National Hepathlon record for Diarmuid O'Connor at the Big East Championships

by Perri Williams

This weekend our attention was primarily focused on the USA as the various conference meets took place across the country. It is an important time for our US based college going athletes as they attempt to post fast times in order to qualify for nationals which will be held in Virgina Beach (Division 1) from Friday March 14th to Saturday March 15th. It will be the first time that the indoor championships have been held at this location. The final list of those selected for nationals will be announced on Tuesday March 4th. Based on the results thus far, there should be several of our Irish athletes set for a national appearance. The Division 2 nationals will be held in Indiana.

Kick starting the flurry of international activity over the past few days was Cathal Doyle. The European Indoor bound Clonliffe man finished 5th at the World Athletics Gold level Indoor tour meet in Madrid. Doyle posted a time of 3:39.62 with very little separating the top five individuals. The race was won by Melese Nberet (Ethiopia) in a time of 3.38.22.

Sophie O’Sullivan opened up her 2025 season with her fastest ever season opener in the Perth Classic 1500m. O’Sullivan who has already qualified for this years Tokyo World Championships registered 4:06.74.

In Gainesville, Florida Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers) made a close assault on John Treacy’s forty-year-old 15km road record. 
Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers) finished 3rd over 15km at the Gate River Run in Jacksonville Florida. Lynch recorded a time of 42.54, getting within seven seconds of John Treacy's 1988 Irish record of 42:47. This marks yet another improved performance for the Kilkenny City Harrier who seems to be on a trajectory where he could become the fastest marathon runner in Ireland.

The racewalkers were in action at the World Athletics Race walking event in the Isle of Man. Aisling Lane (Mullingar Harriers) made her debut over 20km. Lane’s time of 1 hour 41.51 puts her within the consideration standard for the European Team Championships.
American Conference Meetings

Last weekend at the Big East Conference meet, O’Connor set a new Irish heptathlon record of 5594 surpassing the twenty-three-year-old national record of 5560 points set by Joseph Naughton back in 2002. O’Connor recorded 7.23 (60 m), 7.02 m (long jump), 13.90 m (shot put), 2.04 m (high jump) / 8.43 (60 m hurdles), 4.15 m (pole vault), 2:42.85 (1000 m). The Bandon AC athlete recorded four new personal bests; 60m, long jump, pole vaults and 1,000m. The Bandon AC athlete had to endure his fair share of disappointments throughout his young career. A 4th place in the Europeans a few years ago saw a flurry of interest from US colleges. However, injury delayed his US sojourn for over two years. He finally settled on the University of Connecticut, with which he has been having some excellent performances this past year. 

There were several notable Irish performances across the various conference meets; In the American Athletic Conference in Birmingham Alabama, Shay McEvoy (Tulsa and Kilkenny City Harriers) took first place in the 3,000m in a time of 8:05.33. This is a welcome return to racing for McEvoy who has spent much of 2024 injured. McEvoy’s Tulsa team-mate Sarah Hosey (Ennis Track) finished third in the 800m final with a new personal best of 2:09.04.

The Big East Conference is where the majority of Irish athletes compete. Consisting of those athletes in Providence, Georgetown, Villanova, Butler and Connecticut amongst others. Held this year in Chicago, eight Irish athletes were amongst the startlists. Aside from the record-breaking performance of Diarmuid O’Connor there were other notable performances. James Dunne (Tullamore Harriers and Georgetown) joined Cormac Dixon (Providence and Tallaght AC) in the 3000m. Dunne produced a solid performance to finish second in a time of 8:01.22 with freshman Dixon 4th in 8.07.09. Meanwhile competing over the same distance at the Ivy League Championships in Ithaca (New York) Shane Brosnan (Harvard and An Riocht) finished 3rd in a time of 8.03.05

Laura Nicholson (Toledo and Bandon AC) competed in the Mid-American Conference in Ypsilanti, Michigan where she had a double victory over 800m and the one-mile event. Just over a week ago Nicholason set a new personal best of 4:30.85 to become the fourth fastest Irish lady over the indoor mile. 

Lauren Roy (Tarleton State and Lisburn) recorded a new personal best in the 60m before going on to win the 200m in a time of 23.58 at the Western Athletic Conference in Spokane, Washington.

Anika Thompson (Oregon and Leevale) is an athlete who is noted for her work ethic. Thompson finished fourth in the 3000m with a time of 9.11.65 at the Big Ten Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana. The next day Thompson lined out for the 5000m where she finished third in a time of 15.59.06.

In the Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference in Colorado Springs, Ava O Connor impressed with her win in the one-mile event in a time of 4.57.72.
We now await the publication of the qualifiers later tomorrow.

Results of the Irish athletes are listed below:
American Athletic Conference (AAC), Birmingham CrossPlex, Birmingham, Al
3,000m Oisin Spillane 14.52.84 (11th)
800m Sarah Hosey 3rd in final new PB of 2.09.04
Shay McEvoy 1st 3000m 8.05.33

Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), Louisville, KY
60m: Lauren Roy 3rd60m in new PB 7.27 
800m: Conor Murphy (Virginia Tech) 1.50.30

Big Ten Conference, Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis, IN
Ronan McMahon-Staggs 6th mile 4.05.48
Anika Thompson 4th 3000m 9.11.65 3rd 5000m 15.59.06
Abdel Laadje 5th 5000m 13.50.95
Elizabeth Ndudi 5.95 just one jump

Big 12 Conference, Lubbock, TX
5000m: Dean Casey 6th 13.49.56
Big East Conference, Chicago, IL
James Dunne 3000m 2nd 8.01.22
Maeve O’Neill 800m 6th 2.06.61
Cara Lavery mile 6th 4.44.68
Niamh O’Mahoney 5000m DNF
Cormac Dixon 3000m 4th 8.07.09
Michael Morgan 5000m 11th 14.35.68
Diarmuid O Connor Heptathlon 1st 5594

Ivy League Indoor Heptagonal Championships, Ithaca, NY
Shane Brosnan 3rd 3000m 8.03.05
David Davitt 7th 500m
Finn Boyle 6th 800m

Mid-American Conference (MAC) Ypsilanti, MI
Laura Nicholson Mile 1st 4.33.58 1st 800m 2.06.75 

Western Athletic Conference (WAC), Spokane, WA
60m 5th Lauren Roy 7.44 3rd Adeyemi Talabi 7.41 both PR 200m  1 Lauren Roy 23.58 AT 9th 24.47

Missouiri Valley Conference Chicago

Eimear McCarroll One mile 4.52.12 qualified for the final today. 800m: 11th overall 2.12.68 Personal Best

Division II
The Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference (RMAC), Colorado Springs, CO
Fiona Hawkins 7th 10.27.36 Ava O Connor one mile 1st 4.57.72