From National Records to Sub-Four Miles: A Big NCAA Weekend for Irish Athletes

Irish athletes hit the ground running on the NCAA indoor circuit this weekend, with Friday delivering national records, podium finishes and strong early season markers across the United States. From multi events in Pennsylvania to sprint races in Texas and Alabama, Irish representation was widespread as the collegiate indoor season gathered pace.

Friday

Friday’s NCAA action began with a new Irish national record in the combined events, as Diarmuid O’Connor produced a strong showing at the Penn State Multi Events Meet in Philadelphia. Competing for the University of Connecticut, the Cork athlete scored 5,596 points in the heptathlon, improving on his own national record from March last year by two points and finishing second overall.

There was another standout performance in Texas, where Lauren Roy continued her fine early season form at the Stan Scott Invitational in Lubbock. The Tulsa athlete finished second in the women’s 60 metres final in a national lead time of 7.23 seconds, which also stands as a Northern Ireland indoor record. She doubled back later in the programme to win her heat of the 200 metres before placing second overall in 22.89, agonizingly close to the automatic qualifying standard of 22.85 for the Euros in Birmingham in August but reaching the B standard nonetheless.

At the Dr Martin Luther King Jr Invitational in Albuquerque, New Mexico, three Irish athletes lined up for Adams State University. Claragh Keane finished third in the women’s 3000 metres in 10:04.55, while Ava O’Connor also claimed third in the women’s mile with a time of 4:42.51. In the men’s mile, Lewis O’Loughlin placed eighth in 4:08.99.

In Clemson, South Carolina, Irish athletes were involved at the Orange and Purple Invitational representing Florida State University. Lucy May Sleeman progressed through the women’s 60 metres, running 7.33 in her heat and 7.32 in the semi final, both season bests, before recording a DNS in the final. Nicola Dinan finished sixth in the women’s 800 metres with a time of 2:11.56.

Moving to the Midwest, Cian Crampton competed in the men’s weight throw at a meet in Indianapolis, finishing 14th with a best mark of 14.66 metres while representing the University of Kentucky.

Further south in Birmingham, Alabama, Lucas Fadden impressed at the Larry Wieczorek Invitational, finishing second in the men’s 200 metres in 21.61 for Grinnell College.

In the windy city of Chicago at the Ted Nelson Invitational, Sean Aigboboh made his debut for the University of Houston in the men’s 60 metres. Competing for the first time since relocating to the United States, Aigboboh progressed through the rounds before finishing fourth overall in the final with a time of 6.78. Also in action was Finn O’Neill of the University of Texas at San Antonio, who placed 19th in the heats of the men’s 60 metre hurdles in 8.58, before finishing 11th in the shot put with a best throw of 12.21 metres.S

Staying in Illinois at the Fighting Illini Challenge in Champaign, Elizabeth Ndudi added another solid performance to the Irish results. The Irish U20 international finished third in the women’s long jump with a best effort of 6.24 metres, continuing her strong form on the NCAA circuit.

At the Hokie Invitational in Blacksburg, Virginia, Heather Murphy recorded a strong podium finish in the women’s 3000 metres. Competing for Montreat College, Murphy placed third in a competitive field, clocking 9:46.40.

Friday’s Irish involvement concluded in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where Danny Hagan competed at the LSU Bayou Bengal Meet. Representing the University of Louisiana Monroe, Hagan raced in both the men’s 60 metre hurdles and the 200 metres, recording times of 9.62 and 25.66 respectively.

Saturday 

Saturday’s NCAA action opened in Pennsylvania at the Dr Sander Invitational in Villanova, where Irish athletes featured across middle and long distance events. In the men’s invitational 800 metres, Finn Boyle ran with authority to claim third place for Cornell University in a competitive field, stopping the clock at 1:50.53. Over the longer distances, Muireann Duffy, representing Iona University, finished 12th in the women’s 5000 metres in 17:28.57, while Seán Lawton, also of Iona, placed 16th in the men’s 5000 metres with a time of 14:42.34.

At the Bruce Lehane Scarlet and White Invitational in Boston, Massachusetts, a number of Irish athletes made the trip to compete as unattached entrants. In the men’s 1500 metres, Kevin McGrath finished 10th in 3:47.20, with Finn Diver following in 22nd in 3:52.61. The men’s 3000 metres delivered two strong Irish performances, as Callum Morgan took the win in 7:55.82, edging Lughaidh Mallon in second place by less than a second, completing an Irish one two. In the field events, Úna Brice, competing for UMass Lowell, finished 11th in the women’s pole vault with a best clearance of 3.15 metres, while Clare Crowley represented Boston College in the women’s 800 metres, placing 14th in 2:13.90.

There was a major Irish highlight at the Penn Elite meet at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where Charlie O’Donovan produced a standout run to win the men’s mile as an unattached athlete. His time of 3:57.97 made him the first Irish athlete to dip under four minutes this year. In the men’s 3000 metres, Jack Fenlon, representing Villanova University, finished ninth overall with a time of 7:59.39.

At the Mark Colligan Memorial in Lincoln, Nebraska, Alexandra Joyce was the sole Irish athlete in action, lining up for the University of Nebraska in the women’s mile and finishing fifth in 4:55.20.

Saturday’s Irish involvement concluded at the Notre Dame Invitational in South Bend, Indiana. Ashley McArdle, competing for DePaul University, took on two field events, finishing sixth in the high jump with a clearance of 1.51 metres and 11th in the long jump with a mark of 4.62 metres. Also in action, Róisín Treacy of Loyola University Chicago placed 10th in the women’s mile, clocking 4:47.63.

Overall, it was a highly productive weekend for Irish athletes on the NCAA indoor circuit, with national records, podium finishes and benchmarks laid down across the United States.

Image: University of Connecticut