One, two, three for steeple chicks at National Indoors

Ireland’s three Rio steeplechase qualifiers dominated the women’s 3000m at the Glo Health National Indoors in Athlone.

Kerry O’Flaherty from Newcastle came home first in 9 mins 11.17 secs, followed by Dunboyne’s Sara Treacy in 9:19.96 and Michelle Finn of Leevale 9:21.93. O’Flaherty runs the women’s 1500m tomorrow in a bid for double gold.  

In the men’s 800m heats, Mark English of UCD ran a time of 1:48.15 to qualify easily for tomorrow’s final where he will chase a fourth national title. Ciara Mageean, also UCD, led the qualifiers for the women’s 800m with a time of 2:08.85.

In an absorbing women’s shot putt, Tralee’s Claire Fitzgerald’s winning 14.95m effort put her just three centimetres clear of young pretender Michaela Walsh from Swinford. Walshe’s 14.92m was a new Irish junior record, smashing her own best of 14.36m and inside the world junior B standard.

Mid-Sutton’s Sarah McCarthy won the long jump with a 5.90m effort at her last attempt.

In the men’s 200m, Marcus Lawler of St LOT leads the qualifiers with a 21.23 sec time from the opening heat of seven.  Bandon’s Phil Healy tops the women’s list of qualifiers with 24.19 secs.  Over 400m, DSD’s Sinead Denny ran 54.80 in her heat; Jenna Bromell clocked 55.13 secs. Fastest of the men  was Richard Morrissey with 48.08 secs. Shercock’s Craig Lynch leads the 100m qualifiers with a time of 6.87 secs.

Glo Health National Senior Indoors, Athlone

Women – 3,000m: 1 K O’Flaherty (Newcastle) 9:11.17, 2. S Treacy (Dunboyne) 9:19.96, 3. M Finn (Leevale) 9:21.93. 3,000m walk: 1 S O’Connor (Celbridge) 14:50.69, 2 V Burke (Ballinasloe) 14:51.54, 3 S Nash (St Abban’s) 15:51.17. Long Jump: 1 S McCarthy (Mid Sutton) 5.90, 2 V Fleischer (Celbridge) 5.70, 3. A Jerumbauskyte (Clonliffe Hrs) 5.62.High Jump: 1 C Farrell (Craughwell) 1.75, 2. G Moggan (DSD) 1.70, 3. G O’Rourke (DSD) 1.70. Shot: 1 C Fitzgerald (Tralee Hrs) 14.95m, 2. M Walsh (Swinford) 14.92 (jun rec), 3 A Frattorli (Limerick) 12.62.

Men – 5,000m walk: 1 B Boyce (Letterkenny) 20:17.81, 2C McManamon (Westport) 20:51.56, 3 E Caprice (DSD) 24:18.14. Pole Vault: 1 I Rogers (Clonliffe Hrs) 4.60, 2. T Houlihan (West Waterford) 4.40, S Martin (Ballymena & Antrim) 4.30. Triple Jump: 1S Joyce (Cushinstown) 14.12, 2 J Hoang (Tullamore Hrs) 14.11, 3 C  Mahon (Tir Chonaill) 14.06.