National title for Holly Brennan at Morton Stadium

Top young Meath athlete Holly Brennan from Cilles AC stormed to victory yesterday at Morton Stadium, Santry to win the u-20 5,000-metre title at the Irish Life Health National Athletics Senior and u-23 Championships.

The Cilles athlete took the title in a time of 18m:15.64s and that was four seconds ahead of runner-up Celine Gavin (Celtic DCH) and third-placed Aoife Coffey (Lucan Harriers).

"The race was a slow pace, I didn’t mind so I decided to tuck in behind the girls as the wind was strong," commented Meath's newest champion.

"With 2k to go I slightly picked up the pace, but nothing much.

"It soon came down to myself, Celine Gavin and Aoife Coffey and in the last 400m, myself and Celine were neck and neck.

"I decided to just go for it with 250m to go," she added.

Ava Costello from Trim AC finished in fourth place.

There was almost a double for the Cilles club, but Aaron Smith was edged into second place in the men's u-20 event when finishing behind Sligo athlete Michael Morgan.

"With 400m to go I had the lead which I held for about a 100m, Michael Morgan kicked ahead and I held on for a while," commented Smith.

"I glanced back and we both had a gap on the field, I pushed on and held on for second," he added.

Star of the Sea athlete Andrew Coscoran was in action in the qualifying heats for the 1,500m final scheduled for today.

Coscoran duly qualified in second place from Heat 2, but Ratoath athlete Matthew Hayes was out of luck in Heat 4

UNDER -20 TOP THREE

WOMEN

U-20 5,000m - 1, Holly Brennan (Cilles AC) 18:15.64; 2, Celine Gavin (Celtic DCH) 18:19.47; 3, Aoife Coffey (Lucan Harriers) 18:29.47.

MEN

U-20 5,000m - 1, Michael Morgan (Sligo) 15:56.22; 2, Aaron Smith (Cilles) 15:58.05; 3, James Hyland (Raheny Shamrock) 15:59.51.