Records Galore at Universities Championships
Six IUAA indoor records were set at the Universities Indoor Championships at the Athlone International Arena on February 13th.
Antonio Garcia Fernández (DCU), who was pushed all the way to a dip finish by his team-mate Matthew Behan, clocked 8.13 sec in the 60mH, with Behan timed at 8.14 sec. Marcus Lawler (IT Carlow) won the 200m in 21.03 sec, breaking his own record of 21.18 sec from the 2015 championships, with Thomas Barr (UL) 2nd in 21.47 sec. Michael Bowler (DCU) set a record score in the IUAA pentathlon of 3,825 pts [60mH 8.58 sec; high jump 1.95m; long jump 6.88m; shot put 12.82m; 1000m 2:47.19]. Shane Aston (DCU) placed 2nd with 3,401 pts.
In the 400m Jenna Bromell (UL) won in 54.66 sec with Christine McMahon (QUB) 2nd in 54.87 sec. In the triple jump Saragh Buggy (DCU) set a new mark of 12.68m. In the 4 x 200m relay the University of Limerick quartet of Eanna Madden, Kieran Elliot, Paul Byrne and Thomas Barr took 1¼ sec off the IUAA record set by DCU in 2014 with a winning time of 1:26.94, only 0.35 sec outside the National team record set in Cardiff in 2002 by Gary Ryan, Mark Howard, David McCarthy and Paul Hession.
One of the most exciting finishes of the day came in the men’s 400m when Andrew Mellon (QUB) powered his way down the home straight to snatch the title in 48.08 sec from the battling duo of Timmy Crowe (DCU) 2nd in 48.21 sec and Eanna Madden (UL) 3rd in 48.23 sec.
For full results see HERE
You can watch all the action on the day HERE