This year the National Senior & U23 T&F Championships are being held over two weekends in order to comply with Covid restrictions. There was success for Leevale athletes at first weekend with gold, two silver and bronze medals at senior level.
Michelle Finn has come into the championships in top form, she led from the front comfortably won the women’s 5,000m in 16:37.49 from her club-mate Sinead O’Connor who ran a strong race and kicked for second in 16:47.40. Michelle went on to compete in the 1500m, in the final she took the race on leading from the from for the first 3 laps, only to finish just outside the deals in 4th place. Michelle will be back on track next weekend where she will look make the double in the 3k Steeple Chase, she goes in to the event with the fastest time in the world this year.
Padraig O’Callaghan got onto the senior podium when he threw 4.40m in the weight for height taking silver medal. In the hammer Padraig threw 48.78m, which place him 5th in the senior event and gave him bronze in the U23 event.
In a very tight 100m women’s final Joan Healy crossed the line in third place in 11.85, just behind Sarah Lavin 2nd and Phil Healy 1st. In the men’s 100m final Conor Morey crossed the line in 5th place in 10.84, it is great to see him mixing with the senior athletes.
In the javelin Cathal Scanlan finished in 7th place with a throw of 52.22m.
We look forward to the next instalment of the national T&F championships next weekend, as Michelle seeks the double and our young pole-vaulters are eager to demonstrate their abilities.