A magnificent weekend for Clonliffe Harriers track and field team continued at the GloHealth National Indoor Championships at Athlone IT yesterday. Following on the back of his European qualifying time performance in the 400 heats on Saturday Dara Kervick was in scintillating form yesterday, Sunday. From the gun Kervick took on the pace driving from the front leaving a train of athletes chasing after him, his tactics paid dividends as at the bell he was well clear of the mayhem behind which resulted in clubmate Timmy Crowe ending up on the in field and out of the race. At the front Kervick was magnificent driving off the final bend to win his first national senior title and in the process take another chunk off his PB as he ran a top class 46.53. Post race the Clonliffe man said: “It felt so easy, I didn’t think I was going that fast”.
Kervick’s time places him 8th on the current European ranking list.
The club’s second national title secured on Sunday came courtesy of Keith Pike in the 60m. Keith won his heat in a time of 6.93 and then in the final upset all the odds to regain the national title which he won in 2013 in a very fast 6.86 which is a new Clonliffe club record.
In the 800 metres Declan Murray had to give way to DCU’s Mark English, Declan securing silver in a time of 1.51.53. A good run also in this race by Aindriu Jenkinson who finished 5th in a time of 1.56.19.
The third Clonliffe medal of the day came in the high jump courtesy of the very consistent Andrew Heney. For the third successive competition Andrew equalled his indoor PB, and Clonliffe club record, of 2.05m to take national indoor bronze in the high jump.
Also in action in the field events yesterday was Ausra Jerumbauskyte who finished just out of the medals in 4th position with a best of 11.13.
Also placing just out of the medals in that unlucky 4th position was Ciara McCallion who finished 4th in the 400 in a time of 56.51, Snezana Bechtina placed 5th in 57.12.
Christopher Sibanda also placed 4th in the 200 running a time of 22.58.
A couple of missed results from Saturday in the Men’s triple jump were Andri Mahin was 6th in 13.66 and Antonio Andujar was 9th with a best of 12.53.
Saturday of course also seen the first of the three national titles captured by the club’s two pole vaulters as both Ian Rogers and David Donegan tied for 1st position in a new Athlone IT stadium record of 4.80m. Ian Rogers retaining his national senior indoor title and David Donegan winning an unbelievable 10th National senior indoor title and his 18th national senior title overall.
In summary a magnificent weekend for the black and amber: three national titles, 1 silver, 1 bronze, 1 club record and of course the small matter of another European qualifier as Dara Kervick will join Prague bound Declan Murray.