Raftery tops in 400m national senior indoor

THE highlight of the week, already one of the highlights of 2023 and a historic achievement for the club was Jack Raftery winning the National Senior Indoor T&F men’s 400m championship in the National Indoor Arena.

In a thrilling race, he also got a championship record of 46.37 and is a mere .02 off the qualifying standard for the European Indoor championships in Istanbul.

Raftery had two steps to reach the final first so he comfortably qualified in the 400m on day one winning his heat.

He then went on to dominate his semi-final in 48.02 and that was with easing up so as to save energy for the final.

Hotly tipped for the title in the run up to the championship, Jack said in interviews that he was aiming to run his first 200m a little faster.

Although leading pretty much from the get go – Jack didn’t let up for any part of the race – nearest opponent was training partner in his Dublin sprint training group – Ciaran Carthy of DSD.

In the end, Jack stormed home in 46.37 more than a second ahead and in a new championship record – to the delight of family, clubmates, coach and training partners present.

Men’s track and field captain David Campbell paid tribute to Jack saying “he is one of the hardest working athletes on and off the track and a great role model to younger athletes in our club…I have had some of the best days training alongside and competing with him…today was pretty special to see him win his first national senior title and hopefully will be the first of many to come over the next few years.

“The big man has a very bright future and we can’t wait to hopefully cheer him on next at the Paris Olympics”