Sarah Lavin added an eighth national indoor 60m hurdles title to her record as the championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena delivered fast times, personal bests and televised finals
Sarah Lavin owned the weekend at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena, cruising to her eighth national indoor 60m hurdles crown. On 28 February and 1 March, packed stands, live TV coverage and several eye-catching performances gave the domestic indoor season a real buzz—and reshuffled parts of the national lists.
A tight, meaningful meet
Sprinters, hurdlers and field athletes arrived chasing fast season openers, indoor bests and selection-worthy displays. With selection windows looming, every mark mattered: times and distances recorded here will feed straight into team discussions and funding decisions.
The championships were broadcast on Virgin Media 2 and streamed via Athletics Ireland, widening the audience for a national showcase that felt part competition, part audition.
Lavin’s polished win
Lavin stopped the clock at 8.07sec in the women’s 60m hurdles, her rhythm and speed between the barriers decisive.
She admitted there were small technical tweaks to tidy—take-off rhythm and slightly cleaner clearance—but the performance reinforced her indoor hegemony. Kate O’Connor finished strongly in 8.21sec, an indoor personal best that nudges her up the Irish all-time rankings behind Derval O’Rourke and Lavin.
O’Connor’s time highlights a growing trend: multi-event athletes stepping into specialist sprint-hurdle territory. Her mark gives selectors tactical options, but it also raises questions about scheduling and load management as she balances combined events work with specialist outings.
Men’s hurdles and sprint action
Adam Nolan successfully defended his men’s 60m hurdles title, winning in 8.03sec. Sean Carmody and Ciaran Connolly rounded out the podium in a race decided by fine margins. On the flat, Mark Smyth of Raheny Shamrock held off Marcus Lawler to claim a third national indoor 200m title in 21.11sec.
Sophie Becker was the standout in the women’s sprints, clocking an indoor PB of 23.43sec to take her first senior indoor 200m crown. That performance will bolster her case for stepping up to the 400m and adds a useful data point for coaches plotting her progression.
Jumps, throws and technical depth
The weekend also produced solid results across the field events. In the women’s high jump, Aoife O’Sullivan and Sommer Lecky both cleared 1.75m, while Mohammed Ibrahim Halil won the men’s high jump at 1.93m. The triple jump and throws saw closely matched podiums and age-group national marks, signaling improved depth in the technical disciplines. Those consistent indoor attempts—where approach rhythm and repeatability matter most—will be parsed by selectors alongside eligibility and medical checks.
Broadcast, crowd and momentum
Sunday’s session sold out, and a two-hour live telecast plus online streaming meant the action reached a broad audience. Full stands and TV exposure do more than create atmosphere; they raise visibility for athletes and strengthen the case for future funding and selection. The dual distribution model also broadened access while protecting broadcast rights, a useful balance for organisers.
What it means going forward
This championship supplied clear selection signals. For some athletes the results offer reassurance; for others they’ve highlighted technical priorities—starts, hurdle clearance and bend running—that need addressing before international windows open. Expect coaches to target those areas with combination sessions that blend speed work and drill-focused practice, and for selectors to combine these championship placings with season-best metrics and compliance checks when finalising squads.
Key results (selected)
– Women 60mH: Sarah Lavin 8.07; Kate O’Connor 8.21; Orlaith Mannion 8.45 – Men 60mH: Adam Nolan 8.03; Sean Carmody 8.19; Ciaran Connolly 8.45 – Women 200m: Sophie Becker 23.43 – Men 200m: Mark Smyth 21.11
A tight, meaningful meet
Sprinters, hurdlers and field athletes arrived chasing fast season openers, indoor bests and selection-worthy displays. With selection windows looming, every mark mattered: times and distances recorded here will feed straight into team discussions and funding decisions. The championships were broadcast on Virgin Media 2 and streamed via Athletics Ireland, widening the audience for a national showcase that felt part competition, part audition.0
