Results & coverage of the IUAA Track & Field Championships...Fri 15th & Sat 16th Apr 2016

The Irish University Athletic Association Championships were held at the Morton Track in Dublin on Friday the 15th and Saturday the 16th of April 2016. Athletes from all over the country were taking part in this event as well of course plenty from Cork.

The full results can be found HERE

On Friday, there were plenty of semi finals on what was a very wet day at times. In the womens 5000m, Shona Heaslip representing Tralee IT won in an impressive time of 16:46 in what was a solo run. In the womens 1500m final, Andrea Bickerdike of CIT took the title after running a calculated race.


Coverage of Day 1...Fri 15th April 2016


Viewing times for above events
hh:mm
00:08...Womens 100m Hurdles
00:22 / 00:28...Men's 110m Hurdles
00:37...Mens 10,000m
01:33 / 01:38...W 100m Semi...Phil Healy & Joan Healy in action here
01:47 / 01:55...M 100m Semi
02:04 / 02:09...W 800m Semi
02:20 / 02:24...M 800m Semi
02:44 / 02:54...W 200m
02:58 / 03:02...M 200m
03:09...Women's 5,000m...Commanding win from Shona Heaslip from Kerry.
03:39 / 03:44...W 400m
03:52 / 03:59...M 400m
04:13...W 1500m...Impressive win for Andrea Bickerdike of CIT
04:24...M 1500m
04:55 / 05:02...M 4 x 100m Relay Semi
05:16 / 05:27...M 4 x 400m Relay Semi


Coverage of Day 1...Fri 15th April 2016



Viewing times for above events
hh:mm
00:00...W 400m Hurdles final
00:14...M 400m H
00:30...W 3,000m
00:54...W 100m Final...Great battle between sisters Joan & Phil Healy for the title.
01:00...M 100m Final
01:09...W 800m
01:16...M 800m
01:33...M 3,000m Steeplechase...Plenty of drama in this one.
01:54...W 3000m Steeplechase....Impressive solo running from Michelle Finn to win in a sub 10 minute time.
02:25...W 400m Final
02:32...M 400m Final
02:46...W 1500m Race Walk
03:00...M 3000m Race Walk....more walk than race ;o)
03:34...W 200m Final.....Vroom from Phil Healy
03:40...M 200m Final
04:05...W 4 x 100m Final
04:14...M 4 x 100m Final
04:23...M 5000m
04:59...Womens 4 x 400m final. Wow! An amazing race and well worth watching. Michelle Finn ran an impressive last 400m leg even though she had ran a sub 10 minute steeplechase race just 3 hours earlier. But what a performance from Phil Healy! Look out for the Red of UCC in the early stages. They are way way behind. An amazing last 400m leg from Phil who is a 100m/200m sprinter. She might be moving up in distance soon based on that performance. Easily the best race of the championships.
05:12...M 4 x 400m Relay.

 Here is Phil Healy's finish but it well worth watching the section starting at 4h 59m in the video above...

........

What a finish by @philhealy2!! 4x4 @uccathletics #mygod #IUAATF16 pic.twitter.com/Se2OU6q9e3

— IUAA (@IreUniAthletics) April 16, 2016

Photos...
1) Sportsfile have two galleries HERE
2) The IUAA have a gallery HERE    
3) UL have a gallery HERE

Red FM interview with Ciarán Ó Lionáird...

At last weeks Cork City Sports, Ciarán Ó Lionáird made his first appearance on the track since since he sustained an achilles injury in the Spring. He finished 5th in the mile race in a time of 3:58.84 which is all the more impressive when you consider his lack of race fitness.

A few days ago, local radio station Red FM caught up with him and carried out this short interview...



All going well, Ciarán should be taking part in the Morton Mile in Dublin on Wednesday.

Name...........PBs and SBs:
Ayanleh Souleiman (DIJ) 3.5.21 SB 3.50.21
David Torrence (USA) 3.50.01 SB 3.52.01
Ryan Gregson (AUS) 3.52.24 SB 3.53.62

Ciaran O’Lionaird (IRL) 3.54.76 SB 3.54.76

Garrett Heath (USA) 3.55.24 SB 3.55.24
Will Leer (USA) 3.55.66 SB 3.58.49
Silas Kisorio (KEN) 3.55.84 SB 3.55.84
Zane Robertson (NZL) 3.56.13 SB 3.56.13
Ricky Stevenson (GBR) 3.56.31 SB 3.58.91
Craig Miller (USA) 3.56.41 SB 3.56.41
Jack Bolas (USA) 3.58.31 SB 3.58.31
Ryan Hill (USA) 3.58.33 SB 3.58.33

Paul Robinson (IRL) 3.58.70 SB 3.58.70

John Coghlan (IRL) 3.59.32 SB 3.59.32

John Travers (IRL) 4.04.25

Rory Chesser (IRL) 4.04.38

Feidhlim Kelly (IRL) pace

The Morton Mile is the climax of the Meet with a 9.00 p.m. start on the 25th of July. The International Programme in the Morton Games opens at 7.15 p.m.

Update.....8pm....There was also a piece on NBC Olympics about Ciarán today. In it,  they write......
With the first of three rounds of the Olympic 1500m scheduled to take place in just 11 days, O'Lionard said he just has to take things one round at a time, and not project too far forward. He's realistic about his chances, but said that he's a good tactician which should help him to advance.
"I don't think worrying's going to do anything for me," he intoned. "At this point, my body is what it is. I've been dealt the cards I've been dealt and I have to play them the best that I can."

The full NBC interview can be seen HERE