Mark English impresses and Donegal athletes break records at nationals
Kelly McGrory set a new Donegal record in the 400m hurdles while John Kelly hit a new Championship best in the shot
Mark English won his eighth Irish senior outdoor 800m title on Sunday evening in Santry.
The Finn Valley AC man clocked 1:48.47 to win gold from Kildare AC’s John Fitzsimons, who bagged silver in 1:49.10.
English has had an encouraging start to his outdoor season, the graph having been firmly upwards with races in Belgium, England and Spain.
The 29-year-old’s tactical prowess shone through as he kicked for home around the bend to get the better of Fitzsimons.
English will have European and World Championships later this summer and is certainly in good stead so far.
Kelly McGrory again broke the Donegal 400m hurdles record to win gold. McGrory stormed home in 57.22 seconds.
The Tir Chonaill AC woman had landed a huge PB of 57.84 seconds for the Ulster gold and a further 0.64 seconds have been shaved from that mark.
John Kelly set a new Championship best to continue his good record form and capture the shot put gold.
The St Johnston man and Finn Valley AC athlete took the gold with a 19.25m throw. Kelly’s throw, coming on his first go, eclipses the 18.64m set by Eric Favors in 2019.
Sommer Leckey regained her high jump title on Saturday. Finn Valley AC’s former world under-20 silver medal jumped a best of 1.79m in difficult conditions to take the gold just days after being confirmed on the Northern Ireland team for the Commonwealth Games.
Philippa Rogan was the silver medalist, clearing the bar at 1.76m.
Tir Chonaill AC’s Conall Mahon jumped 14.68m to earn the triple jump gold medal. A 13.55m jump saw Finn Valley AC’s Joseph Gillespie finish just outside the medals in fourth.
Lifford-Strabane AC’s Brendan O’Donnell was the hammer silver medalist, reaching out to 61.07m. Sean Mockler threw 65.33m to land the gold.
Gareth Crawford, also from Lifford-Strabane AC, won silver in the javelin, throwing a best attempt of 63.71m, edged by Lake District’s Conor Cusack, who reached out to 64.55m.
Siobhan Doherty of Tir Chonaill AC won silver in the 5000m walk. Doherty finished in 27:51.32, a superb effort to finish behind the winner, Kate Veale from Waterford.