Top Ten for the National Senior Indoors

by Perri Williams

The time has arrived when the best of our athletics fraternity will gather in one area. This weekend’s national indoors promises to be an extravaganza of athletics. From Olympians, Irish Internationals to National and Provincial champions along with club athletes, there is a mingling of talent that will serve up predicable performances, surprises and extraordinary accomplishments. We have put together the top ten things to look out for this weekend.

1.    Olympians
You can’t miss them. They have had such an incredible following since last June (before some even earned the title). Sharlene Mawdsley is down to run the 200m and the 400m. Will she do both or just one. Either way she will be in action on Saturday. Sarah Lavin will take part in the 60m hurdles on Saturday. Sarah Healy fresh from her record breaking performances, is entered for both the 800m and 1500m and is also due to compete on Saturday. While there are entries for both Andrew Coscoran and Mark English, there participation has yet to be confirmed. Even if you do not have tickets for Sunday, there are plenty of Olympians in action on Saturday.

2.    The 400m
There has been plenty of excitement around 400m running over the past few years. The Euphoria produced from the performances of the Irish ladies’ team at least years World Indoors carried through to the world relays in the Bahama’s, onto Rome. It was in Rome that the interest in Irish athletics started to rise. Our ladies and men’s 400m runners grabbed national attention and have been doing so ever since. Thomas Barr has now retired. (We will all miss him). But there are plenty of up-and-coming young athletes that can the potential to reach the Barr standard for 400m. The top three leading Irish Indoor 400m for this year are all in action: Cillian Greene, Jack Raferty and Conor Kelly. 

The ladies of course have a classic field. Rashidat Adeleke may not be amongst the entry list but there are plenty of other athletes to carry the mantle to make this race prime viewing. The top three on this year’s indoor list will be there: Sharlene Mawdsley, Lauren Cadden and Arlene Crossan. Then add Rachael McCann, Kelly McGrory, Cloiodhna Manning, Phil Healy, Niamh Murray – the championships are all set to produce a higher-than-average time for any previous national final. In 2024 25 athletes (outdoors) and 16 (indoors) ran under 56 seconds. The race for a spot in the final is on. Watch out for the younger athletes coming through.

3.    An 800m clash or not?
Cian McPhillips made the 800m audiences sit up with his recent race in Boston. The UCD athlete went to number 2 on the Irish all-time list, just 1.8 tenths of a second behind the Irish record holder Mark English. English is entered but has not raced the Irish national indoors for some time now. A potential clash between these two great athletes might produce a highlight for the entire weekend. A confirmed English might drive this to number one on our top ten list.

4.    Bori V Israel
Why is it only number four you may ask. There has been much hype about the clash of these two athletes. Bori Akinola has had some magnificent performances this year. Each race constantly dipped under what he was capable of in 2024 and all the time edging closer to that national record. The 6.65 produced by Akinola from the 19th January is considerably faster (in sprinting terms) than the 6.93 that Olatundu ran in Birmingham last week. However, Olatundu is a championship performer. The question is – can he pull this one back. Will all the training with his new group in Florida stand to him? The clash may not be as close as one expects.

5.    Racewalking on the up!
Many will be surprised to see race-walking as our number five. It is for several reasons. One, the number of athletes now participating in our national championships. This year we have twenty-two entered in the ladies 3000m racewalking event. This is more than the ladies 60m hurdles and 3000m running and not far off the number in the 1500m. Its not just about quantity either. The quality is there too. Kate Veale may be the national champion and hold so many national titles at this stage that counting gets lost. This year we have a few ladies that could close in. Aisling Lane will be there trying to break 14 minutes. And knocking on her heals will be Ciara Wilson Bowen and Savannagh O’Callaghan. O’Callaghan has already raced at European level and will be looking to make a major championship again this year.

There is also depth in the men’s too. David Kenny is back from injury and has put in some good winter training in a bid to qualify for the team championships in Czechia in May and the World Championships in Tokyo in September. The former European u23 silver medalist will be up against two European medalists (albeit just slightly younger); Jake O’Brien and Seamus Clarke. Also racing is last year’s European u18 qualifier Matthew Newell and European Senior Championship participant Oisin Lane. Podium places will be competitive.

6.    O’Sullivan V Lecky
Anyone watching the IUAA championships recently will be tipping Aoife O’Sullivan to topple the reign of Summer Lecky. While Lecky has four national indoor titles to her name, they are all from 2020 and prior. She is however the reigning national outdoor champion and a former u20 World High Jump silver medalist with a personal best of 1.92cm. Her best this year has been 1.78m. O’Sullivan on the other hand has improved dramatically this season. From her 1.70m and bronze medal at last year’s indoors she recently cleared 1.85m at the IUAA championships. Replicating this height will certainly put pressure on Lecky.

7.    What can Cathal Doyle do?
Since his Olympic semi-final appearance at the Olympics and the only athlete in that semi-final without a shoe deal, Doyle’s athletics journey has changed dramatically. He is making appearances at top level races in Europe and America and his times have improved. It is hard not to recall the 1500m final from last year. Nick Griggs and himself edging towards the line, neck and neck. A dive across the line for both athletes resulted in Doyle sustaining yet another fracture to his wrist. With Griggs out of this years indoors the racing may not be as dramatic as 2024. Andrew Coscoran is entered but has yet to confirm his appearance. Which will be a shame if he does not race. This could pave the way for UCD’s Lughaidh Mallon to claim a silver medal. The ladies’ race had Sarah Healy entered. Healy should have an easy win.

8.    How will our younger athletes do?
This is placed at number eight as we have a fantastic crop of younger athletes who are making their way to senior level. Some are emerging from mock leaving cert and have decided to pass on the seniors. Others like Conor Kelly are competitive at senior level. Watch out for him in the 400m. Then we have Matthew Newell and Seamus Clarke in the walks, Pia Langton (800m), Noah Harris (3000m), the list is as long as this article. Some may achieve qualification standards this weekend.

9.    Eric Favors
Eric is entered in the Shot Putt. So too is John Kelly (Finn Valley). However it is the Raheny man that eyes will look towards as he tried to gain the standard for the European Indoors in Apeldoorn next month. 

10.    Pole Vaulters
The final item to watch for this weekend is the Pole Vaulters. Like the race-walking group, this bunch of athletes is more of a community than a list of athletes taking part in an event. Ellie McCartney despite her early season success is not down to compete. However one of the largest field to date is set to compete in the men’s. Matthew Callinan Keenan is being pushed all the way by the younger crew of Michael Kent and Jamie Hyland. Both of whom will be seeking qualifying standards. Watch how high they can go.