Mark English's long dominance over 800m threatened by Cian McPhillips
McPhillips, the 2021 European U-20 1,500m champion, smashed his lifetime best to clock 1:44.19 and win at the Morton Games recently, going second on the Irish all-time list behind the 1:43.92 English ran in Hengelo in June. English has won eight Irish senior outdoor titles at 800m, and nine indoors, while McPhillips – whose early senior career was hampered by injury – has never won the national outdoor title and has one senior indoor title from 2024.
The men's 100m should be a duel for the title of Ireland's fastest man, with national record holder Israel Olatunde taking on Bori Akinola, who ran the fastest all-conditions 100m by an Irishman in June, clocking 10.10 with a 2.9m/s tailwind. Olatunde, who ran the Irish record of 10.12 in London last year, has won this title for the last four years and comes in with a season's best of 10.23, while Akinola's wind-legal best this year is 10.25. There should be very little between them.
Multi-event star Kate O'Connor has entered the javelin, shot put and long jump, fresh off her victory at the World University Games, while fellow Olympian Sharlene Mawdsley has entries in the 200m and 400m, with long-time relay teammates Phil Healy and Sophie Becker both focusing on the 400m.
Sarah Lavin will look to win her 10th national title in the 100m hurdles and should prove untouchable on Sunday, while she's likely to also race the 200m tomorrow.
In-form Sarah Healy will drop down to 800m, where she's defending champion, and if Sophie O'Sullivan chooses that over the 1,500m, it could be another riveting duel between the duo who went 1-2 over 1,500m at the European U-23 Championships two years ago, with Jenna Bromell also a contender.
'I've raced so many 1,500s this year and it's very rare I get a chance to run an 800,' said Healy. 'It will probably be a good quality field and it's just a good chance for me to challenge myself in a different way. Normally, running an 800 brings me on a lot in the 1,500, so that was my thought process.'
Recent European U-23 medallists Nicola Tuthill (hammer), Anika Thompson (5,000m), Eimear Maher (1,500m) and Nick Griggs (1,500m) will all be in action, while the men's 1,500m is shaping up as a cracker. If Andrew Coscoran and Cathal Doyle, the two quickest Irishmen in history, both toe the line, fans will get a rematch of their thrilling duel at last month's Morton Games, where Coscoran edged victory. Griggs, Shane Bracken and Darragh McElhinney should also go close.
Both days of action will be streamed on the Athletics Ireland YouTube Channel, with live coverage on RTÉ 2 from 5-7.30pm on Sunday. Day tickets cost €15 with a special two-day ticket available for €25, while U-16s go free.
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