Mark English powered to 10th 800m National Senior outdoor title
And still… The 32-year-old's victory was among the highlights of the 123.ie National Track and Field Championships in Santry, English continuing his fine year after winning European Indoor bronze in March and setting the five fastest times of his career outdoors.
It's 14 years since he won his first national senior title, aged 18, and he has ruled this domain with authority since. But in Cian McPhillips, he had a worthy pretender to the throne, the Longford athlete going second on the Irish all-time list with his recent 1:44.19, behind only English's national record of 1:43.92.
After a controlled first lap of 55 seconds, English sat second with McPhillips stalking his every move. English edged to the lead on the last bend and McPhillips spotted him a metre as they hit the straight – something you just can't do for a rival of English's class. English hit the jets and drew clear, hitting the line in 1:48.76 to McPhillips' 1:49.26. 'I was a little bit nervous coming into that,' said English. 'There was a bunch of guys who all train together and I had to race them all so I knew it was going to be difficult. But I had a plan and I executed that, and it worked out.'
There was an emotional win in the women's 100m for Ciara Neville, the Emerald AC athlete winning her first senior outdoor title since 2019. Neville suffered a severe injury in her hamstring tendon in 2021 which cost her a shot at the Tokyo Olympics and she endured many dark days since while trying to recapture her best form. But the 25-year-old's perseverance was rewarded as she clocked 11.44 (0.0m/s) to take gold ahead of Lauren Roy.
'It's been such a battle with injury,' said Neville. 'This year I knew I was coming back into myself and I'm just delighted. This was my year to put down a statement that I'm back. I have to give my team in Limerick such credit for sticking by me.'
Neville is coached by Noelle Morrissey and it was a great day for their stable as Sarah Lavin powered to her 10th national title in the 100m hurdles, clocking 12.92 (-0.6m/s). 'It was clean, it was solid,' said Lavin. 'I'm happy with that.'
Andrew Coscoran chased an ambitious double in the 5000m and 1500m, with less than 90 minutes between finals. The Dubliner was coolness personified in the longer race, kicking past former training partner Brian Fay to win in 13:34.14. But whether it was fatigue from that or a lapse in concentration, Coscoran got shuffled back at a key stage of the 1500m final, languishing in seventh with 250 metres to run. Up front, Cathal Doyle turned the screw and the Clonliffe Harrier wasn't for catching, taking his fourth straight title in 3:53.60. Coscoran came from the clouds to snatch silver in 3:53.84 with rising star Nick Griggs third in 3:53.90.
There was a big upset in the women's 800m as Alex O'Neill of Limerick Track Club outfoxed her rivals, kicking off the front after a pedestrian first 600m and holding off the late surge of Sarah Healy to win in 2:04.53. 'I was hoping it'd go to a kick finish,' said O'Neill.
Nicola Tuthill produced a superb 71.75m to win the hammer throw, the World University Games silver medallist adding 4cm to her Irish U-23 record. Reece Ademola underlined his vast potential with a magnificent 8.00m leap to win the men's long jump, the only shame being the tailwind of 2.6m/s meant it wouldn't count as a personal best. The Leevale athlete underwent knee surgery last August and only got back jumping in June.
There was a golden double for the Dublin Sprint Club training group in the 400m finals, with Sophie Becker dominating the women's race to win in 52.87 and Jack Raftery a class apart in the men's, clocking 45.71. Bori Akinola was a hugely impressive winner of the men's 100m in 10.29 (-0.5m/s), his first senior outdoor title, while Irish record holder Israel Olatunde withdrew with a niggle, having won his semi-final in 10.45.
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