TODAY Israel Olatunde ran a time of 6.57 seconds at the 123.ie National Indoor Athletics Championships at the Sport Ireland Campus in Abbottstown and with that has broken the 60m national indoor record.
Olatunde subsequently won gold in the final, with Gabriel Kehinde (Ennis Track A.C. 6.72) and Oliver Swinney (Speed Development Project Track A.C. 6.70) claiming silver and bronze, respectively.
The 20-year-old's feat means he's now beat Paul Hession’s previous record of 6.61, which was set in 2007
The 20-year-old now holds the 60-meter and 100-meter outdoor national records (10.17), the latter of which he established during the 100-meter final at the European Championships back in August.
Olatunde now ranks seventh in Europe, and his performance is encouraging in front of the European Indoor Championships, which take place next month.
⚡️NEW NATIONAL RECORD⚡️
A magical performance from Israel Olatunde (UCD) who smashed the National Record (Paul Hession 6.61) running a stunning time of 6.57🤯
And a celebration to match the record 🎉
🥈Oliver Swinney (SDPT)
🥉Gabriel Kehinde (Ennis Track) @Ask123ie pic.twitter.com/BRysReHdic— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) February 19, 2023
In other news Sarah Leahy of Killarney Valley AC won the women's 60-meter final with a personal best time of 7.30, beating off Joan Healy and Lucy-May Sleeman of Leevale (7.33 and 7.33, respectively) (7.38).
In the women's 400-meter race, Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock, 53.11) defeated Phil Healy (53.97) and Miriam Daly to win gold (Carrick-on-Suir AC, 54.39).
In the men's corresponding race, Donore Harriers' Jack Raftery won in a championship-record time of 46.37, beating off David Ryan (47.49) and Ciaran Carthy (Dundrum South Dublin AC, 47.49). (Moycarkey Coolcroo AC, 48.24).
In the men's 800m final, Mark English won an astonishing tenth national indoor title with a time of 1.52.47, while Roland Surlis of Annalee AC and Jake Bagge of Ferrybank AC finished second and third, respectively.
In the women's 3000m, Cheryl Nolan of St. Abbans AC won in 9:22.32, beating out training partner Michelle Finn of Leevale AC, while Niamh Kearney of Raheny Shamrock finished third in 9:26.57.
