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The AAI National Indoor League came to a thrilling conclusion today at the TUS International Arena in Athlone with Dundrum South Dublin (Women) and Clonliffe Harriers (Men) retaining their respective indoor league titles with several impressive performances throughout the day.
Clonliffe picked up maximum points in two events on their way to retaining the title they won so impressively last year.
Rolus Olusa (Clonliffe Harriers AC) was one of the star performers on the day, finishing in first place in the pole vault with a best of 4.20m. Olusa back up that performance with second place finishes in the high jump (1.80m) behind Ratoath’s Emanuel Osas (1.80), and 60mH (8.48) behind Jack McGrath (Leevale AC) in 8.43.
Niall Allen (Clonliffe Harriers AC) was Conliffe’s other maximum point taker on the day, securing the full allocation in the Weight for Distance with a best of 6.57m.
Ratoath picked up silver with Emanual Osas leading the way in the high jump (1.80m), ably supported by Stephen Walshe (Ratoath AC) in the 1500m walk (8:05.78) and the 4x400m relay team who also finished with maximum points.
Nenagh Olympic secured four first placed finishes on their road to bronze with Daire O’Donnell’s (Nenagh Olympic AC) win in the 800m providing the finish of the day. He crossed in a winning time of 1:55.22 ahead of Sean Cronin (Clonliffe Harriers AC) 1:55.28.
Joe Minter (Nenagh Olympic AC) picked up top spot in the long jump with a best of 6.88m, while teammate Padraic Hassett (Nenagh Olympic AC) looked very impressive in taking the spoils in the 400m (50.16).
Andrew Egan (Galway City Harriers AC) performed superbly for Galway City Harriers throughout the day, picking up wins in the 60m (6.95) and 200m (21.96), while the 1500m provided one of the duals of the day with Juan Ignacio Pena (Raheny Shamrock AC) just getting the better of Clonliffe’s Eoin Pierce in a winning time of 3:53.74. Pena would also go on to secure the 3,000m in 8:28.23.
The women’s league final was dominated by defending champions DSD right from the off with Mollie O’Reilly (Dundrum South Dublin AC) storming to a win in the 60m in an equal indoor PB of 7.46.
The champions didn’t have to wait long for their next wins on the track with Amy O’Donoghue (Dundrum South Dublin AC) following suit in the 1500m to cross in a winning time of 4:32.90.
In all, DSD would pick up six wins across the day, including Ciara Wilson Bowen in the 1500m walk (6:57.80), Rachel Dunne in the WFD (5.43m), Lauryn Healy in the high jump (1.55m), and Molly Mullally in the long jump 5.33m.
The fight for the remaining team podium places came right down to the wire with Leevale ultimately taking silver thanks to their extra win on the day. The Cork women secured first place in the pole vault through Olive Burger (3.10m).
Nicole Dinan (Leevale AC) ran away from the field in the 3,000m to cross in 10:05.28, while Claire Crowley (Leevale AC) utilised fresh legs in the 800m to edge clear in the final stages to win in a time of 2:14.54.
Ratoath would ultimately settle for bronze with Katie Doherty once again playing a leading role in taking maximum points in the 200m (24.86). The Ratoath relay juggernaut continued its remarkable run of success in taking both the women’s and men’s 4x400m relay races.
Clonliffe were right there until the final few events with a standout day for Irish 400m hurdles champion Jessica Tappin (Clonliffe Harriers AC) who set an indoor 400m pb of 54.95 before going on to claim the win in the 60m hurdles (8.63), and a second place finish in the shot put behind Raheny’s Niamh McCorry (11.20).
The national indoor season continues in two weeks time with the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships taking place back at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena across February 17th & 18th).
Spectator tickets are available HERE.
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