At the Morton Games in Santry, the Morton Mile lived up to its billing when ten men went under the 4-minute barrier. Leading them home was double winner Will Leer of the USA, whose time of 3:51.82 was a new stadium record, breaking Steve Scott’s 3:53.80. Also inside the old record were two other American visitors – Patrick Casey in 3:52.62 and Corey Leslie in 3:53.44.
John Travers
Best of the Irish was John Travers of Donore in 3:55.44, making him the 51st Irishman to run under four minutes for the distance. Even better, Travers’ time of 3:37.37 for 1500m was inside the European Championships A standard. “Absolutely over the moon! One of the best days of my life,” was his reaction after the race.
Running the 100th sub-four minute mile in Santry was Hamish Carson of New Zealand, with Andrew Colley of the USA also under the magic barrier. Just outside the mark was Eoin Everard on 4:00.07, closely followed by Letterkenny’s Danny Mooney and Ciaran O Lionaird of Leevale.
In the women’s mile Molly Huddle of the USA smashed the stadium best with a time of 4:26.84. She was closely followed by Melissa Duncan of Australia who ran 4:26.90 and Aisha Praught with a time of 4:28.04. Sara Treacy was best of the Irish in 4:43.67.
Mark English of UCD was another athlete on fire, pouring on the pressure in the final 200m of the men’s 800m to win in a new stadium record of 1:45.30. Right on his heels was Martin Ryan of the USA who finished in 1:45.79. Paul Robinson of St Coca’s was fourth in 1:46.40, while Karl Griffin, on his way to the World Juniors in a few days time, ran an excellent 1:48.46.
Phoebe Wright narrowly won the women’s 800m from Selma Kajan in 2:01.91. Katie Kirk was sixth in 2:02.86. Laura Crowe ran a time of 2:04.63, while Aislinn Crossey, another athlete on her way to the world juniors, clocked a time of 2:06.58.
Winning the 3000m was Juan Luis Barrios of Mexico in 7:44.71, with Kevin Batt best of the Irish in sixth place with a time of 7:54.57.
The evening had officially started with a sensational win by Thomas Barr in the 400m hurdles in 48.94 secs which was a new stadium record and was enough to beat current world champion Jehue Gordon of Trinidad. He ran 49.48secs, with Mahua Suguimati of Braziel third in 49.94 and Jason Harvey fourth in 50.64.
AT THE DIAMOND LEAGUE In Glasgow, the Irish women’s 4×100 didn’t finish after a handling mishap on the first changeover. In Rhede, Germany, Kelly Proper won the 200m in a personal best of 23.16 secs (wind 0.6). It puts her second on the all-time Irish list.
MARTIN FAGAN of Mullingar won the Kinnegad 5km in 14 mins 17 secs. Barbara Cleary of Donore was first woman in 16.50, with North Belfast’s Breege Connolly second in 17.14.
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