CLONLIFFE Harriers, Raheny Shamrock, Crusaders and Donore Harriers all took home national championship titles from the annual senior championships at Morton Stadium last weekend.
For Clonliffe, Saturday was the big one as they took three titles, along with a silver and bronze. Jayme Rossiter was magnificent in the 3000 steeplechase with his technically brilliant hurdling proving to be the difference as he battled with Raheny’s Brian Fay. Over the final 400 metres, Rossiter opened a lead which included a Kenyan-esque clearance of the water jump to claim his first senior title in 8.59.42.
Stephen Scullion travelled from the US to defend his national 10,000 title and simply wasn’t going to relinquish it, breaking for home with all of 2,000 metres to go. Coming down the home straight, he could afford to celebrate in style in 29.36.33. He held off Raheny’s Mick Clohisey.
And the day finished with a Clonliffe double medal in the javelin as Stephen Rice won his second national in a row with a best of 69.75 with Rory Gunning 3rd (65.06).
For Raheny, Eric Favors grabbed his first national title as he set a shot put championship record on day two in Santry.
Gold, silver and bronze was the Raheny haul with Favors writing the headlines. His third throw reached the 18.64 metre mark to secure national gold and a championship record.
Favors had bettered his first effort of 18.42 metres and for the record was over one metre longer than silver medallist Finn Valley’s John Kelly’s 17.60m.
On the track, Mark Smyth took bronze in the 100 metres final clocking 10.70 seconds just behind Travane Morrison who won out in 10.61 seconds and Jason Smyth in 10.63.
The Raheny relay team of Isuelt O’Donnell, Aoibhinn McGoldrick, Lucy Barrett and Triossa Nic Dhonaill clocked 4:12.95 for 4x400m silver with Bandon taking gold in 4:00.14.
A day before, Niamh Fogarty landed the national discus title with a new personal best and club record of 52.96 metres.
Fogarty’s first three attempts were all over 51 metres with her sixth and final attempt registering 53.96 metres, some 2.66 metres clear of Tralee Harriers Claire Fitzgerald.
Crusaders ended up with four medals, a nice balance of two on the track and two in the field. The first was won by Matt Behan who agonisingly took silver.
It turned out to be a two horse race in a straight final of the 110m hurdles on Sunday, edged out in the final stride. Jason Harvey also took silver in the 400m hurdles.
It was great to see Adam McMullen come back from a career-threatening Achilles injury to take a medal in the long jump. he was in fifth going into his last jump but managed to pull out a leap of 7.37m to finish with the silver medal.
Colin Quirke, took gold in the men’s discus with a throw in the second round of 60.4m, some five-metres ahead of the competitor in second place.
John Travers (Donore Harriers) won the men’s 1500m with a well-timed finish in 3:49.40.
