By Perri Williams
There were plenty of thrilling moments at day 1 of the National Senior Track and Field Championships in Morton Stadium. From personal bests, first titles, seasonal best and general good vibes, it was the place to be on a sunny summer Saturday.
TRACK EVENTS
Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC) and Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers AC) wooed the stadium with their superb victories in their respective 200m races. Mawdsley, the darling of athletics was held hostage to an ubiquitous stream of adoring fans seeking autographs and selfies in the aftermath of her 200m victory. Billed as the battle between the queen of 100m hurdles Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) and the 400m specialist Mawdsley, the final held everyone in suspension with an abeyant silence filling the stadium as the athletes took to their starting positions. It was Mawdsley who hit the home straight first, powering towards the finish line to take her first ever 200m senior title into a -2.6m/s headwind. Recording 23.55 she was just over two tenths of a second ahead of Lavin with Lauren Roy (Fast Twitch AC) in third.
The men’s 200m was equally as thrilling. Having missed the nationals for the past two years through injury, Marcus Lawler was keen to put his name to this year’s title. Coming home in 20.66 (a season’s best), he took his first 200m title since 2020. Speaking after the race the delighted Carlow native said “It is a season’s best and I am happy with that, it’s good to get back to nationals and put all my injuries behind me”. In second place was Darragh McConville (Dundrum South Dublin) whose silver medal was a remarkable performance considering he took up athletics just eight months ago. McConville moves into eight place on this year’s Irish 200m ranking list. In third place Adam Murphy (Tinryland) took his first ever national senior medal, adding the bronze to his silver from the national indoors.
Finlay Daly (Sligo AC) secured the men’s steeplechase title, moving ahead of Jonas Stafford (UCD) with 600m to go. The ladies race produced a terrific dual between u23 champion Alex Joyce (Tuam AC) and Abbie Sherdian (St Peter’s AC). Sheridan achieved her first national senior title and a first for St Peters AC as she outkicked Joyce with 300m to go. Producing a 35 second personal best, the delighted Louth athlete said “I cannot believe it, I am still shocked that I could not only win the race but also do a 35 second personal best”.
David Kenny (Farranfore Maine AC) was a class apart in the mens 10,000m race walk, taking his fourth national title with a rapid 39.39.93 – a new personal best. Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) also had an easy victory as she strode home in 23.46.46, taking her 10th national outdoor 5000m walk title.
The heats of the 400m, 800m and 1500m took place today with stars such as Mark English and Cian McPhillips, coming safely through the preliminary rounds of the men’s 800m. Both athletes will go head-to-head in a battle for the top honours in the final on day 2. Though to the final in the ladies 800m are Sarah Healy, Hannah Seagrave, Alex O’Neill and Jenna Brommel. The final of the 1500m promises to be a riveting affair as Andrew Coscoran, Cathal Doyle, Shane Bracken, Darragh McIlhenny, Nick Griggs and Callum Morgan all made it through the preliminary rounds on day 1. Jack Raferty, Chris O’Donnell, Sophie Becker and Phil Healy are safely through to the final of the 400m, with pre-race favourite Sharlene Mawdsley withdrawing from the event.
FIELD EVENTS
Conor Penney (Craughwell AC) took his first national senior title, the 16-year-old cleared 2.10m for a new personal best. 6th in the recent EYOF (u18), the Craughwell AC athlete just this summer competed in a high jump competition in France where his talent caught the attention of the 1992 Olympic Champion and current world record holder Javier Sotomayor. The advice from the Cuban world record holder reaping its dividends this weekend. Aoife O’Sullivan (Lisacarroll) took the ladies title.
Paris Olympian Eric Favours (Raheny) bagged the men’s shot putt title with a best throw of 19.58m with Finn Valley strongman John Kelly taking silver. Niamh Fogarty cemented Raheny’s dominance in the shot putt as she took the ladies title with a throw of 14.29m. The National Discus record holder will step into the discus circle on day 2 in a bid to secure a double gold.
Conor Cusack (Lake District AC) was crowned the 2025 national senior champion with a new personal best of 75.42m. Cusack reigned supreme as he finished almost 15m ahead of the u20 national champion Andrew Scanlon (Leevale AC). Grace Casey (Clonliffe) is the new ladies javelin champion.
Daphni Doulaptsi Teeuwen (Raheny) ended the long reign by Saragh Buggy (St Abbans) in the Triple Jump. Doulaptsi carved her name amongst the list of champions as she leaped to victory with a best of 13.05m. Things did not go Buggey’s way this year. Fouling her first two attempts she was in danger of exiting the competition with no medal at all. Taking a safe jump, she cleared her third attempt with her best jump coming from the fourth round earning her the silver medal. Darragh Fahy (Loughrea) won the men’s triple jump with a leap of 13.91m.
