The AAI Games kicked off the national track and field season today in Morton Stadium Santry with many of Ireland’s top athletes in action. Ben Reynolds (North Down AC) produced the performance of the day in the 110m Hurdles winning in 13.63. This time was just inside the qualification standard of 13.65 for the European Track and Field Championships which take place in Zurich in August however the wind of +2.1 was agonisingly just outside the legal limit of +2, therefore it will not count as a qualifier.
Marcus Lawler (SLOT) who is only 19 commanded the field of Ireland’s best 200m athletes crossing the line to win in 21.13, inside the qualification standard for the World Junior Track and Field Championships which take place in July in Oregon. In the 100m Hurdles Limerick’s Sarah Lavin, (UCD AC) was a clear winner producing her fastest ever season opener with 13.49 just off her targeted European qualification standard.
Men's 200m
The much anticipated Men’s 200m race didn’t fail to disappoint. It was young gun Lawler who got the best start running a great curve into the home straight. Steven Colvert (Crusaders A.C.) made some grounds in the closing 50m however Lawlor held him off to win in 21.13 with Colvert second in 21.23. Lawler said: “My focus is World Junior’s, that was another A standard today. I went to the last World junior’s and saw Mark English get to the final and I went home and said to myself I can do that as well.”
David Hynes (Menapians A.C) took third place in 21.46 and 400m specialist Brain Gregan (Clonliffe Harriers) having to settle for fourth in 21.55. Later in the day in the 100m Hynes and Lawlor both recorded 10.60 with Hynes being given the nod for poll position. Keith Pike (Clonliffe Harriers) was third in a personal best of 10.72.
Women's 100m & 400m
In the women’s 100m, Phil Healy Bandon A.C continued her run of good form winning in 11.68 from Niamh Whelan (Ferrybank A.C.) second in 11.73 and Catherine Mc Manus (Dublin City Harriers A.C) third in 11.77. Positions were reversed in the 200m with Whelan winning in an Irish lead time of 23.91 and Healy second in 24.18.
The women’s 400m won by Ciara McCallion (Clonliffe Harriers) in 56.31, while 18 year old Harry Purcell won the men’s race in convincing style in 48.26 from Kieran Kelly in 49.06.
110m &100m Hurdles
Reynolds winning time of 13.63 improved on his season debut last week at the Loughborough International of 13.79. Speaking after the race Ben Reynolds said “I was satisfied with the run, it’s a lot faster than I was going in my early races last year”
Lavin’s time of 13.49 in the 100m hurdles was a solid start to her season. While youth athlete Megan Marrs (City of Lisburn AC) looked impressive finishing second in 13.72 with Catherine Mc Manus (Dublin City Harriers A.C.) third in 14.04. Speaking after the race Lavin said “I don’t think it could have gone any better, it’s my fastest opener by a large margin I think it’s half a second. I feel in a really good place, I’ve really worked on my start and its showing. I want to get an A Standard (for Europeans) as I don’t want to make up the numbers in Zurich”.
In the Men’s 400m Hurdles there was a great battle between Timmy Crowe (Dooneen A.C) and Paul Byrne of St. Abban’s AC . Both were neck and neck at each hurdle until Crowe began to pull away from at hurdle 8 to win in 51.76 with Byrne second in 52.34.
Middle Distance
Dave McCarthy won the Men’s 1500m in 3.46.68 with Andrew Coscoran second in 3.50and John Coghlan third in 3.50.27. Coghlan lead the pace for the first 3 laps with McCarthy making a decisive move with 300m to go. Coghlan faded in the final 200m and was passed out by Coscoran.
The women’s 1500m was won by Siofra Cleirigh Buttner in 4.27.01 inside the B World Juniors Standard (4.28). Aislinn Crossey dominated the women’s 800m from gun to tape winning in 2:10.80 with Robert Tully Star of the Sea winning the men’s race in 1:53.29. Conor Dooney (Raheny AC) set a PB of 8:19.19 to win Men’s 3000m.
Triple Jump
Caoimhe King Aughagower A.C jumped 12.73 to win Triple Jump, a leap which is just off her U23 record of 12.75.
Relay
On their first attempt the Irish junior men’s relay 4×100m squad fall short of their quest to achieve the qualifying standard for the World Junior Championships of 40.10 finishing second the Senior Men’s team.