None The Athletics Ireland, National Programme of Indoor Meets, kicked off this weekend, with the Nenagh Indoor Arena playing host to both the Woodie’s DIY Junior Indoor Championships on Saturday and the AAI Games on Sunday.
At the AAI Game the Women’s 3k Walk was won by Zuzana Malikova, a Slovakian International and member of West Waterford AC, in 12.53.48 minutes. One of Ireland’s most exciting, up and coming walkers, Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) who is coached by Jamie Costin, finished second in a new Junior Irish Record of 13.18.20 minutes. The record was formally held by Olive Loughnane’s sister Ann and stood at 13:27.32 minutes. Veale had won the 3,000m Walk at the Junior Indoor Championships on Saturday. In the Men’s 3k Walk, Jamie Costin of West Waterford AC, who has just returned from an Athletics Ireland, high performance warm weather training camp in Portugal, won comfortable in 11.56.29 minutes.
The Women’s 60m Final, produced the race of the day. Amy Foster of University of Ulster, who was quickest out of the blocks, displayed a fine return to form to win in a new personal best of 7.50 seconds. Clare Brady of Celbridge AC, who is now coached by former Irish Sprint International Gary Ryan, was second in 7.55 seconds. Kelly Proper of Ferrybank AC, who focused exclusively on the 60m sprint at the meet, placed third in 7.57 seconds. The introduction of the new IAAF no break rule caused little problems in all the sprint events of the day, with only one disqualification.
In the Men’s High Jump, Kouroush Foroughi of Star of the Sea AC, set a new Indoor personal best jumping an impressive 2.15 metres, a 5cm improvement on his previous best, set in March of last year.
The Men’s 1000m had one of the biggest fields of the day, with three races being run to facilitate the numbers. In the A 1000m Final, Emmet Dunleavy of Sligo AC set the early pace, bringing the leading pack through 800m in 1:58 minutes. With 300m to go Alan O’Brien, of Crusaders AC took a commanding lead and looked to have run the perfect tactical race. However, Junior Athletes, Darren McBrearty and Paul Robinson of St. Coca’s AC made decisive moves coming over the final bend to close the ground on O’Brien. Robinson showed an impressive turn of speed in the final metres, to outkick both athletes to win in 2.27.38 minutes with McBrearty second in 2.27.74 and O’Brien third in 2.28.38. O’Brien later lined up in the Men’s 3000m and won in convincing style in 8.28.69 minutes from Patrick McCartan of West Limerick in 8.30.47.
At the Junior Indoor Championships on Saturday. Joan Healy of Bandon AC, who finished fourth in the 100m European Youth Olympics 100m last year, won the 60m Junior Final in 7.76 seconds from Eilish Fitzpatrick of Gneeveguilla AC in 7.79 seconds. Catriona Farrell of Craughwell AC who also finished fourth in last year’s European Youth Olympics, won the High Jump in 1.70m. Irish Junior Record Holder, Caoimhe King of Westport AC dominated the Triple Jump winning in 11.64m.