Another Big NCAA Indoor Weekend for Irish Athletes with Records, PBs and Big Performances

The NCAA indoor season rolled on at pace over the final weekend of January, with Irish athletes spread across the United States delivering personal bests, national records and high quality early season markers. From Arkansas to Massachusetts, Texas to Indiana, it was another packed few days of competition as the indoor circuit continued to build momentum.

Razorback Invitational

At the Razorback Invitational, held in Fayetteville, Arkansas over Friday and Saturday, Irish action began on Friday evening with Lucy May Sleeman was in action for Florida State. The Irish international finished second in her section of the women’s 200 metres in a new personal best of 23.93 seconds, placing 12th overall. The performance also moved her to tenth on the Irish senior indoor all time list for the event.

Watch Sleeman's run below: 

Friday also delivered a major Irish highlight in the field events, as Elizabeth Ndudi produced a superb performance in the women’s long jump. Competing for the University of Illinois, Ndudi finished third overall with a leap of 6.63 metres, setting a new Irish indoor national record.

On Saturday in Fayetteville, Sleeman returned to the track for the women’s 60 metres. Running again for Florida State, she placed second in heat six of the prelims in 7.44 seconds to qualify for the semi finals but was later listed as a DNS.

Florida State teammate Nicola Dinan was also in action on Saturday evening, lining up in the women’s 3000 metres and finishing second in her section and 18th overall with a time of 9:20.54.

John Thomas Terrier Classic

The John Thomas Terrier Classic took place in Boston again over Friday and Saturday, featuring a strong Irish presence across multiple events, with a mix of NCAA athletes and senior Irish competitors involved. Performances from Irish senior and non NCAA athletes at this meet will be covered separately in the senior weekend report.

Friday’s distance programme saw Jane Buckley represent Providence College in the women’s 3000 metres, finishing second in her heat and 29th overall with a time of 9:25.64.

Providence teammate Cara Laverty produced a significant personal best in the women’s mile, finishing sixth in her heat and sixth overall in 4:40.34, chopping four seconds off her previous best.

There was a standout Irish middle distance performance from Maeve O’Neill in the women’s 800 metres. Competing for Providence, O’Neill surged from the back of the field on the final lap to win heat two of the event to finish sixth overall with a new personal best of 2:01.96. The run also achieved the Athletics Ireland World Indoor Championships B standard and places her sixth on the Irish senior indoor all time list for the event.

Watch Maeve's fantastic performance below: 

Gemma Galvin was also in action for Providence on Friday, finishing fourth in heat one and fourth overall in the women’s 1000 metres with a time of 2:44.55.

Boston College’s Claire Crowley completed Friday’s Irish involvement in the women’s 800 metres, placing sixth in heat three and 24th overall in 2:13.37.

Saturday’s programme in Boston included strong Irish representation in the men’s events. Dean Casey clocked 13:51.61 in the men’s 5000 metres while representing the University of Colorado. In the men’s mile, Liam Lyons of Holy Cross finished fourth in heat three and 21st overall with a time of 3:56.40.

Northeastern’s Conall Rogers lined up in the men’s 800 metres, finishing seventh in his heat and ninth overall in 1:51.36.

Harvard Invitational

At the Harvard Invitational in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Diarmuid O’Connor was in action for the University of Connecticut. On Friday, O’Connor finished 12th in the high jump with a best clearance of 1.85 metres before placing 14th in the shot put with a best mark of 14.91 metres.

Saturday in Cambridge saw Irish involvement in the women’s pole vault, where Úna Brice competed for UMass Lowell, finishing 11th with a best clearance of 3.00 metres.

Robert Platt Invitational

On Saturday in Houston Texas, the Robert Platt Invitational saw an impressive sprint performance from Seán Aigboboh. Competing for the University of Houston, Aigboboh won his heat of the men’s 200 metres before finishing fourth overall in a new personal best of 21.50 seconds, which also stands as a national lead. You can watch Seán's race below:

DeLoss Dodds Invitational

The DeLoss Dodds Invitational took place on Saturday 31 January in Manhattan, Kansas, where James Ezeonu represented Kansas State University in the men’s 60 metre hurdles. Ezeonu qualified fourth from his heat in 8.06 seconds before finishing sixth in the final.

Meyo Invitational

At the Meyo Invitational in South Bend, Indiana on Saturday 31 January, Róisín Treacy delivered a strong run in the women’s 3000 metres, finishing seventh in a personal best time of 9:16.96, which also stands as a national lead.

Inland NW Invitational

And last but not least, Irish involvement over the weekend also extended to the Inland Northwest Invitational, where Oisín Spillane was in action for Saint Mary’s. Spillane finished second in the men’s mile in a new personal best of 4:13.82 before placing 11th in the men’s 3000 metres with a time of 8:31.82.