Kate O’Connor produced a 6.50m personal best and championship record in the women’s long jump while a host of athletes took national indoor titles across track and field events
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The second day of the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena delivered memorable moments, with Kate O’Connor stealing the spotlight in the women’s long jump. Her opening-round leap of 6.50m was both a personal best and a new championship record, moving her up to third on the Irish all-time list and capping an impressive weekend that included a strong hurdles performance.
Beyond O’Connor’s record, the day produced a raft of national champions and several championship records. Middle- and long-distance races, sprints, jumps and throws each produced dramatic finishes and first-time senior titles, underlining the depth of domestic talent competing indoors.
O’Connor’s long jump and what it means
In the women’s long jump, Katherine (Kate) O’Connor delivered an assertive first attempt that set the tone. The 6.50m mark was a clear statement: it was a technical breakthrough under competition pressure, not just in training.
That distance established a new championship benchmark and elevated her to third on Ireland’s historical list for the event.
O’Connor noted that consistent preparation allowed her to convert training into a competition-quality effort on the first try — a valuable advantage in a discipline where athletes traditionally have three attempts in the qualifying phases of multi-event programs. The early success eased the pressure and validated both her training plan and competition strategy.
Key track winners and tactical races
The track programme featured a mix of tactical finals and close sprints. In the men’s 3000m, Nick Griggs secured his first senior national indoor title in a gripping final-lap duel, crossing the line in 8:14.52. His victory over Darragh McElhinney and Andrew Coscoran came down to a physical and tactical battle in the closing stages, and it also guaranteed automatic qualification for the World Indoor Championships.
On the women’s side, Louise Shanahan executed a perfectly timed finish to claim the 3000m title in 9:22.47, adding to her national indoor success from the previous year at 800m. The 1500m finals for both sexes were decided in the final moments: Lucy Holmes won the women’s 1500m in 4:31.10, while Lughaidh Mallon produced a late surge to take the men’s race in 3:43.45.
Sprint events and defensive titles
The short sprints delivered expected and welcome returns to the podium. Ciara Neville reclaimed the women’s 60m national crown with a time of 7.27, marking her third indoor title. In the men’s 60m, Bori Akinola successfully defended his crown in 6.60, a performance that confirms his strong early-season form and shifts attention toward global indoor competition.
Field events, walks and other highlights
The field events produced their own headlines. In the shot put, Eric Favors launched a championship record with a best of 19.57m, while Michaela Walsh continued an extraordinary run to secure her ninth consecutive indoor title in the women’s shot. In the pole vault, Michael Kent retained his title with a top clearance of 4.50m.
Race walking and distance disciplines also provided standout narratives. West Waterford’s Kate Veale extended an astonishing streak by winning her tenth straight national indoor title in the women’s 3000m walk, while Oisín Lane captured his first senior indoor crown in the men’s 5000m walk with a controlled, decisive performance.
Notable middle-distance and sprint champions
The 400m events produced both dominance and tight finishes. Sharlene Mawdsley retained the women’s 400m crown with a composed run of 51.89, her third consecutive indoor title, while Seán Doggett edged a close men’s race to take his first senior indoor 400m title in 47.33. In the 800m, Cillian Kirwan won the men’s race in a championship-record time of 1:47.68, and Hannah Seagrave claimed the women’s 800m title.
Across the programme, performances underlined the mix of emerging talent and established champions in Irish athletics. Several athletes sealed automatic qualification opportunities for international championships, while others added to long domestic title runs, reinforcing their positions as national standards in their events.
The championships combined individual breakthroughs, like O’Connor’s championship record, with defensive performances from serial title holders. From explosive sprints to technical field events and tactical distance races, the day showcased the breadth of ability on the indoor circuit. These national finals will shape selections and momentum heading into international competitions.
For a full list of day two winners, the podiums included, among others: Katherine O’Connor (women’s long jump 6.50m CR), Nick Griggs (men’s 3000m 8:14.52), Louise Shanahan (women’s 3000m 9:22.47), Ciara Neville (women’s 60m 7.27), Bori Akinola (men’s 60m 6.60), Eric Favors (men’s shot 19.57m CR), and multiple other national champions who provided compelling performances throughout the session.
