That was a special day in Morton Stadium yesterday, Sunday the 30th for day 2 of the 123.ie national senior track and field championships. Following on Saturday’s 2 silver medal winning performances the Clonliffe athletes put on superb performances to finish the 2023 national championships with a total of 4 golds, 4 silvers and 3 bronzes.
The day started brilliantly as Eoin Sheridan won yet another national title in the discus with a best of 54.23. Shortly after this Grace Casey did likewise winning the women’s javelin with a best throw of 41.83.
Jess Tappin delivered another superb performance today as she took national 400 hurdles gold with a brilliant run and in the process set a new club record, her 2nd in 2 days, of 57.20.
Tom Pitkin took silver behind Tom Barr (Ferrybank AC) in the men’s 400 H clocking a time of 52.96.
Brian Gregan delivered an emotional 400 bronze, coming off the final bend to propel himself from 5th to 3rd, and closing in on silver, Brian recording a season’s best of 46.96. Leah Bergin ran an excellent race in the women’s 400 final finishing 6th in a time of 55.84.
Jayme Rossiter was just out of the medals finishing 4th in the 3000 steeplechase in 9.11.00. In the 5000, and it was an epic race, Efrem Gidey took bronze in a time of 13.55.10. Stephen Cashin placed 15th in that race in 15.17.53. In the B 5000, and off-colour, Cathal McHale ran 16.31.36 and in the C race Sean Heaslip Owens 16.07.60. The women’s 5000 Greta Streimyte was 13th in 16.51.11.
The women’s 1500 saw Laura Tuite line up for her 1st national final and she ran a superb race to record a PB of 4.41.42 in placing 11th.
Then the men’s 1500 where defending champion Cathal Doyle ran a textbook race, covering every move and then with 200 to go blasting past Nick Griggs to retain his national 1500 title in a time of 3.40.11.
The 100 men’s races brought mixed fortunes, in the heats Keith Pike ran 11.24 to qualify for the semi-final where he ran 11.19 but not enough to make the final. Chris Sibanda ran 11.05 in his heat and then in the final suffered an injury clocking 11.12. Also the heats Aaron Tierney Smith 11.70, Conor Wilson 11.78 and Michael Deady 11.73.
The final races of the championships were the 4 x 400. The women’s team of Rebecca Walsh, Jenny Johnston, Ava Usanova and Clodagh Dunbar battled gamely finishing in 5th place in 4.05.63. The men’s team of Jonny Fitzsimons, Conor Wilson, Jarlath Jordan and Michael Deady ran the most gutsy of races to claim national bronze (3.36.08).
So a brilliant Championships for the club: 4 gold medals –Eoin Sheridan, Grace Casey, Cathal Doyle and Jess Tappin. 4 Silvers – men’s 4 x 100, Simon Galligan, Rolus Olusa, Tom Pitkin. 3 Bronze – Brian Gregan, men’s 4 x 400, Efrem Gidey.
