Last night Thursday 11th January saw the fourth in the series of excellent track meets at the amazing new venue that is the National Indoor Arena. This superb facility played host to something for everyone – 60M, 220M, 400M and 800M as well as the Mile with Catherina McKiernan and the 3,000M. These meets are extremely well organised, allowing everyone to develop their racing skills in a relaxed and friendly environment. Kudos NIA!
First up on the night was Roisin Bell in the 60M – this very technical event got the better of her with a dodgy start leaving Roisin just outside her PB at 8.87.
The 800M was next featuring Eimear English who ran exactly to plan providing a fine comeback after injury with her planned for 2.27.The only way is faster for Eimear as she gets back into regular training after a stress fracture last year.
We had a trio of fine athletes taking on the 400M for the first time this season. Marie Tobin ran an impressive race, but a too-quick first lap made for a difficult finish – but a super time nonetheless of 68 seconds for Marie. Looking forward to seeing what Marie’s season does to that time. Keith Eglington witnessed that his recent dedicated training programme is already showing results with his first 400 of the season coming within a second of his pb, a little more race practice will see him smashing that pb, Keith ran 58.77 last night. Finally Doireann ni Flaharta ran her first ever 400, and it was a joy to watch. The hugely talented Doireann laid waste to her competitors, leading from the front, from the outside lane, and powering through the two indoor laps. A lack of competition made the second lap a little slower in the first, and there was clearly more in the tank there for Doireann. This display of very fast and powerful running with great form resulted in a 63 second 400. Great stuff Doireann.
On then to the 200s which saw NIA putting on extra heats due to huge demand. With 8 heats in total this was the most popular event of the night. Dunboyne AC had 5 competitors split across the various heats. Keith’s legs clearly had the earlier 400 race in them, but he still managed a fine time of 26.91, indicating that a dedicated night of 200M running will yield him a pb very soon.Newcomer to the track was Sinead Webb who took on the 200M and raced her damnedest with a smile the whole way around. A strong start to her track career for Sinead and a new PB of 40 seconds. Get those new spikes Sinead, get a few more weeks training and watch that time tumble!
Kay Gilmartin also made a tentative return to the track, choosing the 200 over her usual, medal winning 400M. Another smiling face, Kay ran strongly and confidently, wrapping up her 200 in 38 seconds. Well done Kay!
Also in this race was Sarah Faulkner. Having missed a few weeks training recently Sarah was keen to get her first indoor race done and dusted, and so she did, running a strong race despite being on her own for most of the distance, and maintaining pace right through the finish line. A problematic start from the blocks put paid to her time and resulted in 32.82… but the only way is up for Sarah, and we’ll see that at the next NIA Live in two weeks without any doubt at all.
Roisin was in the last 200 of the day and started well from Lane 5, taking full advantage of the downhill slope at the start. She powered well up the next hilly bend but lost focus there and time, the staggered start and outside lane deceiving her into thinking she was ahead. The athlete in Lane 4 thought otherwise and reached her shoulder with 40M to go, so it was time for Roisin to focus on form for the last stretch and so she did, finishing first in 29.61. A good way off her pb but Roisin is heading in the right direction, slowly but surely.
There’ll be another couple of NIA live nights throughout January and February – we really recommend them with opportunities for our endurance runners to have a go at the mile and 3000 meters. It’s great fun and you won’t look back. Well done to all our athletes last night, in particular to those new to the distances – Sinead and Doireann.
