Rhasidat Adeleke's victory was the highlight on the second day of the 123.ie National Athletics Championships at Morton Stadium in Santry.
Adeleke now has all Irish records from 60m to 400m, both indoors and out, after she broke the Irish 100m record in a time of 11.13 seconds.
The Tallaght native claimed the record from Sarah Lavin, who finished second in the race in 11.37 seconds, 0.24 seconds behind the new national record holder, who took 0.14 off Lavin's mark set in September last year.
There was a blanket finish for third place but Molly O'Reilly got the nod over 2017 European junior Champion Gina Akpe-Moses, with the pair separated by only one-thousandth of a second.
The sensational Rhasidat Adeleke thrills the crowd at Morton Stadium as she wins a high-quality women's 100m in a new Irish record at the National Athletics Championships #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/bvXtJNVUAN
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 30, 2024
In the race to claim the fastest man in Ireland title, Israel Olatunde made a statement taking his fourth 100m title in a row, running a season's best of 10.27. Bori Akinola chased Olatunde right to the line as was expected, despite the finish looking close, Akinola was 0.02 behind the national record holder, but was rewarded with a personal best of 10.29.
There was delight between Olatunde and his Tallaght team-mate Sean Aigboboh, who made the podium. It was the 18-year-old's first time competing at the National Championship and he recorded a personal best time of 10.39.
While the 100m race went as expected, there was some drama in both the men's and women's 400m.
Jack Raftery was the surprise winner of the men's 400m crown, running down a tiring Chris O'Donnell in the home straight. O'Donnell went out hard but Raftery, on his outside, looked dangerous on the top bend.
With Olympic spots at stake, legs filled with lactic, O'Donnell ended up on the track across the line.
Raftery broke the tape in a new personal best, 45.95, his first time under the 46-second barrier this year. It clearly meant a great deal to Raftery and he roared in delight upon seeing the clock.
O'Donnell settled for second in 46.07, which will unlikely be enough to secure an individual 400m spot for the Paris Olympics. Ywenty-year-old Callum Baird was third and close to his personal best running 42.20, he will have to wait to see if he will be selected as part of the mixed 4x400m relay for Paris.
Jack Raftery takes a brilliant win in the men's 400m at the National Athletics Championships #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/ig3I8azz8j
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 30, 2024
There was another faller in the women's 400m, Sligo's Lauren Cadden finished an eventual third but also fell coming across the line. Cadden went out hard equalling eventual winner, Sophie Becker's swift early pace, but her legs went in the final five metres.
Becker appeared disappointed with her performance of 52.68, just shy of the likely 52.50 mark needed to improve her placing score for the Olympic rankings. She will have to wait to see if she has done enough to secure her individual spot for Paris. North Down's Rachel McCann had a stormer to finish second, running a 0.4 second personal best in the process. The Bangor woman started conservatively and battled with Cliodhna Manning in the final straight, powering past Manning and Cadden in the final few metres.
Nicola Tuthill was another athlete with a lot hanging on these championships. The 20-year-old has been chasing points towards her Paris qualification in the weeks following making the final at the European Championships earlier this month. Her best effort of a consistent series was 67.94m.
Israel Olatunde just manages to hold off Bori Akinola to win the men's 100m at the National Athletics Championships #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/oHME5KotDR
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 30, 2024
There was a closely fought affair in the women's long jump, with national record holder Elizabeth Ndudi taking the win by only one-centimetre from Lauran Callaghan. Ndudi jumped her best in the first round and the leap of 6.16m was enough to hold on for her second national title. Callaghan arguably has the better series, jumping 6.14m twice and her best of the competition, 6.15m came in the 5th round.
The much anticipated men's 1500m didn't disappoint. The early pace was set by Villanova duo Charlie O'Donovan and Sean Donoghue, coming through the first 400m in just over 60 seconds. The pace wasn't fast and the pack were bunched together.
The fastest man in the field, Luke McCann tried to take the lead at the bell but Sean Donoghue held him off. Eventual winner Cathal Doyle bided his time and made a surge with 200m to run, getting on to McCann's shoulder, then eased past in the home straight to take a comfortable victory in 3:44.15. Daragh McElhinney was third in 3:44.67.
In the women's distance races, Sarah Healy claimed victory in the women's 800m in 2:03.64 to add to her 1500m title from last year. Sophie O'Sullivan won her first national title in the women's 1500m in a time of 4:20.45.
In the 5000m Jodie McCann had a solo run, chasing after points towards her Road to Paris rankings, it was a gallant effort but likely will come up just shy. The final time of 15:44.52 will mean she has a nervous wait until final lists for the Paris Games are announced next week.
Sarah Healy surges to victory in the women's 800m at the National Athletics Championships. Watch the action live now on @RTE2 and @RTEplayer #RTEsport pic.twitter.com/8XxT8olw1v
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) June 30, 2024
It was business as usual for Mark English who claimed his eighth outdoor title in 1:49.18. Eventual silver medallist Cillian Kirwan took on the early pace, English tucked behind him until the top of the final straight where he pulled away for a comfortable win. There was drama behind him as there was another faller, Robert Hewison's legs started to give way in the final ten metres but he held off a fast finishing Dara Donoghue to claim his first senior medal.
After a gallant run in the rain yesterday, Thomas Barr couldn't better the 49.60 mark he set in the heat. The 32-year-old may just miss out on Paris qualification, but it is dependent on how other athlete's perform at their national championships in other countries.
The current qualification system leaves a lot to be desired and does take away from some of the victories seen today in Santry.
With today being the final cut-off for qualification for Paris, nothing more can be done. All will be revealed once World Athletics publish their final rankings on Tuesday.
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