PRESS RELEASE Eileen O’Keeffe of Kilkenny City Harriers will be looking for her ninth National title when she enters the hammer circle on the 1st of August at the Woodie’s DIY Senior National Track and Field Championships of Ireland. In the 2008 championships, O’Keeffe was in exceptional form with four of her throws going over the 70 metre mark, a truly world class performance. The previous year the Kilkenny woman set an Irish Record of 73.21m on her fourth throw. As well as achieving eight successive National Titles, O’Keeffe holds eight of the top ten Championships Best Performances. O’Keeffe said “I always enjoy the Nationals Championships and cherish every title that I have won over the years”.
O’Keeffe has shown a solid return to form, consistently throwing high sixties after her post-Olympics operation that rectified the injury which inhibited her performance in Beijing. Speaking of the injury O’Keeffe said “‘It was tough as I was on crutches for 3 months and I missed all of my winter training but all things considered I am very pleased to be throwing high sixties and each time I go out and compete I can push it on a little bit more.”
Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC) will be looking for her eighth title in the 100m Hurdles at the Championships on Super Final Sunday. This will equal the titles won by Waterford’s Susan Smith Walsh. O’Rourke has recovered exceptionally well from a slight groin strain suffered at the European team Championships and competed in the KBC Nacht Meet in Huesdon Belgium on Friday night and had a solid performance to finish 6th in 13.18.
Terry McHugh holds the record for the most National titles, achieving an outstanding 21 titles and holding all ten of the Championships Best Performances including an 80.27m throw achieved in 2000.