Oustanding olatunde sets new U23 100m record

Israel Olatunde (UCD AC) starred at the 2022 Irish Life Health National Junior and U23 Championships in Tullamore yesterday, smashing his own Irish U23 100m record with a stunning 10.24 (NU23 & CR) in the blisteringly hot conditions.

It was a 100m race for the sprinting ages, with Toluwabori Akinola of Fingallians AC claiming silver in a huge breakout performance of 10.30 to go joint 4th on the Irish all-time list behind Olatunde.

Akinola would also go on to claim silver in the 200m (21.37), a race won by the ever-consistent Colin Doyle (Leevale) in 20.90.

It continues a remarkable season for Olatunde who had already secured the national senior indoor and outdoor titles earlier this season.

The UCD star is now set to turn his attention to preparations for the upcoming European Championships in Munich (selections to be confirmed the first week in August).

Lauren Cadden of Sligo AC secured the national U23 200m title (24.42), following up on the senior gold which she won in Morton Stadium last month.

Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) made a decisive move at the bell in the junior men’s 3000m final, storming clear of the field to claim gold in a time of 8.17.24.

Attention will now likely turn the World U20 Championships in Colombia in 3 weeks’ time for the double European U18 champion (team selections due in the next 48 hours).

The junior men’s 1500m final was a thriller with Ennis track pair of Mark Hanrahan (3.65.49) and Dean Casey (3.56.94) battling it out for gold in a stride for stride finish.

Aaron Shorten of St. L. O’Toole secured bronze in 3:57.77.

Over the long hurdles it was Lucy McGlynn (Tir Chonaill) who impressed once again, claiming the 400mH junior title in 1:01.22 before doubling up to claim gold in the 100mH with a time of 14.02.

It was a Leevale 1-2 in the junior men’s 110mH with James Ezeonu (14.20) getting the better of clubmate Sean Carmody (14.58).

Leevale also claimed gold in the junior men’s long jump competition with Reece Ademola posting a Championship Record on his way to claiming the title with a best jump of 7.76m CR.