Local Track Roundup - Lara O’Byrne of Donore Harriers won her first senior heptathlon title

Sarah Lavin of Emerald AC got the Morton Games in Santry off to a great start on Friday (July 15) with victory in the 100m hurdles in a time of 12.79 secs, which was her second fastest ever in the 100m hurdles. That was followed by victory for John Fitzsimons of Newbridge AC in the 800m in 1:46.55m and a national U20 mile record of  3:55.73 for Nicholas Griggs of Belfast Candour club when finished third in the Morton Mile. Close behind was Cathal Doyle of host club Clonliffe Harriers who finished fourth in 3:56.05, also a PB. 

In the men’s 400m, Chris O’Donnell of North Sligo AC finished a close second in 45.89 secs; race winner in 45.72 secs was Elián Lrregina of Argentine.  Comeback kid Cillin Greene of Galway City Harriers was sixth in 47.38. Finished second in the shot was Eric Favors of Raheny Shamrock AC with a heave of 20:14m.

Winning the U20 women’s mile in 4:56.18 was Catherine Martin of City of Lisburn AC, followed by Lucy Foster of Willowfield Harriers in 4:57.67 and Lucy’s sister Kirsti in 5:00.71 for an Ulster triple whammy.  Sean Cronin of Clonliffe Harriers won the U20 men’s mile in 4:20.46. Second was Louie Woodger of Metro St Brigid’s AC in 4:22.79; third was David Williams in 4:245.61.

Shona Heaslip of An Riocht AC proved the class of the field in the national women’s 10,000m championships held as part of the AI Games at Santry on Saturday (July 16). Despite the squally conditions, Heaslip finished in 33:22.65. Cliona Fagan of Dublin City Harriers was second in 34:42.09 and Clare Fagan of Mullingar Harriers third in 34:45.03.

Winning the men’s 10,000m title in 29:50.85 was David Glynn of Waterford AC, with David Mansfield of Clonmel AC second in 31:08.97 and Conán McCaughey of North Belfast Harriers third in 31.29.5. Sprint result of the day came in the 200m won by Mark Smyth of Raheny Shamrock in 20.40.

Lara O’Byrne of Donore Harriers won her first senior heptathlon title with a score of 4690. O’Byrne’s best score came in the 100m hurdles, which she won in 15. 29 secs. She also won the shot with 10.34m, the javelin with 29.26m and the 800m in 2:25.53.  Second was Laura Frawley of Nenagh Olympic AC who won the high jump with 1.64 and the long jump with 5.34.

Present in the stadium over the weekend but not competing in the heptathlon was Irish record holder Kate O’Connor of Dundalk St Gerard’s AC. She a couple of 100m hurdles races, finished second in the long jump and ran a 200m race.

Winning the men’s decathlon was Jack Forde of St Killian’s AC with a total of 6211 points.  His winning performances in the long jump, the shot, the high jump, the 400m, and the pole vault were enough to see him pull away from former champion Rolus Olusa of Clonliffe Harriers.

At the AI Games, Lucy-May Sleeman of Leevale AC won the fastest 200m, with a time of 23.34 secs. Second was Sophie Becker of Raheny Shamrock AC in 23.46, with Roisin Harrison of Emerald AC third in 23.56. Fastest in the men’s 200m series was national record holder Mark Smyth of Raheny Shamrock AC with a time of 30.50.

In the men’s 2000m steeplechase, Finley Daly of Sligo AC was the winner in 5:51.83. A close second in 5:52.10 was junior athlete Jonas Stafford of Ashford AC.  Winning the masters 30000m steeple chase was Anthony O’Rourke of Brothers Pearse AC in 11:30.22. On the second day of competition, Jack Fenton of St Abban’s AC won the U20 3000m in 8:26.93. Lughaidh Mallon of Lagan Valley was second in 8:30.38 and Niall Murphy of Ennis TC third in 8:33.09. In the men’s 1500m, Cathal O’Reilly of Kilkenny City Harriers beat his club mate Eoin Everard in the men’s 1500m, with the pair timed at 3:48.51 and 3:49.35.

With the stormy conditions damaging the hammer cage, throwers faced long delays to their competitions on Saturday. Despite the delays, Alina Duran of Tallaght AC with 63.87 and Sean Mockler of Moycarkey Coolcroo AC with 68.36, won the women and men’s competitions respectively. Winners in the discus were Padraig Hoare of DMP AC with 45.04 and junior athlete Anna Gavigan of LSA AC, who heads to the European U20 Championships soon, with 48.36.