DUBLIN City Harriers (women) and Clonliffe Harriers (men) were crowned the Irish Life Health National Indoor League champions for 2017 at the pristine new Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown.
In the first ever competitive athletic event held in Blanchardstown at the new facility, it was fitting that the local Navan Road based Dublin City Harriers (DCH) women’s team were crowned National Indoor League Champions.
Each member of the team put in a sterling performance to come out on top after a hard fought battle with League rivals Sli Cualann AC (Wicklow) and Donore Harriers (Dublin).
Irish international Catherine McManus was instrumental in the DCH women coming out on top with individual victories in the 60m hurdles in 8.43 seconds and the long jump with a leap of 5.23m.
There were further victories for the Dublin club with Clare Brennan winning the 1500m in 4:49.4 and Emily Corcoran winning the high jump with 1.60m.
Dublin City Harriers won with a total of 74 points from Sli Cualann AC in second with 66.5 points and Donore Harriers AC in third with 66 points.
Meanwhile, Santry-based Clonliffe Harriers Athletic Club were truly dominant in the men’s league with a total of 94 points.
It couldn’t have been closer for second and third with Raheny Shamrock and Galway City Harriers both scoring 64 points. Raheny edged it on the countback.
There was plenty of depth in the Clonliffe team and they used that quality to the full with individual winners including Christopher Sibanda in the 60m with 6.87 seconds, Dara Kervick in the 400m in 48.85, Keith Marks in the long jump with 7.12m and Niall Counihan in the triple jump with 14.15m. Of course, with it being the first event in the brand new arena, all event winners recorded stadium records.