Mark Smyth and Eric Favors claimed national senior track & field medals at the Morton stadium!
Favors set a new championship record of 19.91 metres when taking shot put gold in the early afternoon.
Favors threw five of six attempts over 19 metres, with his best effort 19.91m coming in throw six. The 26-year-old threw over three metres better than rival James Kelly.
✨Championship Record✨
A Championship Record and a second National Senior Title for Eric Favors (Raheny Shamrock A.C.), with a massive last throw of 19.91m 👏
🥈James Kelly (Finn Valley A.C.) 16.79
🥉Gavin McLaughlin (Finn Valley A.C.) 16.04*Previous CR: 19.25m – James Kelly… pic.twitter.com/wSjDWWGBaT
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 29, 2023
Kelly took silver with a best of 16.79m. Kelly’s Finn Valley club mate Gavin McLaughlin took bronze with a best of 16.04m.
On the track, Mark Smyth was in sensational form to reclaim his national 200m title. Smyth clocked 20.87 seconds for gold. Colin Doyle of Leevale took silver in 21.17.
A head wind of 2.2 metres/second made records near impossible for the sprinters. However Smyth’s performance was excellent to claim his second, national senior 200m title in a row. Smyth remains the reigning national 200m champion both indoors and out.
Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock A.C.) expertly defends his National Senior Title in the Men’s 200m with an impressive win in 20.87🔥
🥈Colin Doyle (Leevale A.C.) 21.17
🥉Andrew Egan (Galway City Harriers A.C.) 21.51@Sportsfile 📸#123Nationals #IrishAthletics @Ask123ie pic.twitter.com/QEKKP8hZnp— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) July 29, 2023
Elsewhere, Sophie Becker, Lucy Barrett and Cillian Kirwan all progressed to their finals in the 400m, 1500m and 800m.
Becker won her 400m heat in 54.41 seconds to automatically progress to the final, which takes place at 7:25 on Sunday. While Lucy Barrett took fifth place in her 1500m heat in 4:42.98. The very competitive final takes place on Sunday at 8:10.
Meanwhile, Cillian Kirwan finished second in heat one of the 800m clocking 1:56.06. Kirwan’s final gets underway at 7.15
Elsewhere, Tara Meier took fifth place in the 100m hurdles final in 15.26 and Jessica Afrakomaa posted 28.17 seconds for fifth in her 200m heat.
Day two of the national track & field championship gets underway at 1pm on Sunday. With lots of Shamrock’s in action, who need your support.
