Athletics 2023

Heading to Birmingham in Feb for the indoor tour final. My daughters wanted tickets as Christmas presents, win win for me.

Jake Weightman and Keely Hodgkinson confirmed so far, looking forward to it

MASSIVE RUN BY MICHEÁL POWER TO BECOME THE 2ND WATERFORD MAN EVER TO BREAK 4 MINUTE MILE.

West Waterford’s Micheál Power competing for his USA college Tulsa University this evening Friday at the Arkansas Invitational Indoor meeting in Fayetteville Arkansas, he wrote himself into the athletic history books by becoming only the second Waterford man to ever break the magic 4 minute barrier for the distance, recording a time of 3 minutes 58.76 seconds.

Micheál was narrowly beaten in the race by Lexington Hilton Washington State University who clocked 3.58.70. Micheál who was home over the Christmas break was training diligently for this event as he felt he was coming into the shape needed to have a crack at this 4 minute barrier.

This is a hugely positive progression for the Ballinamuck man becoming Waterford's second ever sub 4 minute miler along with his club mate David McCarthy who ran 3.55.75 indoors in Boston in 2012 and followed this with a 3.57.85 outdoors in Cork in 2013. Big congratulations to Micheál and this achievement, and best of luck with his preparations now for an upcoming 3.000 meter indoor race in a few weeks.

Results: Men 1 Mile (Finals)

1 Lexington HILTON Arkansas 3:58.70

2 Michael POWER Tulsa 3:58.76

3 Isaac AKERS Tulsa 4:00.65

4 Scott BEATTIE Tulsa 4:02.26

5 Eric CASAREZ Texas A&M 4:02.55

6 Christian BAKER Tulsa 4:03.55

7 Ben SHEARER Arkansas 4:04.84

8 Clay SHIVELY United States of America 4:04.95

9 Reuben REINA Arkansas 4:06.00

10 Josh SHEARER Arkansas 4:06.31

Some live running for those who fancy it this morning, normally a decent field toeing the start line.

Mondo Duplantis going for the WR 6.22 over on Redbull.com

I guess that's true, totally forgot. London have him as a debutante.

Few Irish in action this evening in New Balance meeting Boston.

Mark English 1.46.57.

Fay, Coscoran, Mageean running as well later on

Here's the bit of magic from Rhasidat courtesy of flotrack

3rd best NCAA all time. Faster than her outdoor record

That outdoor time could plummet this summer

David Gillick’s outdoor record is 0.8 below his indoor best and he was a bit of an indoor specialist

I think Adeleke’s run equates to well under 50s outdoor. Altitude is a factor of course but because of her height and long legs, I don’t think she’s suited to indoor running

(Apologies to any sports scientists if I’m completely off on that one!)

It really is an extraordinary event. Consistently won around sub 14 minutes and drawing in really good athletes without being world class names. Its a great race for the good club runners to have a real crack at running a fast 5k. For that reason I wonder why more irish athletes don't take part in it. I know I would have loved to run in such a loaded race.