Sarah Lavin and Thomas Barr are the lead Irish hurdlers who will be in action at this weekend’s Irish Life Health National Senior Track and Field Championships. The 150th edition of the championships takes place on Saturday and Sunday at Morton Stadium in Santry.
Women’s 100m Hurdles
Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) is the lead entrant in the Women’s 100m Hurdles. Lavin has had an impressive 2022 to date reaching the final of the World Indoors in Belgrade back in March. Since opening her Outdoor season Lavin has been very consistent and in recent weeks has ran her two fastest ever times, a 12.94s clocking in Samorin, Slovakia and a 12.93s in Madrid last weekend. The Tokyo Olympian’s PB coming into the season was 12.95s.
Unless something comes amiss it is anticipated Lavin will reclaim her national title. However, she won’t have it all her own way with the likes of Kate Doherty (Dundrum South Dublin AC), national record holder in the Heptathlon Kate O’Connor (Dundalk St. Gerald’s AC), and Sarah Quinn (St. Coleman’s South Mayo AC) also expected to be in contention.
The final is at 3.30pm on Saturday.
Men’s 110m Hurdles
Ger O’Donnell (Carrick-on-Shannon AC) is the fastest of the entrants in the 110m Hurdles this weekend. O’Donnell’s Seasons Best stands at 14.18s. Josh Armstrong (City of Lisburn AC), Matthew Behan (Crusaders AC), and Rolus Olusa (Clonliffe Harriers) are likely to feature also. The final is pencilled in for 3.40pm on Saturday.
Men’s 400m Hurdles
Two-time Olympian and national record holder over the distance Thomas Barr (Ferrybank AC) will be the strong favourite heading into the weekend to win yet another national title. Barr’s season has been disrupted by injury and he will be looking to lay down a marker for a busy few weeks ahead with World and European Championships on the horizon. He has a Seasons Best of 49.53s.
Three other men have gone under 53s this season and will be in the mix for the medals: Jack Mitchell (St. Laurence O’Toole AC), Cathal Locke (Doneen AC), and Thomas Pitkin (Clonliffe Harriers). Former national senior medallist in the High Jump, Nelvin Appiah (Longford AC) is an interesting addition to the start list, having limited experience in the event. He does however have a 400m flat PB of 50.37s.
Women’s 400m Hurdles
It looks like we could be in for quite the battle in the Women’s 400m Hurdles between Nessa Millet (St. Abban’s AC) and Kelly McGrory (Tír Chonaill AC). Millet leads the Irish rankings this season with a best of 57.82s set in Geneva in Switzerland earlier this month. Last weekend McGrory ran a big PB of 57.84s, leaving very little separating the athletes this season.
McGrory’s clubmate Lucy McGlynn, Deirdre Murray (Na Fianna AC), and Niamh Malone (Monaghan Phoenix AC) have all broken 62s this season and will be in contention for medals.
