of the men’s 60m.

Select Results:

3k Walk Final Women

Kate VEALE West Waterford A.C. 13.32.04
Ruth Monaghan Sligo A.C. 16.13.00
Doireann Ní Icí West Waterford A.C. 16.45.46

5k Walk Final Men

David KENNY Farranfore Maine Valley A.C. 19:36.38        
Brendan BOYCE Finn Valley A.C. 21:05.24            
Joe MOONEY Adamstown A.C.    21:32.10

3000m Final Men

Darragh McElhinney UCD AC 8:02:84
Nick Griggs Mid Ulster 8:05 AC: 8:05:83
Keenan Kilrehill Moy Valley AC 8:12:14

200m Final Women

Sharlene MAWDSLEY Newport A.C. 24.05            
Sarah LEAHY Killarney Valley A.C. 24.31
Lauren CADDEN Sligo A.C. 24.56

200m Final Men

Robert MC DONNELL Galway City Harriers A.C.    20.86    
Marcus LAWLER Clonliffe Harriers A.C.    21.06    
Colin DOYLE Leevale A.C. 21.60

60m Hurdles Final Women

Sarah Lavin EmeraldAC 8:12
Kate Doherty Dundrum South Dublin AC 8:27
Lilly-Ann O’Hora Dooneen AC 8:27

60m Hurdles Final Men

Matthew BEHAN Crusaders A.C. 8.14     
Valantinos GOULARAS Crusaders A.C. 8.25          
Gerard O DONNELL Carrick-on-Shannon A.C. 8.39

Pole Vault Final Women

Ellen MCCARTNEY City of Lisburn A.C. 4.00
Una BRICE Leevale A.C. 3.50                     
Clodagh WALSH Abbey Striders A.C.        3.35

Long Jump Final Men

Shane HOWARD Bandon A.C. 7.47
Reece ADEMOLA Leevale A.C. 7.40
Adam MCMULLEN Crusaders A.C. 7.16

Shot Put Final Men

Eric FAVORS Raheny Shamrock A.C. 19.48 CBP
James KELLY Finn Valley A.C. 17.33
Gavin MCLAUGHLIN Finn Valley A.C. 16.57

Triple Jump Final Women

Saragh BUGGY St. Abbans A.C. 13.05
Aisling MACHUGH Naas A.C. 11.65
Emily O MAHONY Waterford A.C. 11.20

High Jump Final Men

David CUSSEN Old Abbey A.C.     2.15
Ciaran CONNOLLY Le Chéile A.C. 2.05
Kourosh FOROUGHI Star of the Sea A.C. 1.95
Evan HALLINAN Craughwell A.C. 1.95

WFD Final Women

Zoe MOHAN Cushinstown A.C.   6.67
Roisin HOWARD Bandon A.C.      6.38      
Bridget MCDYER Finn Valley A.C. 6.46

Full Result: Click HERE