Great weekend performances in Australia, England and Athlone
13 February 2017
University of Brisbane, Australia
Ireland's top sprinter Amy Foster continued her impressive season in Australia with a classy 23.32 secs time over 200 metres in a meeting at the University of Brisbane.
This time would have been a qualification mark for next year's Commonwealth Games in the same City were it not for a following wind being over the permitted limit (3.4). It is however Amy's fastest ever reading and indicates that the 28 year old Lisburn AC woman is in a position to threaten her own NI record of 23.53 secs set in China back in 2011.
The Davy Reid coached athlete also missed the Gold Coast 100m standard by 0.01 in another windy race (11.45 2.6).
British Team Trials, Sheffield
Following their fast 1500m performances at the AAI Games last week, Emma Mitchell (Queens / Eamon Christie) and Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC / Richard Rodgers) this time faced stiff competition in the Women’s 3000m. Despite fact that numerous athletes in the field were seeking qualifications, it was an extremely slow first 1k (3.15) followed by an extremely fast one (3.00). The change of speed by the likes of Eilish McColgan was a little too much for the N.I. girls to stick with but both finished well with Kerry in 6th in 9.19.51 and Emma 11th 9.31.20.
Adam McMullen (Crusaders / Alan Kennedy) decided to compete off a shortened approach at the end of a busy week where he recorded victories at the Games and in Barcelona on Tuesday. His 7.51m was good enough for 5th place.
Cardiff University based pole vaulter Sarah McKeever (Sale Harriers / Laurie Needham) who has recently declared eligibility to compete for Northern Ireland also finished 4th in 3.94m, just 2cm from her recent PB.
Andrew Wright (Willofield Harriers / James Thie & Mark Kirk) finished 7th in his slow and tactical 1500m heat in 3.56.88.
Megan Marrs (City of Lisburn / Jerzy Maciukiewicz) and Naomi Morgan (City of Derry / Tom Reynolds) both produced seasons bests in the 60mH 8.79 to 9.04 respectively.
Midlands Counties Open, Birmingham
Leon Reid (Birchfield Harriers / James Hillier) won the 200m in a fast 21.11 which sets him up well for the Irish Senior Championships next weekend.
Jason Harvey (Crusaders / Nick Dakin) came from behind to win his 400m heat in 48.5 which is a significant improvement on his performance at the AAI games last week.
IUAA Indoor Championships, Athlone
John Kelly (Letterkenny IT / John Kelly Snr) put the shot 16.97m to break Victor Costello’s IUAA record. Neil Johnston (Queens / Mark Kirk) took an impressive win in a fast finishing 3000m in 8.42.20. Adam Hill (Queens / Wendy Phillips) was joint 1st in the high jump (1.95m) and took 4th place in the 60m Hurdles with 8.60.
Adam McComb (Ulster University / Brendan McConville) took bronze the from tough lane 2 behind Thomas Barr, in an indoor PB 48.89. Laura Frey (Trinity College Dublin) and Emma McCay (Ulster University) were 2nd and 3rd respectively in the pentathlon.
In a blanket finish Jonathan Browning (Queens / Melanie Browning) took 0.07 off his SB to run 6.92 for the bronze medal. Christian Robinson (Queens / Alan Kennedy) was only 0.07 from the gold medal but finished 5th in 6.98.