CIARÁN O’LIONAIRD was named as the Athlete of the Meet at the GloHealth Senior Track and Field Championships after winning the 1500m on Sunday.
With four qualifiers for the European Championships; Paul Robinson (St.Coca’s AC), David McCarthy (West Waterford AC), Ciaran O’Lionaird (Leevale AC) and John Travers (Donore Harriers) the winner was guaranteed a spot on the team for Europeans making for an intensely competitive race.
The leading pack was tightly grouped with a lap to go when Robinson took the lead with O’Lionaird hot on his heels. Both athletes were shoulder to shoulder coming into the home straight with O’Lionaird just edging past Robinson with 50m to go to take the title in 3:43.8.
In the women’s 1500m former World Junior medallist Ciara Mageean (UCD AC) Mageean kicked away from the leading pack with 300m to go to outpace Fionnuala Britton (Kilcoole AC) in second and Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle & District AC) in third to win in 4:15.35.
In the women’s 100m the photo-finish couldn’t split Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) and Phil Healy (Bandon AC) who were both awarded with a time of 11.49, a personal best for Healy. Both athletes have also achieved the European qualification standard while Kelly Proper secured her third medal of the championships with a time of 11.62.
With reigning champion David Hynes disqualified for false starting the men’s title went to Jamie Davis in a time of 10.90.
Irish record holder Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) was a clear winner in the men’s 400m hurdles with 50.04 taking his fourth title in a row. Christine McMahon (Ballymena & Antrim A.C.) who has hit the standard for the European Championships won the women’s race in 57.73 with Jessie Barr being a late withdrawal.
Following on from her 200m silver yesterday Sarah Lavin (UCD AC) secured the win in the 100m hurdles in 13.48 with Gerard O’Donnell taking his second medal of the day and his first senior national title in the 110m hurdles in 14.57.
You can see the rest of the results here.