from Jeremy Lyon Tir Chonnaill’s Mary McLoone showed that Kelly Proper may not have Irish long jumping all to herself this season with an impressive combination of long and triple jumping in today’s (Jan 25th) Woodies DIY AAI Indoor Games in Nenagh. Her long jump of 6.11 was a legal PB and close to her windy 6.21 from Antrim a couple of years ago. She backed this up with a 12.54 in the triple jump. Showing what seems to be an obvious increase of speed on the runway, the Donegal woman can look forward to an exciting season ahead. The men’s 1,000m was billed as the showpiece event and despite it being a slow tactical affair it provided a gripping last 200m. A slow opener of 31 seconds ensured the 10 man field were bunched on the tight Nenagh track and despite a faster second lap of 27 second it was still an untidy race. Plucky junior Paul Robinson (St Coca’s) decided to take it to his older rivals and his move kicked the race off in earnest. After a juggling of leaders former world indoor relay medallist, David McCarthy (Le Cheile), found himself in prime attacking position at the bell. The former sprinter held it into the last bend but Eoin Everard (KCH) did what any good middle distance athlete does and made his one and only killer move. In the lead off the bend he held strong taking victory in 2:28.82. Current National Novice Cross Champion, Alan O’ Brien (Crusaders) eventually edged out McCarthy to take second on the line.
Mairead Murphy (UCD) survived a sluggish start in the 60m (7.93) to ensure she had a double, taking the 60m hurdles (9.02) also. Wexford’s greatest servant to Irish sprinting, Kevin Cogley (Menapians) rolled back the years taking the men’s 200m in 22.77. Fellow yellow-belly, Brona Furlong (Slaney Olympic) was a comfortable winner of the women’s 400m in 57.69.
The proceedings had started on a high with Togher’s Rob Heffernan cruising to the 3k walk race in 11:32 and showed the Corkman has not lost any of the hunger that has driven him for his entire career.