Did the National Indoors live up to its expectations?

by Perri Williams

The more intimate setting of the indoor track lends itself to a buzz that is vastly different to that of track and field. There is something about the confluence of the various events in the confined space that produces an effervescent atmosphere that just cannot be replicated outdoors. You may have found yourself sitting next to a past international athlete, a parent or family member or just one of those perspicacious athletics enthusiasts at whose indepth knowledge and enthusiasm for the sport either enthralled you or down-right irritates you. Unequivocally, the weekend’s sellout fixture produced an extravaganza of athletics action that left most people more exhilarated about Irish athletics than ever before. 

Day one opened up with the 400m heats. Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport) was predicted to top the results table. From the glamour to the athletics ability, this event has fast become an Irish favourite. The heats and semi-finals all led to a stacked final on Sunday. It was indeed the impeccable Mawdsley who crossed the finish line to take the gold. Behind her drama ensued. A shuffle on the bend saw Sligo’s Lauren Cadden exit the track, while Rachel McCann (North Down) had to run wide to try and close down Phil Healy (Bandon), who she had so convincingly beaten in the semi-finals just twenty-four hours earlier. Healy with more depth of experience held on for silver. Mawdsley spent several hours signing autographs. 

There is nothing cerebral about 400m running. It is demanding and an outright sprint that can, if you indulge in a moment of distraction, cost you the race. The men’s semi-final produced an epic battle between the youthful 17-year-old Conor Kelly (Derry TC) and the more experience Jack Raftery (Donore). It was Kelly who won that battle. While it was disappointing that Raftery was forced to pull up with an injury during Sunday’s final, the race itself did not disappoint. It was refreshing to witness the emergence of young talent in this event, with Kelly taking down the Irish u20 record with his 46.54, which surpassed the record he achieved of 46.63 in the previous day’s earlier rounds. 

Sarah Healy (UCD) was on another level in the 1500m. Gliding around the track, her running form was like art in motion. Her effortless stride, composed form, barely taking a breath as she breezed through two championship records in her two days of competition. Off the track she was as elegant as she was on, politely engaging in conversation with her adoring fans. While the men’s race may have produced the result we were expecting, it was for the first time this year fundamentally a championship race. Such races are often more felicitous to the athlete who can produce that rapid turn of pace over the latter half of the event. Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe) left no stone unturned as he ramped up a gear leaving the rest of the field in his wake.  

The ladies 3000m race produced little drama as Roisin Flanagan (Finn Valley) had an easy victory, the men’s race certainly captivated everyone’s attention. The entire race was charged with emotion, from the changing of the lead to the rather incandescent enthusiasm of certain onlookers. Sean Tobin (Clonmel) made a terrific comeback, moving to the front and fighting every inch of the way to remain there. The relatively unknown (to Irish audiences anyhow) James Gormely (Carmen Runners) relentless in his pursuit of the lead, almost got there, just one hundredth of a second short of the gold.  

The 60m was all about Bori Akinola v Israel Olatunde, the 2025 lead versus the proven championship performer. Working through the race, quietly and unassumingly was Max O’Rielly (Kinsale), who ultimately divided the two. It was Akinola who took the crown, leaping into the onlooking spectators to steal a hug from his delighted mother – adding entertainment value to what is ubiquitously an entertaining event. The diminutive Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley) regained the ladies title.

Marcus Lawlor (Clonliffe) proved that athletes bubbling under the rim of thirty can stage comebacks. Clocking 20.74 to set a new championship record the Carlow man was “thrilled to finally prove he still can do it”. Behind him his Carlow neighbour Adam Murphy (Tinryland AC) was as delighted as Lawler and proud of the Carlow 1-2. Carlow athletes emerged as a force in the hurdles, with Adam Nolan (SLOT) producing a scintillating performance to win the 60m hurdles. While in the ladies 60m hurdles Molly Scott pushed Sarah Lavin (Emerald) all the way to finish second with her SLOT clubmate Arabella Adekoya gaining her first senior championship medal in third. Katie Bergin took her first senior indoor title with a new personal best over 200m.

One thing missing from the weekends line up was a clash between Mark English (Finn Valley) and the much-improved Cian McPhillips (UCD). It would have been the real jewel in the crown of the weekend’s activities. While it was not to be, the race itself produced some jostling that saw the pre-race favourite Dara O’Donohue (Lucan) not make the podium. Intent on staying out of trouble, Kevin McGrath stormed down the home straight arms, wide open embracing the crowd into his victory. Louise Shanahan won the ladies event, where some of the younger athletes shone. Emma Moore (GCH) and Pia Langton (KCH) impressed. 

Kate Veale (West Waterford) won her eight indoor walk victory where the sheer numbers of those participating outnumbered that of the fields in the equivalent running distance, the 3000m. David Kenny (Farranfore Maine) managed to shake free of Oisin Lane (Mulligan) to demonstrate some continuing improvement in form as he returned from an injury that saw the Kerryman sidelined for the Olympics.

Field Events
Once again, the intimacy of the smaller track lends itself to new dimensions in the events that captivate the spectator’s interest. The abilities and the personalities of the athletes are showcased. Last weekend it was an opportunity for these field eventers to increase their visibility. Take for example the shot putt. Eric Favors (Raheny) versus John Kelly (Finn Valley) with Callum Keating (North Cork) hot on their heals. Their roars resonate throughout the stadium, in a peculiar sort of way, adding a vibrance to the eclectic mix of noises already within the arena. Michaela Walsh (Swinford) took her 8th indoor title in somewhat quieter fashion.

Saragh Buggy (St Abbans), as one of the most prolific national title holders, stepped on the podium to claim her 23rd national title and ninth indoor triple jump crown. David Onwudiwe (Ennis Track AC) got the crowd going with some orchestrated clapping as he tried to emulate or surpass the 14.29m he jumped in the opening round. It was to be his only legal jump. Long jump titles went to Lauren Callaghan (Finn Valley) and Colm Burke (Raheny) who managed two 7.10m jumps before running through the final one. 

The jump off between Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) and Aoife O’Sullivan (Lisacarroll) failed to materialse as O’Sullivan just did not have that spring in her step that saw her secure a new personal best of 1.85m at the recent intervarsity’s. It was Lecky’s first indoors since 2020, which she won on countback from Tara O'Connor (DSG). Making a comeback too was Ciaran Connolly (Le Cheile) who after enduring four years of injuries cleared 2m to take the gold.

In full view of the pole vault, all eyes are drawn to the soaring heights of the competitors. More of a community than a list of participants, the event has attracted an increasing plethora of athletes over recent years. Mikey Kent, (DMP) the 17-year-old Wexford athlete toppled the favourites to vault a new personal best of 4.70m. There were emotional moments as his mother (and former Irish International) Ailish presented him with his first senior gold medal. Meave Corkery (Middleton) took the ladies title. 

A third championship record toppled on the first day of action as Kotryna Pacerinskaite (Fanahan Mc Sweeney AC) retained her WFD title, with a new championship record of 8.30m. Michael Healy (Leevale) took the men’s title.

As a photographer on the day, the amiable nature of all those volunteering and of the athletes themselves was very evident. Again, the intimacy of the smaller track seemed to extract that innate warmth of personality from everyone. From Jack Raftery’s high five with the kids looking after the gear, to Sarah Lavin, Sarah Leahy, Sharlene Mawdsley’s and others lengthy interaction with the spectators, to John Kelly's gigantic personality as he beamed his way through the shot putt, the national senior indoors seemed to have brought out the best in everyone.