THOMAS BARR’S STELLAR year was capped this afternoon as he was crowned Athlete of the Year for the second successive year at the National Athletics Awards in Dublin.
The Waterford runner fought off stiff competition from fellow Olympians Rob Heffernan and Ciara Mageean to claim the top award at Athletic Ireland’s annual awards ceremony.
Barr produced one of the all-time great Irish performances on the track in Rio as he defied form and fitness to come agonisingly close to an Olympic bronze, finishing fourth in the 400m hurdle final.
In any other year, 24-year-old Mageean would have been a shoe-in for the award having won her first senior medal by storming to 1500m bronze at the European Athletics Championships.
Heffernan, meanwhile, had to settle for the Endurance Athlete award while he was also recognised for the retrospective rewarding of his Olympic bronze medal from London 2012.
“Our talented and dedicated athletes gave us great performances and an athletics year to remember. The list is long including Ciara Mageean, Thomas Barr, Robert Heffernan, Fionnuala McCormack, Mark English and of course Phil Healy’s inspirational performance at the University Championship,” Athletics Ireland president, Georgina Drumm, said.
“The National Awards gives Athletics Ireland the opportunity to formally acknowledge our coaches officials and clubs for their enormous contribution to the success of our sport.
“We wish all our athletes success at the forthcoming European Cross Country Championships. With a long list of Major International Events planned for 2017 we look forward to another great year of Athletics.”
National Athletics Award winners 2016:
- Athlete of the Year: Thomas Barr (Ferrybank)
- Hall of Fame: Marcus O’Sullivan
- Lifetime service to Athletics: Liam Hennessy
- Official of the year: Michael O’Hart
- U20 Athlete: Adam King (Iveragh)
- U23 Athlete: Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (DSD)
- Endurance: Robert Heffernan (Togher)
- Track & Field: Thomas Barr (Ferrybank)
- Inspirational Performance: Phil Healy (Bandon)
- Performance Club: Clonliffe Harriers
- Development Club: Cushinstown AC
- Team of the Year: Women’s Senior Team European Cross Country Championships
- Service to Coaching: Donie Walsh (Leevale)
- Mountain Runner: M35 Team Mountain Running World Champions
- Master Athlete: Brian Lynch
- Ultra Athlete: Eoin Keith (Sportsworld)
- University Athlete: Michelle Finn (Leevale/UL)
- Tailteann Schools Award: Michaela Walsh (Swinford)
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