Jack Raftery (Donore Harriers AC) won the Men’s 400m in 47.04s. Raftery finished ahead of Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers AC) to take the win. The Donore man who had missed the National Championships the week previous looked strong as he battled hard up the home straight in difficult conditions. The DCU student travels to Oregon later this week to be part of the Mixed 4x400m relay team at the World Championships where he could make his senior debut for Ireland.
Paul White (Nenagh Olympic AC) finished fourth, Eanna Madden (Carrick-on-Shannon AC) was fifth, Jamie Mitchell (Emerald AC) was sixth, while Zak Higgins (Donore Harriers AC) finished seventh.
Efrem Gidey (Clonliffe Harriers AC) put in a brave display of front running in the Men’s 5000m. Gidey led from early on but ultimately paid the price for his effort, being caught in the final 300m. He battled hard to finish fifth in a time of 13.44.59, a new Personal Best. Despite being disappointed when he crossed the line, the new PB continues what has been a great season for Gidey. He has secured the automatic qualifying time for the 10,000m at August’s European Championships in Munich. Jackson Sharp (Australia) took victory clocking 13.33.77.
Mitchell Byrne (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) finished tenth in 13.55.53, Pierre Murchan (Dublin City Harriers AC) was 15th, Keelan Kilrehill (Moy Valley AC) was 17th, Paul O’Donnell (Dundrum South Dublin AC) was 18th, while Ian Guiden (Clonliffe Harriers AC) was 19th.
The field events also delivered great excitement. Unsurprisingly the Stadium Record in the Shot Put tumbled with Italian Nick Ponzio throwing 20.98m to take a comfortable victory. The Italian finished seventh at the World Indoor Championships earlier this year and is one to watch in the years to come. Irish record holder Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrocks AC) finished second throwing 19.57m, while national champion John Kelly (Finn Valley AC) was fourth with a best throw of 19.45m. Kelly’s brother James finished sixth with a best of 16.40m.
Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley AC) cleared 1.80m to win the Women’s High Jump ahead of Pippa Rogan (Slí Cualann AC) and Daena Kealy (St. Abbans AC). Both Rogan and Kealy, along with Emily Whelan (Australia) and Anabela Neto (Portugal) could not be separated on countback clearing 1.75m.
German athlete Tom Meier was the winner of the Men’s Javelin throwing 70.59m. Conor Cusack (Lake District AC) was the best of the Irish, finishing fourth with a best effort of 65.67m. Gareth Crawford (Lifford Strabane AC) was sixth throwing 64.69m, while Shane Aston (Trim AC) was seventh with a best effort of 59.82m.
In the pre-programme an Irish U20 selection won the 4x400m Inter-varsity Mixed Relay in 3.31.37. NUIG were the first college home, followed by UL and UCD.
Home club Clonliffe Harriers AC were big winners of the 16x100m juvenile club relay clocking 3.43.38 for the Mile.
