Irish Universities Athletics Association (IUAA) Track & Field Championships 2018:

Five Irish Universities Athletics Association (IUAA) records were smashed as Queen’s University Belfast hosted the IUAA Track & Field Championships this weekend (Friday 13^th and Saturday 14^th April 2018).

Six local students also picked up gold medals as 510 athletes from 20 universities descended on Mary Peters Track (Belfast), for the two-day competition.

Ulster University representative Jack Magee was one of the IUAA record breakers with an excellent 65.95m (1^st place) effort to win the Javelin competition.  There were also gold medals for Lydia Mills (QUB), Mark Burton (QUB) and John Kelly (LYIT) in the field.

Lydia Mills won the Long Jump with a 5.61m leap for 1^st place, before going on to pick up a bronze medal in the Triple Jump – her 11.59m jump was also a QUB record.  Mark Burton also achieved a QUB record in the Triple Jump, reaching 15.24m for 1^st place and the associated gold medal.  Established Shot Putt competitor John Kelly launched a 15.16m effort for 1^st place.

On the track, Andrew Mellon (QUB) won the 400m in 47.74 (1^st place), while over the 400m hurdles, Ulster University’s Niamh Malone struck gold in 63.35 (1^st place).

Zoe Carruthers, a local lady representing DCU, won the 800m in 2:19.48 (1^st place).

Emma McCay had a good weekend, collecting two silver medals.  Emma took 2^nd place in the High Jump with a 1.65m clearance and then went on to finish as runner up in the Combined Events, securing 2^nd place with 3020 points.

Fellow Ulster University team member Eimear Fitzpatrick was in action in the 3,000m Steeplechase, where she finished in 2^nd place.  Eimear’s 11:59.39 was an Ulster University record.

In the 5,000m, Neil Johnston (QUB) clocked 15:23.62 for 2^nd place.  In the ladies equivalent, Sinead Sweeney (QUB) crossed the line in a new QUB record of 18:00.38 for 3^rd place.

QUB athletes Jonathon Hill and Adam Hill also claimed bronze medals.  In the Long Jump, Jonathon leaped to 6.84m (3^rd place), while in the High Jump, Adam cleared 1.80m (3^rd place).

Away from the local performances, it was Irish international Phil Healy (WIT) who impressed most.  Phil claimed two IUAA record, running 11.55 in the 100m heats and 23.31 in the 200m heats – she went on to take gold in both finals, running 11.99 (1^st place) and 23.64 (1^st place) respectively.

DCU’s Kae Veale took gold in the 1500m Walk, in a new IUAA record of 6:14.48 (1^st place).  Matthew Behan (DCU) won the 100m hurdles in a new IUAA record of 14.16 (1^st place).

Full results for the event are available HERE.

Note:  Article compiled for use by Athletics NI.