Mageean Hits Euro Qualifying Time Again

Ciara breezed into the finish in 1^st place in a time of 9 mins 2.57 secs, which is another qualification mark for the European Championships in Glasgow in two weeks’ time. North Down AC’s Rachel Gibson took 5^th place in 9 mins 46.24secs.

Dunboyne's Sarah Treacy helped Ciara to maintain a healthy pace designed to reach the Euro standard and Ciara ran the final few laps in isolation to secure yet another National title some 10 years after her first gold as a 16 year old.

While Ciara rarely competes over 3,000m, her run will give her further confidence to face Laura Muir in Glasgow who broke the British mile record at the weekend in Birmingham.

World Junior high jump silver medallist Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley AC) had a season's best performance of 1.86m, followed by 3 good efforts at 1.89m, to take 1^st place in the Women's High Jump.

The Men's 60m provided an entertaining competition, with Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim AC) taking 3^rd place in a time of 6.88secs, with Commonwealth Games Bronze Medallist, Leon Reid (Menapians AC) in 4^th place in a time of 6.89 secs.

However Leon did make some amends later on with a successful defence of his 200m title, finishing in 21.42 secs to retain 1^st place. Matthew Behan (Crusaders AC) took 1^st place in the Men’s 60m Hurdles in 7.96 secs.

Finn Valley AC's Lauren Callaghan got bronze in the Triple Jump with 11.50 metres while Kelly Neely (City of Lisburn AC) was 4th in the 1500m in 4.26.81.

Euro qualifier Lauren Roy (City of Lisburn AC) came 5th in a high quality 60m in 7.49 secs. There were silver medals for Ballymena & Antrim AC's Lydia Mills in the Long Jump, clearing 5.68 metres and defending champion Andrew Mellon (Crusaders AC) in the 400m in 48.02 secs, in an event where Olympic 4th placer Thomas Barr did not finish.

QUB AC’s Mark Burton took 1^st place in the Men’s Triple Jump, in 14.29m, with Caolan O’Callaghan (Tir Chonaill AC) in 4^th place in 13.83m. Brendan Boyce (Finn Valley AC) took 2^nd place in the Senior Men’s 5000m Walk in a time of 20:16.00.

Euro medallist Mark English won a tactical race over 800m in 1.51.77secs while Annadale AC's Conall Kirk was 6th in 1.56.11secs.

Elsewhere this weekend….

Ellie McCartney (City of Lisburn AC) took 1^st place in the Women’s Pole Vault at the BUCS Indoor Championships at University of Sheffield, clearing a PB height of 4.00m.

Shane Martin (Oxford Uni) came 8^th Pole Vault, clearing a new PB height of 4.50m. Mollie Courtney (Gloucestershire Uni) took 4^th in the 60m Hurdles in a time of 8.47secs, while Megan Marrs (Loughborough Uni) took 5^th place in 8.50secs. Grace Carson (Loughborough AC/ Mid Ulster AC) came 4th in the Women's 3000m final in a time of 9:56.29.

Meanwhile in the Scottish Combined Events Championships Sarah Connolly (North Down AC) won 2^nd place in the Senior Women’s event. Her total points were 3739, which was a season’s best, including a SB in the High Jump, clearing 1.72m.

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