Phil Healy (Bandon AC) and Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC) provided the race of the weekend on day 3 of the Irish Life Health National Track Field Championships at a sun-drenched Morton Stadium this afternoon. The 200m final was always likely to be a thriller with yesterday’s 100m and 400m champions clashing in today’s final.
Having shared the 200m NR between them over the last year, both the Tallaght and Bandon AC athletes were always going to threaten the 22.96, and they did just that with Healy crossing the line in a stunning 22.83 from Adeleke in 22.84.
Ecstasy turned to agony shortly after however, with the wind gauge reading 2.1 which resulted in the time not qualifying as a new national record. That didn’t take away from the spectacular nature of the performances which rocketed Irish sprinting to another level with these two women leading the way.
Catherine McManus (Dublin City Harriers AC) ran yet another brilliant race this weekend to claim the bronze in 23.57.
Leon Reid (Menapians AC) blasted out of the blocks to take the Men’s 200m title in 20.79. It looked like it was going to be a tight race on paper and it proved to be the case with Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) looking as though he might hold onto his 100m lead coming into the home straight. Reid found another gear however and crossed the line to claim the title in 20.79. Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock AC) stayed on well at the finish to win silver in 20.97 with Lawler having to settle for third in 20.99.
All eyes were on Limerick’s Sarah Lavin in the Women’s 100mH, with Lavin taking to the blocks in the form of her life having posted the first sub 13 second of her career earlier this month. The Emerald AC continued her blistering run of performances to claim gold in 13.17 as she again strengthened her Olympic hopes.
Kate Doherty (DSD AC) finished in a big PB of 13.48 to claim silver in a close battle with Athletics Ireland Women in Sport Officer Lilly-Ann O’Hora (Dooneen AC) who crossed in 13.60 for third.
The Men’s 110m Hurdles provided another historic milestone for Gerard O’Donnell (Carrick-on-Shannon AC) who secured his fifth national title in a row. The race saw O’Donnell and Matthew Behan (Crusaders AC) neck and neck heading to the final two hurdles before O’Donnell powered clear to claim the title in 14.04. Behan will feel a little unlucky with a couple of hurdles taking some of his momentum coming into the final 50m (14.20). Iarlaith Golding (St. Colmans South Mayo AC) was third in 14.61.
The endurance athletes were back on track in the Men’s 10,000m for the penultimate event of this 149th consecutive Irish Track and Field Championships. Hiko Tonosa (Dundrum South Dublin AC) completed the impressive distance double to claim the 10,000m title having taken the 5,000m less than 24 hours previous. Tonosa showed no ill effects from yesterday’s exploits opening up a sizable lead with 6 laps to go, reeling off 2 minute 50 last kilometre to cross the line in 29.41.
The ever-consistent Paul O’Donnell (Dundrum South Dublin AC) joined clubmate Tonosa on the podium for second, while Cormac Dalton (Mullingar Harriers AC) secured the bronze for Mullingar.
Click HERE for full day 3 report.
