The big news from last night`s Dublin Graded Meet in Tallaght was the setting of a new Irish Masters O/50 1500 record by Clonliffe`s Bernie Byrne. Running in grade B Bernie stayed in contact with the lead pack of 8/9 athletes and as the pack pulled away on the final lap stayed focused to battle against the clock finishing in 5.06.60 well inside the existing O/50 record. There was also an intriguing 3 way Clonliffe Junior women`s battle in this race where Alannah Cooley prevailed breaking new ground as she went sub 5 for the first time: 4.57.56 placing 3rd, Hope Saunders was next 7th in 4.58.55 and then Laura Tuite 4.59.39. Louise Reilly was 3rd in the Dublin Championship A race (4.52.88).
In the men`s 1500 fastest Clonliffe man on the night was Cathal Doyle finishing 3rd in A race 2 with a flying final 250 (4.07.18). After that it was a night of PBs for the Junior men: Josh Stubbs (4.09.38), Liam Roarty (4.27.36) and Niall Norman (4.24.58). Senior Tom Sherlock showed no ill effects from his Grand Prix Series 4 Mile race 24 hours earlier finishing just outside of his pb in 4.22.50. In Grade C race Shane Merrigan, who has taken a couple of wins already this season found himself chasing the leader for 1200m and ended up 2nd in 4.30.06. Greg Hosseny put the race walk to one side had ran a good enough race but was out kicked down the straight to finish 5th in 4.35.61
John Hartnett was 4th in C 200 (25.01), Leah Bergin ran 27.61. In the discus Michael Curley was 3rd (23.28) and 4th in the shot (7.25) and Frances Mansfield 2nd in the shot (4.68) and 4th in discus (15.22)