The opening day of the GloHealth National Senior track & field championships saw some seven medals won by Clonliffe athletes. Pride of place goes to National Javelin Champion Rory Gunning who won gold with a best of 61.15m, Rory`s brother Alan was also competing finishing in 13th (45.67).
Silver medals were won by Ausra Jerumbauskyte in the triple jump with a new pb of 12.00m to bring Ausra within 4 cm of Fiona Mullens` 1999 club record. In the men`s triple jump Andrii Mahin made it double silver for Clonliffe (14.39m) and again not far off the club record of 14.45m. Simon Galligan also took silver in the hammer (59.51m). David Flynn likewise was a silver medallist in the 3000 sc with a storming last 600 finishing only a meter or two off gold.
Leah Moore after some two long years of injury made a stunning comeback to nationals taking bronze in the 200 (24.77). In the junior 3000 Sean Carrig put together the best race of his young career with a pb of 8.56.26 for 3rd place. An off form Adam O`Brien was well off his best finishing 7th.
Also competing today in the 200s: Chris Sibanda in that unlucky 4th in the final (22.01) and in the earlier rounds, Patrick O`Connor 23.17, Keith Pike 22.60 and Gary Scott 23.82. Brian Gregan recorded the fastest 400 of the day 47.37 to go through to tomorrow`s final, Timmy Crowe with a 49.02 failed to progress. Ciara McCallion also made it through to tomorrow`s women`s 400 final after a 55.26 run. Snezana Bechtina ran 57.42 and Emma Kelly 61.08.
In the 800s Declan Murray cruised into tomorrow`s final after a 1.54.94 run. Josh Stubbs ran sub 2 (1.59.11) but didn`t progress also benefitting from the experience were Greg Hossenny and Joseph Hession. Finally the 1500 where European Paralympic bronze medallist Greta Strimikyte was again in fine form with a 4.48.85 run putting her through along with Eimear O`Brien for the final tomorrow afternoon. In the men`s 1500 Liam Roarty ran a 4.19.05 pb.