Cork City Sports International meet produces another world class night of athletics

Wed, 10 Jul, 2024 - 06:50

Cathal Dennehy

Sarah Lavin and Nick Griggs produced the standout performances from the Irish at the 70th edition of the Cork City Sports on Tuesday night, with Lavin blasting to victory in the 100m hurdles in 12.83 seconds and Griggs finishing third in the 3000m in an Irish U-23 record of 7:41.68.

On a cool, windy night at the newly opened track at Munster Technological University, Lavin unleashed a clean, crisp display of hurdling to power clear of USA’s Talie Bonds (12.95) and Liberia’s Ebony Morrison (13.15).

Gavin Kenny from Bandon and Peter Hanrahan, Cork Track Club compete in the 3000m Open Men race at the 70th annual Cork City Sports. Picture Chani Anderson

“I would have liked to go a little bit quicker but I’ll take it,” said Lavin. “I’m really in a hard training block at the moment with one month to go (until the Paris Olympics) and it’s great to get out and practise a few things under pressure.” Griggs has set a slew of underage Irish records across various distances in recent years and the 19-year-old Tyrone star put the disappointment of missing out on the Paris Olympics behind him with a courageous, classy run in the men’s 3000m. USA’s Olin Hacker proved a class apart, blasting away on the final lap to win in 7:40.49 but Griggs was close behind in third, taking one second off Darragh McElhinney’s Irish U-23 record.

Louise Shanahan turned in a fine performance to finish second in the women’s 800m, the Leevale athlete putting a disappointing European Championships firmly behind her when edging second in a photo finish in 2:02.65 behind USA’s McKenna Keegan (2:01.60).

David Williams from St Senans and Odhran O’Sullivan, Midleton AC race to the finishing line in the 1500m Junior Men race at the 70th annual Cork City Sports. Picture Chani Anderson

“To be racing at the Cork City Sports is a dream,” said Shanahan. “I’ve never raced the senior race here and I’d have loved to win, but the next best thing is finishing second. The race was fantastic, the entire way around I could hear people cheering for me.” It was a good night’s work too for local hero Phil Healy, the Bandon sprinter finishing fourth in the 100m in 11.45, won by Celera Barnes of USA in 11.14, and fifth in the 200m in 23.34, a race won by Australian teenage star Torrie Lewis in 23.01 ahead of former US and NCAA 400m champion Talitha Diggs (23.09). “Coming home always brings big support, huge credit to everyone for coming out and supporting,” said Healy, who will be part of both the mixed 4x400m and women’s 4x400m squads in Paris.

Alphie Cummins from St Joseph’s National School Cobh and Pavlo Kushnirchuk from St Mary’s of the Isle proved its the competing that counts, when despite not ranking they push themselves over the finishing line in the Primary boys 1 mile race at the 70th annual Cork City Sports. Picture Chani Anderson

Sophie Becker tested her speed in the same race, the Paris-bound 400m specialist finishing fifth in 23.51. “I didn’t really know how to run it,” laughed Becker. “But I’m happy with that. It’s a good marker. It’s a lovely, fast track – I think my body just wasn’t ready for that. Training is going well. I didn’t have a big block of training since April so I have a few weeks now with a lot of work to do. It’s the pinnacle of our sport, the highest level there is, there’s nothing better than representing your country.” Mark Smyth produced a brilliant run to set a PB of 20.60 in the men’s 200m, which was good enough to win his section and place third overall. Reece Ademola thrilled the home crowd with a victory in the men’s long jump, the Leevale athlete soaring 7.71m to edge fellow Corkman Shane Howard to victory, with Howard jumping 7.70m. USA’s Jason Smith back in third with 7.60m. “Cork City Sports will always have a special place in my heart,” said Ademola.

Bandon hammer thrower Nicola Tuthill got the perfect preparation for her upcoming Olympic debut by finishing third against two of the world’s best, the 20-year-old throwing 69.90m behind US pair Brooke Anderson (73.10m) and Janee Kassanavoid (73.10m), who have both won global medals in recent years. “It's amazing to be able to come up with a top three,” said Tuthill. “I would like to be a bit more consistent or closer to that 70 but I'm training in a very heavy training block at the moment.” Sophie O’Sullivan faded out of contention in the women’s 3000m, a race she was using primarily to build her fitness ahead of her Olympic debut over 1500m next month. She ran with the leaders through the first kilometre but then faded through the field and finished 12th in 9:08.66, a race won by USA’s Taylor Werner in 8:43.12.

The night closed with a thrilling men’s mile where Nathan Green of USA unleashed a devastating kick to win in 3:53.67, leading 12 men under the four-minute barrier. Ireland’s Cathal Doyle came through strongly to finish second in 3:54.48, with Sam Prakel of USA third in 3:54.48.