Day one of the Irish Life Health National Senior Track and Field Championships will see no fewer than nine intriguing Field Event finals take place. The 150th edition of the championships takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Morton Stadium in Santry.
Men’s Hammer Throw
The Men’s Hammer will be the first Field Event final of the Championships. Sean Mockler (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC) goes into the competition as the overwhelming favourite. Mockler has had a busy season in America where he is studying at Indiana University, making the NCAA Finals. He has a Season’s Best of 68.68m, leaving him just outside the top ten on the Irish All-Time list. If the Tipperary man gets anywhere close to his PB he should come away with National gold.
Nothing is certain however and Brendan O’Donnell (Lifford Strabane AC) and Simon Galligan (Clonliffe Harriers) who have both thrown over 60m this season will be looking to make their mark.
Women’s Shot Put
Michaela Walsh (Swinford AC) leads the entries for the Women’s Shot Put. Walsh who won a bronze in this event at the 2017 European U20 Championships has a Season’s Best of 15.32m. Casey Mulvey (Inny Vale AC) and National record holder in the heptathlon Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St. Gerald’s) AC are the only other two athletes to throw over 13m this season.
Women’s Triple Jump
Saragh Buggy (St. Abban’s AC) has dominated this event for a number of years. Buggy is second on the Irish All-Time list with a PB of 15.32m and has a Season’s Best of 12.81m. Emily O’Mahony (Waterford AC), Lucy Fitzgerald (Tipperary Town AC), and Kim O’Hare (Raheny Shamrocks AC) will all fancy their chances of making the podium.
Women’s Pole Vault
Ellen McCartney (City of Lisburn AC) leads the entries for the Women’s Pole Vault with a Season’s Best of 4.22m. McCartney will hope a great week gets even better, following her selection for the Commonwealth Games where she will represent Team NI.
Una Brice (Leevale AC) is a young athlete who oozes potential and is certainly one to watch for the future. Clodagh Walsh (Abbey Striders AC) has made the podium at Nationals on many occasions.
Women’s Hammer Throw
Michaela Walsh could make it a double were she to win both the Hammer and Shot Put and the Mayo athlete has the strongest Season’s Best of the field, 59.90m. Mairead O’Neill (Gneeveguilla AC) and Adrienne Gallen (Lifford Strabane AC) have also both thrown in excess of 50m in 2022.
Women’s High Jump
Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley AC) is the one to beat off Season’s Bests in the Women’s High Jump. The former World U20 silver medallist has a best of 1.83m to her name this season. Phillipa Rogan (Sli Cualann AC), Daena Kealy (St. Abban’s AC) and Ava Rochford (Nenagh Olympic AC) have all jumped over 1.75m this season.
Men’s Shot Put
Those in attendance on Saturday will have the opportunity to see national record holder Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrocks) in action for the first time since he broke Paul Quirke’s thirty-year record. Favors threw 20.07m in May.
John Kelly (Finn Valley AC) climbed to fourth on the Irish All-Time list recently with a new Ulster record of 19.57m, while James Kelly (Finn Valley AC) has thrown 16.57m this season.
Men’s Long Jump
Sam Healy (Leevale AC) is the Irish leader in the Long Jump this season with a best of 7.54m. Shane Howard (Bandon AC) has jumped 7.44m and will fancy his chances at claiming national glory.
Reece Ademola (Leevale AC), Colm Bourke (Raheny Shamrocks AC), Ben Fisher (City of Lisburn AC), Dillon Ryan (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC), and Joseph McEvoy (Nenagh Olympic AC) have all jumped over 7m this year.
Men’s Weight for Height
The Weight for Height is the final Field Event final on day one. Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers) won this title in 2020 throwing 4.60m. John Dwyer (Templemore AC) was silver medallist that day, while Colm Donoghue (Lusk AC) who finished fourth in 2020 is also entered.
