Michelle Finn Takes The Double

Michelle Finn took the double at  Irish Life Health National Senior & U23 Athletics Championships when she won her second title of the championships  in the women’s 3,000m steeplechase comfortably in 9:59.72 from Aoibhinn McGoldrick (Raheny Shamrock),  (Raheny Shamrock) in 11:25.51 and Emily Grennan (Tullamore Harriers) in third 11:35.30. 

Leevale’s stamp was all over the women’s pole vault this year with the top five finishers all based in the HPC with coaches Eamonn Flannagan and Derrick Neff.  Una Brice took silver with 3.50m, behind  Orla Coffey (Carraig na Bfhear) 3.50m and ahead of Ciara Hickey (Blarney/Inniscara) 3.40m. Una Samuels was placed 4th in the senior event with 3.15m, but took silver in the U23 event. Sara Buckley finished 5th in the senior event  with 3.0m. All three Leevale athletes set PB’s on the day. 

In the men’s pole vault, young Conor Callinan cleared 4.0m to finish 6th. Conor will be a serious contender at senior level in the not too distant future.  

In the women’s 800m Annette Quaid crossed the line in the final in  5th place in 2.11.63. He club-mate Louise Shanahan was unable to come home for the championships due to the covid travel restrictions, she had to be content with running an 800m at the British Milers Club meet in Leevalley, where she crossed the line in 1st place in a time of 2:04. Watch the race here.