OLATUNDE DELIVERS AS O’SULLIVAN CLAIMS DOUBLE GOLD
Israel Olatunde (UCD AC) and Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) provided THREE of the standout performances at today’s 123.ie National Junior and U23 Championships which were hosted by Tullamore Harriers Athletic Club (July 2nd).
Olatunde claimed gold in the men’s U23 100m final in a time of 10.42, a race that would see all eight finalists clock 10.71 or better in another great example of the depth in Irish sprinting at present.
O’Sullivan, fresh from her winning run at last week’s European Team Championships, claimed gold in the 800m (2.10.04) before returning to the track later in the afternoon to also secure gold in the 1500m (4.27.02).
Both Olatunde and O’Sullivan will now turn their attention to the upcoming European U23 Championships in Finland (July 13 – 16), as will UCD’s Nicola Tuthill who broke the Championship Record (CR) in the Hammer Throw (U23) with a best of 64.89 later in the afternoon.
Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) provided one of the U20 highlights on the day, smashing the U20 Championships Record over 1500m to clock 3:45.91, a time made all the more impressive given his 3.40.63 in Watford less than 24 hours previous.
U23 Report
The first track medals of the day will be decided in the walks over 3,000m and 5,000m. Oisin Lane (Mullingar Harriers) knocked over three seconds off his own CR in the 5000m walk to cross in a winning time of 20.23.00.
The 400m hurdles followed soon after with Cara Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 1:04.04 and Ryan Canning (Letterkenny AC) 56.06 securing gold in their respective races.
One of the performances of the day saw Ava O’Connor (Tullamore Harriers) knock over a minute off the CR in the 3,000m s/c. O’Connor looked very much at home on the Tullamore track and went solo from the gun to clock 10.21.23. The men’s race saw a fine display from Oisin Spillane who secured gold with a flawless 9.08.56 for Ennis Track.
The 100m finals were compelling viewing, and while Olatunde’s win (10.42) will understandably grab the headline, the performance from those behind will give much hope to future international sprinting success. Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers) 10.54 was second, with Gabriel Kehinde (Ennis Track) third 10.57.
Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) backed up her U23 indoor 60m title to take the 100m gold medal in a thrilling finish with Adeyemi Talabhi. Bergin crossed in a winning time of 12.09, with Talabhi a close second in 12.14.
Anika Thompson (Leevale) secured a PB and CR of 16:38.32 in the 5000m, finishing ahead of a quality field which included Aoife O’Cuill (St Coacas) and Laura Mooney (Tullamore). Thompson came into the weekend already boasting the qualifying standard for the European U23 Championships (10,000m) and will be buoyed by her current form given the long NCAA season.
Shay McEvoy (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) 15:03.19 got the better of Abdel Laadjel (Donore Harriers) 15:05.82 in a tactical men’s race the also augers well for the upcoming European championships.
Sophie O’Sullivan would collect the first of her two gold medals in the women’s 800m (2.10.04), a race that was quickly followed by the men’s equivalent which offered up one of the finishes of the day that saw Nathan Sheehy Cremin (Emerald AC) just getting the nod in 1:56.24 from Traian Rebega (Metro/St. Brigids AC) 1:56.60 and Kyle Moorhead (Craughwell AC) 1:56.73.
Colin Doyle (Leevale AC) was a leading contender for gold in the men’s 200m and aptly delivered with a winning 21.56. Molly Hourihan (Dundrum South Dublin AC) claimed the women’s title in 24.68, getting the better of 100m champion Katie Bergin.
Lauren McCourt (Bandon AC) showed her class to secure gold in the 400m in 55.62, finishing ahead of her familiar rival Caoimhe Cronin (Le Cheile) who crossed for silver in 56.01.
Long jump stars Reece Ademola (7.28m) and Ruby Millet (6.17) came out on top in their respective competitions, both managing the swirling conditions well as they finalise preparations for the upcoming European Championships.
Ciara Sheehy (Emerald AC) was the standout discus thrower on the day, posting a best of 42.27 on a challenging day for the throwers.
Junior Report
Aisling Lane (Mullingar Harriers) picked up the first medal of the championships and looked ultra impressive over the 3,000m as she walked her way to 15.05.20.
Tir Chonaill’s Fintan Dewhirst continued his winning run in the 400mH (54.39), while his teammate Lucy McGlynn (Tir Chonaill) had to settle for silver following an outstanding winning performance from Eve Mooney (Ratoath AC) 1:03.49.
Leevale’s sprint star Lucy-May Sleeman looked very sharp on her way to picking up the sprint double over 100m (12.01) and 200m (24.81). Sleeman would be followed home on both occasions by clubmate Fatima Amusa (Leevale).
Darragh Murphy (Limerick AC) was best of the 200m sprinters, winning gold in 22.02, while Sean Aigboboh (Tallaght AC) took the honours in a stacked 100m in 10.88.
Nick Griggs (Candour Track Club) was one of the standout U20 performers on the day, smashing the U20 Championships Record over 1500m to clock 3:45.91, a time made all the more impressive given his 3.40.63 in Watford less than 24 hours previous.
The women’s 1500m was billed as one of the races of the day, and it didn’t disappoint with Hannah Kehoe (Kilkenny City Harriers AC) racing away from a talented field of athletes to cross in 4:37.15.
Louise O’Mahoney (BMOH AC) continued to impress this afternoon, claiming the U20 5,000m title in a time of 16:48.65 ahead of Heather Murphy (St. Michael's AC) 17:45.74.
Niamh Murray (Bray Runners) picked up gold in the 400m (55.25), while Killian Fahy (Leevale AC) was best of the ‘one-lap-wonders’ in the men’s race (49.08).
Adam Nolan (SLOT) set a new National U20 110m hurdles record with a stunning 13.70 last month, and followed up with another solid performance in the windy conditions to pick up gold in 14.17. Arabella Adekoya (St. L. O'Toole AC) looks a star of the future and secured gold in the women’s race in 14.69.
Elizabeth Ndudi (DSD) returned to the long jump following her 6.44 U20NR last weekend, taking the win today in 6.30m CR.
The Leevale pole vaulters continue dominate the event, with Una Brice (Leevale AC) and Joshua Fitzgerald (Leevale) backing up favouritism to finish top of the podium.
Ava Rochford (Nenagh Olympic) is the 2023 high jump champion thanks to her 1.76 clearance which was just short of Sommer Lecky’s 1.80 CR.
Anna Gavigan (LSA) was arguably the day’s throwing highlight, posting a huge 49.32m CR to take the Discus title.
Relay Finals
The relays closed out this year’s championships in some of the worst conditions of the day, but it didn’t affect Ratoath AC who yet again stole the show with a host of medal winning performances across the 4x100 and 4x400 races.
Metro St Brigids would also celebrate some end of day success with a brilliant 3:27.22 CR in the men’s U23 4x400m.
Select Results:
U20 3,000m Walk
1 Aisling LANE U20W Mullingar Harriers A.C. 15:05.20
2 Sinead MAHER U20W South Galway A.C. 15:32.28
3 Ciara WILSON BOWEN U20W Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 15:33.50
U23 5,000m Walk
1 Oisin LANE U23 Mullingar Harriers A.C. 20:23.00 CR
2 Matthew GLENNON U23 M Mullingar Harriers A.C. 21:20.02
3 Ryan ROBERTS U23 M Sligo A.C. 28:22.21
U23 Shot Put
1 Ciara SHEEHY U23 W Emerald A.C. 12.66
2 Aoibhín MC MAHON U23 W Blackrock (Louth) A.C. 12.22
3 Casey MULVEY U23 W Inny Vale A.C. 11.94 0
U23 Hammer Throw
1 Nicola TUTHILL U.C.D. A.C. 64.89CR
2 Eadaoin COADY St. Abbans A.C. 46.96
3 Casey MULVEY Inny Vale A.C. 46.15
U23 Long Jump
1 Ruby MILLET U23 W St. Abbans A.C. 6.17
2 Erin FISHER U23 W City of Lisburn A.C. 5.46
3 Paula IGWE U23 W Ferrybank A.C. 5.23
U23 Long Jump
1 Reece ADEMOLA U23 M Leevale A.C. 7.28
2 Dillon RYAN U23 M Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C. 7.22
3 Luke O CARROLL U23 M Tralee Harriers A.C. 7.04
U20 Long Jump
1 Elizabeth NDUDI U20W Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 6.30CR
2 Laura FRAWLEY U20W Nenagh Olympic A.C. 5.69
3 Katie NOLKE U20W Ferrybank A.C. 5.53
U23 400m
1 Lauren MCCOURT U23 W Bandon A.C. 55.62 0
2 Caoimhe CRONIN U23 W Le Chéile A.C. 56.01 0
3 Charlotte BOURKE U23 W Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 58.40
U23 800m
1 Sophie O`SULLIVAN U23 W Ballymore Cobh A.C. 2:10.04
2 Lucy HOLMES U23 W West Waterford A.C. 2:11.82
3 Aimee HAYDE U23 W Newport A.C. 2:13.93
U23 800m
1 Nathan SHEEHY CREMIN U23 M Emerald A.C. 1:56.24
2 Traian REBEGEA U23 M Metro/St. Brigids A.C. 1:56.60
3 Kyle MOORHEAD U23 M Craughwell A.C. 1:56.73
U20 1500m
1 Nick GRIGGS U20M CNDR Track A.C. 3:45.91 CR
2 Jack FENLON U20M St. Abbans A.C. 3:50.82
3 Sean CRONIN U20M Clonliffe Harriers A.C. 3:58.21
U23 1500m
1 Sophie O`SULLIVAN U23 W Ballymore Cobh A.C. 4:27.02
2 Niamh CARR U23 W Dublin City Harriers A.C. 4:28.30
3 Jane BUCKLEY U23 W Leevale A.C. 4:29.11
U23 1500m
1 Callum MORGAN U23 M CNDR Track A.C. 3:57.20
2 Mark HANRAHAN U23 M Ennis Track A.C. 3:57.71
3 Frank O`BRIEN U23 M East Cork A.C. 3:57.77
U23 5,000m
1 Anika THOMPSON U23 W Leevale A.C. 16:38.32CR
2 Aoife Ó CUILL U23 W St. Coca's A.C. 16:52.44
3 Laura MOONEY U23 W Tullamore Harriers A.C. 17:00.00
U23 5,000m
1 Shay MC EVOY U23 M Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. 15:03.19
2 Abdel LAADJEL U23 M Donore Harriers 15:05.82
3 Michael MORGAN U23 M Sligo A.C. 15:09.24
U23 100m
1 Katie BERGIN U23 W Moyne A.C. 12.09
2 Adeyemi TALABHI U23 W Longford A.C. 12.14
3 Sive O`TOOLE U23 W St. L. O'Toole A.C. 12.44
U23 100m
1 Israel OLATUNDE U23 M U.C.D. A.C. 10.42
2 Robert MC DONNELL U23 M Galway City Harriers A.C. 10.54
3 Gabriel KEHINDE U23 M Ennis Track A.C. 10.57
U20 100m
1 Lucy-may SLEEMAN U20W Leevale A.C. 12.01
2 Fatima AMUSA U20W Leevale A.C. 12.28
3 Laura BOLSTER U20W Cushinstown A.C. 12.31
U20 100m
1 Sean AIGBOBOH U20M Tallaght A.C. 10.88
2 Killian CURRAN U20M Blackrock (Dublin) A.C. 11.12
3 Max O`REILLY U20M Riverstick/Kinsale A.C. 11.18
U23 200m
1 Colin DOYLE U23 M Leevale A.C. 21.56
2 Padraic HASSETT U23 M Nenagh Olympic A.C. 21.89
3 Jack MCGRATH U23 M Leevale A.C. 21.96
U23 200m
1 Molly HOURIHAN Dundrum South Dublin A.C. 24.68
2 Katie BERGIN U23 W Moyne A.C. 24.88
3 Cressida AMANIAMPONG U23 W Skerries A.C. 25.90
U23 3,000m s/c
1 Ava O CONNOR U23 W Tullamore Harriers A.C. 10:21.23CR
2 Clare BARRETT U23 W D.M.P. A.C. 11:50.77
3 Aoibhin FLATLEY U23 W Swinford A.C. 12:47.4
U23 3,000m s/c
1 Oisin SPILLANE U23 M Ennis Track A.C. 9:08.56
2 Sean m MCGINLEY U23 M Finn Valley A.C. 9:21.30
3 James DUNNE U23 M Tullamore Harriers A.C. 9:26.99
U20 3,000m s/c
1 Jonas STAFFORD Ashford A.C. 9:09.05CR
2 Billy COOGAN Kilkenny City Harriers A.C. 9:24.88
3 Luke PURCELL Nenagh Olympic A.C. 9:44.08
U20 Pole Vault
1 Joshua FITZGERALD U20M Leevale A.C. 4.15
2 Jamie PAUL U20M Ballymena and Antrim A.C. 3.85
3 Michael KENT U20M D.M.P. A.C. 3.70
U20 Pole Vault
1 Una BRICE U20W Leevale A.C. 3.65
2 Ava ROCHFORD U20W Nenagh Olympic A.C. 3.15
3 Poppi DEVEREAUX U20W Youghal A.C. 3.00
Full Results HERE