PICTURES: Limerick gold medal successes at the National Track & Field Senior Championships

THERE was Limerick success at the 123.ie National Track & Field Senior Championships, which took place in Dublin's Morton Stadium over the August Bank Holiday weekend.

Day 1 (Saturday) started with the 200 metre heats as Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) cruised into the final alongside her two main rivals Sharlene Mawdsley and Lauren Roy. Sharlene then took the win in the 200 metres on Saturday evening, edging out Sarah as Lauren got up for third. Sarah clocked 23.80 seconds in what were difficult conditions, a 2.6 metre per second headwind.

Darragh Murphy (Limerick AC/UCD AC) and Lorcan O’Connor (Emerald AC) took to the 200 metre heats. Darragh finished second in his heat in 21.74 seconds qualifying as one of the eight fastest. Lorcan finished 5th in his heat. In the final Darragh finished 4th just four one thousandths of a second off a medal.

Alex O’Neil (Limerick Track Club) and Jenna Bromell (Emerald AC) looked controlled to take first and second in the third heat of the women’s 800 metres.

Limerick woman Amy O’Donoghue cruised through her 1500 metre heat to qualify for Sunday evening's final.

Aaron O’Connor (Limerick Track Club) finished 6th in the men's triple jump final jumping 13.04 metres just outside his personal best.

Leagh Moloney (Dooneen AC) finished 4th in the women’s Triple Jump final clearing 10.83m.

Alana Frattaroli (Limerick AC) won Limerick's first medal of the day in the women’s Shot Put throwing 11.23 metres to take bronze.

UL student Conor Cusack won the men’s Javelin throw with a pb of 75.42 metres continuing his very impressive comeback after two and a half years of injuries.  

On Day 2 (Sunday) Destiny Lawal (Dooneen AC) and Ciara Neville (Emerald AC) ran in the women's 100 metre heats. Destiny got out to a strong start in the first heat but unfortunately pulled up with an injury after 40 metres. Ciara won her heat comfortably in 11.82 seconds progressing into the final.

Sarah Lavin cruised through her heat in the 100 metre hurdles clocking 13.18 seconds whilst clattering into the 6th hurdle.

In the men’s 100 metre semi-finals Paul Costelloe lined up alongside Israel Olatunde finishing in 3rd in 10.73 seconds and advancing into the final.

Aaron Lynch (West Limerick AC) and Ben Emes (Dooneen AC) competed in the men's B 5000 metres. Aaron unfortunately was unable to finish after making a good start being in the leading pack through halfway. Ben knocked a significant chunk off his pb clocking 16.09 minutes.

Sarah Lavin stormed to her 10th 100 metre hurdle national title clocking 12.92 seconds over the 10 barriers. It also makes her the most decorated female 100 metre hurdler in this championship.

In the 100 metre finals Ciara Neville stormed to victory in 11.46 secs her fastest time in nearly five years. For Ciara it was her first title since she won as a 19-year-old in 2019 and after four years of injuries and rehabilitation it's great to see her back to her best.

Paul Costelloe finished 7th in the 100 metre final in one of the deepest fields ever.

In the women’s 800 metre final Alex O’Neill claimed a first national senior title for the newly formed Treaty Track edging European Champion Sarah Healy 2:04.53 to 2:04.57. Emerald's Jenna Brommel contended before having to settle for 4th.