Cancellation disappointing for Meath athletes
Star of the Sea athlete Andrew Coscoran won the 2020 All-Ireland Indoor 1,500m title and set a new championship record of 3.41 in the process, but he will not have the chance 12 months on to retain that title.
Athletics Ireland has confirmed the cancellation of the National Indoor Championships which were scheduled to take place at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st February.
The decision was taken in light of the ongoing Level 5 Covid-19 restrictions which have been extended until Friday 5th of March.
A small number of elite athletes have been granted a Government exemption to continue to train at Level 5.
Athletics Ireland stressed that the safety of all athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers and staff was priority at any AAI events.
With the European Indoor Championships currently scheduled to take place from Friday 5th to Sunday 7th March in Poland, Athletics Ireland recognises that a number of athletes will need competition to enable qualification.
"We are examining alternative options which would allow for a Covid-19 compliant event for European Indoor qualification purposes and for the attainment of World Ranking points towards Tokyo qualification," stated AAI.
Entry for those events will be restricted to athletes tracking towards Olympic Games qualification and European Indoor Championships qualification.
Details will be published once confirmed and agreed with Government.
Selection Policy for European Indoor Championships will be updated to reflect the changing circumstances.
2020
Twelve months ago Star of the Sea athlete Andrew Coscoran won the 1,500m title.
Bohermeen AC's Kevin McGrath was in action in the grade A men’s 800m and he produced his fastest indoor 800m and his best time both indoors and outdoors since 2016 with a third-place finish behind Roland Surlis of Annalee and Brian Fay of Raheny.
Bohermeen's Karen Dunne was also in action 12 months ago in both the 400m and the 200m. She set a new personal best of 57.62 in the 400m and ran the 200m in 26.04.
Trim athlete Shane Aston was edged out of top spot in the final of the 60m hurdle with Gerard O'Donnell (Carrick-on-Shannon) taking the title.
Ratoath AC athlete Conor Duncan took third place in the 800m final behind Mark English and Zak Curran with Bohermeen's Kevin McGrath in sixth place and another Ratoath man, Philip Marron in seventh.