National Championships Day 1 – a five star day.

Day one of the National Championships saw Clonliffe athletes pick up five medals. Pride of place goes to Stephen Rice who lead home a Clonliffe 1-2 finish in the men’s Javelin. With a throw of 62.94m, he finished just ahead of teammate Rory Gunning’s 62.35m. Alan Gunning finished 9th with 45.52m.

Newly minted Clonliffe man, Jeremy Phillips won a silver medal in the 200m with a time of 21.14 secs. This is just outside of Brian Gregan’s club record of 21.05.

Andrii Mahin collected a national championship bronze medal in the Triple Jump with a distance of 13.70m.

Final medal winner of the day was Jayme Rossiter in the men’s 3000m Steeplechase. His time was 9.18.14.

There were two 5th place finishes as well, with the first from Simon Galligan in the men’s Hammer, with a season’s best of 57.29m. Sergiu Ciobanu ran his second fastest 10,000m on the track with a 30.20.00 posting.

Three Clonliffe men made it through to today’s 1500m finals, in the guise of Eoin Pierce (3.57.18), Richie Owens (3.58.32) and young Cathal Doyle (3.57.50) running in his first National Senior outdoor championships.

Ian Guiden has the pleasure of racing in his second 5000m of the weekend in today’s final. Qualifying from yesterday’s heat with a time of 15.26.36.

Man of the moment Brian Gregan navigated through the 400m heats with a time of 47.42. He’ll be joined in the final by Luke Lennon-Ford after he also won his heat, this time in 47.61.

Timmy Crowe will take his place in today’s 400m Hurdles after his 54.03 was enough to qualify from his heat. Eleanor Alexander successfully negotiated her 800m heat running 2.13.92 and will line up in today’s final. Unfortunately Ciara Peelo (2.23.22) and Emer Treacy (2.28.85) weren’t able to make it through to the same final.

Snezena Bechtina’s time of 58.31 for third in her heat was also enough to see her qualify through to today’s final. Mark McDonald 5th place finish, in a time of 1.56.11 wasn’t enough for him to make it through to men’s 800m final.