SARAH LAVIN CONTINUES to gear up for next month’s World Championships after she secured the national senior title in the women’s 100 metre hurdles on day one at Morton Stadium today.
Fresh from a bronze medal at the European Games in Poland, which was also presented to her on the podium, the Emerald AC star secured a 13th national senior title with a time of 13.13.
The Emerald AC athlete was the star attraction on the opening day of the 151st edition of the championships and duly delivered with a superb performance to claim her eighth outdoor 100m hurdles title.
Lavin was followed across the line by Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St. Gerards AC) in 14.14, and Lilly-Ann O’Hora (Dooneen AC) who walked away with bronze in 14.29.
Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) takes the National Senior Title in the Women's 100m Hurdles (13.13) and is also awarded her bronze medal from the European Games 💫
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 29, 2023
What a special moment 💚
🥈Katherine O'Connor (Dundalk St. Gerards A.C.) 14.14
🥉Lilly-Ann O'Hora (Dooneen A.C.) 14.29… pic.twitter.com/CZDW0fZFUV
The men’s 110m hurdles saw a new name make his mark on the event with James Ezeonu (Leevale AC) coming out on top in a stride for stride finish with Gerard O’Donnell (Carrick-on—Shannon AC). The Leevale athlete made a winning dip for the line to cross in 14.28 ahead of O’Donnell in 14.29.
Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock AC) retained his 200m title with an expertly judged 20.87 performance. The Irish indoor 200m record holder breezed around the home bend before stretching away from Colin Doyle (Leevale) who backed up his recent European U23 performances to claim silver in 21.17. Andrew Egan (Galway City Harriers AC) picked up the bronze in 21.51.
Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) continued her superb season in the women’s final, following up her recent U23 gold in the 100m to claim today’s senior 200m crown in 24.60. Bergin was chased home by Laura Nally (Galway City Harriers AC) 25.18 and Janine Boyle (Finn Valley AC) 25.21.
✨Championship Record✨
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 29, 2023
A Championship Record and a second National Senior Title for Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock A.C.), with a massive last throw of 19.91m 👏
🥈James Kelly (Finn Valley A.C.) 16.79
🥉Gavin McLaughlin (Finn Valley A.C.) 16.04
*Previous CR: 19.25m - James Kelly… pic.twitter.com/wSjDWWGBaT
The women’s 3000m s/c saw Michelle Finn (Leevale AC) secure her 9th national steeplechase title in a solo run from the gun. Finn, who crossed in a winning time of 10.00.14, is also entered in tomorrow’s 5,000m and could very well make a reappearance.
The women’s hammer saw UCD’s Nicola Tuthill produce another brilliant performance, claiming gold with a best throw of 67.67m which was just 18 centimetres off her own Irish U23 record. Margaret Hayden (Tallaght AC) 61.63m and Adrienne Gallen (Lifford Strabane AC) 56.05m joined Tuthill on today’s podium.
The first gold medal of the 151st edition of these championships went to Sean Mockler (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC) who won the men’s hammer throw with a best of 64.49m earlier this morning.
National record holder, Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock), regained the shot put title he won in 2019 in some style, posting a championship record of 19.19m on his way to a dominant win.
Saragh Buggy’s eighth straight outdoor triple jump title continued a remarkable year-on-year consistency of performance from the St Abban’s athlete, adding to her medal haul with her best and final jump of 13.03m.
In the vertical jumps, Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) claimed the gold medal with a best clearance of 1.80m, while David Cussen (Old Abbey AC) saved his best performance of the season to take today’s men’s high jump title in 2.15m.
The 4x100m relays rounded out today’s action with Dundrum South Dublin AC claiming gold in the women’s race (50.65) , while Tallaght AC took the gold in the men’s race (41.81).
Updated at 7pm, report courtesy of Athletics Ireland.
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