Mawdsley claims 200m gold at National Indoor Championships

By Eamon Fitzgerald

The stars of Tipperary athletics delivered a thrilling two day’s of action at the National Seniors Indoor Championships in Abbotstown last weekend.

There were over 500 athletes from all over the country vying for podium honours across the various track and field events, with a number looking to boom their tickets to the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul next month.

Nineteen athletes from the Premier County competed all giving an excellent account of themselves across the track and field events claiming a total of six medals with 1 Gold, 3 Silver and 2 Bronze.

Sharlene Mawdsley from Newport AC was in brilliant form winning the gold medal in the 200m in a personal best time of 23.50 seconds. This improved on an earlier personal best of 23.61 seconds in the semi-final.

Moyne AC won their first ever National Senior Track & Field medal when Katie Bergin took a bronze in the 200m in a new personal best time of 24.54 seconds, this improved on an earlier personal best of 24.77 seconds in her semi-final. Katie also ran in the 60m coming through the earlier rounds and qualifying for the final in a time of 7.72 seconds.

Daniel Ryan from Moycarkey/Coolcroo AC took silver in the Long Jump with a super jump of 7.00 metres.

Emma O’Neill from Carrick-on-Suir AC was in flying form taking a silver medal in the Triple Jump with a personal best of 11.35m.

Ava Rochford from Nenagh Olympic AC also won a silver medal in the Ladies High Jump with a height of 1.76 metres. Ava also finished fourth in the Pole Vault with a height of 3.25 metres.

David Ryan from Moycarkey Coolcroo AC was in terrific form competing in the Men’s 400 meters taking a bronze medal in a time of 48.24 seconds.

Miriam Daly of Carrick-on-Suir AC finishing very strongly in the Ladies 400 meters final to claim the Bronze medal in an indoor personal best time of 54.39 seconds.

Nenagh Olympic AC were in the Men’s 4x200m Relay and finished fourth in a time of 1:31.93 minutes with Jack Hickey, Brendan Lynch, Padraic Hassett & Alex Ryan making up the team.

Larry O’Grady of Mooreabbey Milers AC finished fourth in the Weight for Distance with a throw of 5.29 meters while John O’Dwyer of Templemore AC finished fifth in the Shot Put with a distance of 13.81 meters. Padraic Hassett of Nenagh Olympic AC also finished fifth in the 200m final in a time of 22.30 seconds. Padraic also competed in the 60m with a time of 7.20 seconds.

Laura Frawley of Nenagh Olympic AC finished sixth in the Long Jump with a distance of 5.21 metres. She also finished seventh in the High Jump with a height of 1.60m.

Lucy Fitzgerald of Tipperary Town AC finished sixth in the Triple Jump with a seasons best of 10.86m.

Ben Connolly of Nenagh Olympic AC finished seventh in the Pole Vault with a height of 3.95m, while clubmate Niamh Cunneen finished ninth in the 3000m in a time of 10:21.36 minutes.

Jack Hickey, also of Nenagh Olympic AC, competed in the 200m in a time of 23.43 seconds and the 60m in a best time of 7.28 seconds. Clubmate Alex Ryan also competed in the 200m in a time of 23.60 seconds and the 60m in a time of 7.35 seconds.

William Hughes of Thurles Crokes AC competed in the 3000m in a time of 8:41.83 minutes while Emma Murray of Clonmel AC competed in the 1500m in a time of 4:48.89 minutes.