Sarah Lavin added another national title in the 60m hurdles as Kate O’Connor posted a major indoor personal best and Raheny athletes Sophie Becker and Mark Smyth took 200m golds
Opening night at the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on February 28 delivered plenty to talk about. From Sarah Lavin’s commanding hurdles display to season‑best sprinting and record throws, the meeting suggested Irish athletes are sharpening their form as the international season approaches.
Hurdles and sprint highlights
Sarah Lavin reinforced her domestic supremacy in the women’s 60m hurdles, producing a near‑flawless race and clocking 8.07 for her eighth national indoor title. Kate O’Connor, juggling multi‑event duties this winter, pushed Lavin all the way and smashed her indoor PB with 8.21 — a mark that moves her to third on Ireland’s indoor all‑time list behind Derval O’Rourke and Lavin.
Orlaith Mannion rounded out the podium in 8.45. There was a clear step up across the board: approaches were crisper, clearances cleaner and the rhythm between hurdles noticeably quicker.
In the men’s 60m hurdles Adam Nolan held on to his crown in 8.03.
Sean Carmody took silver in 8.19 and Ciaran Connolly bronze in 8.45. These races were decided by tiny margins — reaction times and technique over the barriers made the difference, and a few challengers are closing in on the established names.
Sprints and season building
The sprint events showcased progress born of careful winter planning. Sophie Becker of Raheny Shamrock captured her first senior indoor 200m title, dipping to a new PB of 23.43 after a faster heat (23.52). That progression hints at a shift in focus toward the 400m later in the season. Mark Smyth, also of Raheny Shamrock, won the men’s 200m in 21.11, just ahead of defending champion Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) who ran 21.24; Adam Murphy (Tinryland AC) was third in 21.68. Smooth curve running and a powerful finish separated the medallists.
Several heats set up intriguing finals for day two. Sharlene Mawdsley topped the women’s 400m qualifiers in 52.59, while Fintan Dewhirst posted a men’s 400m PB of 47.23, staking an early claim for the podium. Cillian Kirwan led the men’s 800m heats in 1:52.33, blending a controlled opening with a sharp closing kick. The variety of tactics — some athletes attacking from the gun, others biding their time for a decisive last lap — promises entertaining finals.
Field events and technical moments
Technical consistency dominated the horizontal and vertical jumps. Aoife O’Sullivan (Liscarroll AC) won the women’s high jump on countback over Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) after both cleared 1.75m; O’Sullivan’s fewer misses earned her the title. Mohammed Ibrahim Halil (Raheny Shamrock) topped the men’s high jump at 1.93m, with two rivals at 1.90m.
The triple jump saw a new winner as Daphni Doulaptsi Teeuwen (Raheny Shamrock) ended the defending champion’s run with 12.54m. David Onwudiwe (Ennis Track AC) kept his men’s triple title with 13.96m, narrowly holding off Darragh Fahy by just two centimetres. These contests underlined how minuscule technical tweaks — approach rhythm, take‑off timing and landing mechanics — can change the podium.
Throws, relays and fine margins
The weight‑for‑distance discipline produced two national records: Michael Healy (Leevale AC) set a new men’s mark of 9.11m, and Kotryna Pacerinskaite (Fanahan Mc Sweeney AC) retained the women’s title with an NR of 8.70m. Both performances flowed from consistent release points and calm execution under pressure.
Relays rounded out the session. MSB took the women’s 4x200m in 1:42.91, while Ratoath AC claimed the men’s race in 1:28.87. Once again, efficient handovers and steady splits separated the winners from the rest — small improvements in exchanges continue to yield big gains.
Looking ahead
The opening session offered evidence of growing depth and sharper technique across disciplines. Margins were fine, but across hurdles, sprints, jumps and throws there were clear signs of athletes peaking at the right time. With day two promising more close contests and tactical intrigue, the championships are building toward a competitive crescendo.
