Day 2 of the national senior indoor championships took place today, Sunday, before a sell-out attendance in the NIA Abbottstown. There was a brilliant atmosphere with every seat in the house taken for what was a super day’s athletics. The big Clonliffe Harriers news was the successful retention of his national 1500 indoor title by Cathal Doyle. Cathal’s win today was his 5th national 1500 title (3 outdoors and now 2 indoors).
The Clonliffe Day commenced with Rolus Olusa back in action again today this time in the pole vault. Rolus put a fine series together with a best of 4.40m to take 5th place, losing out on bronze on count back. Also in the pole vault was Andrej Dmitrenko placing 11th with a 3.40m best.
Meanwhile on the track the 60 men’s heats were underway with several Clonliffe athletes in action – Leo Morgan, Craig Duffy, Luca Logue-Fonseca, who yesterday made the 200 final, and Adam Festus. Luca was 3rd in heat for (7.03), in heat 7 Leo placed 2nd (6.96) with automatic qualification into the semis, Adam was 6th (7.50). Automatic qualification was secured by Craig Duffy finishing 2nd in heat 8 (6.89). Luca went through as 1 of the fastest losers. Some two hours later the semifinals took place where all 3 Clonliffe men were in the same semi, number 3. Craig Duffy took 3rd place with a new PB of 6.82, and more importantly took place a coveted place in the final, his first national senior final. Leo Morgan just missed out by 100th of a second, as he placed 4th with 6.85, Luca was 7th (6.98). Craig put in another great run in the final to finish in 7th position in a time of 6.91.
On then to the middle distance programme, there was good Clonliffe representation the 3000, indeed such was the overall interest in this particular event with some 60 athletes entered that the race was seeded and split into 3 separate races. Daragh Carter was the 1st of the Clonliffe men in the 3000, a very solid performance by young Dara to finish 8th in the B/C race heat 1 in a time of 9.12.86. In heat number 2 Tom Breslin performed superbly running 8.39.49 as he took 5th position, whilst an off form Matei Ursachi finished well down the field. In the a race the remarkable Colm Rooney finished in 10th place clocking a time of 8.22.88.
The women’s 1500 final featured 2 of the club’s junior athletes, both of whom have impressed enormously since joining the club, Emily Bolton and Lorraine O’Connor. As expected international athlete Sarah Healy (UCD) tore away from the gun to record a championship best of 4.08.74. The rest of the field held back and finished some 15 seconds in arrears. In the pack Emily Bolton made a great effort and finished 4th in a time of 4.27.85 with Lorraine 7th 4.30.27.
Likewise there was dual Clonliffe representation in the men’s 1500 final where Cathal Doyle and Sean Cronin lined up. Cathal, the defending champion and Olympic 1500 semifinalist, was clearly the class of the field and ran a controlled race until he burst from the pack with 2 laps to go coming home a clear winner in 3.58.10. Sean Cronin, still a junior, battled away in mid pack and although well in contention with a lap to go was swallowed up and finished 8th in a time of 4.03.37.
Cathal O’Brien, a recent addition to the fold, was in action in the men’s long jump and took 7th position with a best of 5.99, which he achieved on the 2nd jump.
Niamh Kelly was the last Clonliffe athlete in action, having repeated her outdoor feat of qualifying for a national 800 final, and today ran very well as she recorded an indoor PB of 2.13.22 as she finishing in a battling 7th position.
So the national indoors have concluded and it was a fine championship for the club: with national titles for Cathal Doyle and Marcus Lawler, national bronze for Niall Allen, and a fair number of national finalists.
The indoor season continues another few weeks with the Leinster indoors next weekend, the national U/20 and U/23’s and national Masters the week after and then of course the small matter of the European Indoor Championships and the World Indoors. You might think it’s all over, but it’s not!