National Championships set to race into action

LOCAL runners have starred in their recent respective events as they put the final touches on preparations ahead of the 150th National Track and Field Championships, which is set race into action this weekend, July 29 and 30.

On Friday night, Rhasidat Adeleke continued her excellent form as she broke 50 seconds once again to finish fourth in the Women’s 400m in 49.99 on her Diamond League debut.

The 20-year-old Tallaght girl got out hard, but slightly faded in the final thirty metres in giving an excellent account of herself in her first ever Diamond League race, finish 0.36 off winner Natalia Kaczmarek.

Adeleke holds the national record in the event, with the 49.20 she recorded at the NCAA Division One Championships in Texas last month, taking a historic gold on that occasion.

Less than a week ago Adeleke announced that she would be turning professional, following an exceptional collegiate career at the University of Texas.

Last Tuesday, Adeleke, who is now representing the Nike brand on a professional deal, was 0.02 off her national 200m record when she raced to a silver at a World Continental Tour Gold meet in Hungary.

The Tallaght AC athlete followed this up with a 49.20 in her Diamond League debut in Monaco on Friday, which is under the qualifying standard for both the European Championships in Rome next June and the Olympic Games in Paris later that summer.

All eyes will turn to Morton Stadium this weekend when Adeleke headlines the National Championships, returning home to line out in the 100m decider which she has dominated for two-years in succession.

Elsewhere, John Travers (Donore Harriers) and Meghan Ryan (Dundrum South Dublin AC) secured the 2023 National 10 Mile titles at the sold out Irish Runner 10 Mile in the Phoenix Park last Sunday.

Travers was very much in control of the men’s race from the gun, settling in with a leading pack of six runners before an injection of pace approaching the halfway mark saw the Donore athlete stretch clear of the field on his run for home to cross in 49:57.

Speaking after claiming his first national road title (individual), Travers said: “I needed something before nationals to get last week’s run at the Morton Games out of my system”.

“I hadn’t really the work done for this, but I dipped under the 50-minute mark so I’m happy with that,” Travers detailed.

“There was a big group of us heading through 5 mile and I put the foot down just after the 5-mile marker and that opened it up a bit and thankfully I was able to hold on until the end.”

Travers was followed home by David Mansfield (Clonmel AC) 50:33 and last month’s national 5 mile champion Emmet Jennings (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 50:40 who enjoyed a ding-dong battle right into the home straight.

The performance of Travers would lead Donore to the senior team title in dominant fashion.

Meghan Ryan (Dundrum South Dublin) picked up her second national road title of the summer following last month’s gold medal in the five mile.

The DSD athlete had amassed an almost 40 second lead at the halfway mark and never looked back on her way to the title in a time of 58:03. Speaking after the race, Ryan said: “I felt really good.

“I was happy to get out over 10 miles as I’ve been in a half marathon / marathon block so the 10 mile suited me and I felt strong.

“At the start of the season my coach said to go out and make a name for yourself on the roads so that’s what I’ve been trying to do this year so I’m glad I’ve achieved that.”

Ryan was followed home by teammate Fiona Clinton (Dundrum South Dublin AC) 59:15 who claimed the silver medal, with Kealey Tideswell (Clonmel AC) 59:25 adding another medal to Clonmel’s haul.

DSD’s impressive road season continued with them securing the senior women’s team title with seventeen minutes to spare.

For full access to all content on Echo.ie and to support the continuation of local news and local journalism in your community subscribe HERE.

Thanks for your ongoing support.