McCann sets new Irish 1,000m record at the Louisville Invitational

Still fresh it seems from his breakthrough mile in New York last weekend, Luke McCann ran the fastest ever 1,000 metres by an Irishman, breaking the long-standing Irish indoor set by Marcus O’Sullivan back in 1985.

Racing at the Louisville Invitational, McCann clocked 2:17.40, improving O'Sullivan's old mark of 2:20.20, that time also in fact bettering the Irish outdoor record of 2:17.58 which was held by David Matthews, set in Sarajevo back in 1996.

McCann clocked 3:53.87 in New York last weekend, the 23 year-old UCD student building nicely towards next month's World Indoor Championships in Belgrade. Shane Streich set an American record of 2:16.16 in winning, McCann closing fast to nail second.

Fellow UCD athlete Darragh McElhinney also secured a World Indoor qualifying time over 3,000m when he improved his best by five seconds when clocking 7:45.91 in Metz, that time also an Irish Under-23 record, the Cork runner securing a silver medal at that level in December’s European Cross-Country in Dublin.

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Nick Griggs also broke a record and barrier when winning the 3,000m at the Athletics Ireland League final at the Sport Ireland Indoor Arena, the Mid Ulster AC athlete running 7:57:38.Griggs only turned 17 in December, and has two more years at Under-20 level.

Phil Healy also improved her indoor 400m best to 51:74 PB, edging her ever closer to the 51:58 record which as stood to Karen Shinkins for 20 years.

The men's and women's league titles were won by Leevale AC, Louise Shanahan secured maximum points for the club in the 1500m, crossing the line in first place in an indoor PB time of 4:24:25.

John Travers of Donore Harriers took the men's 1500m, running 3:47:89, Michelle Finn also claiming another win for Leevale, taking the 3,000m with a front-running performance in 9:05.30.

Competing for Texas University, Rhasidat Adeleke continued her flying form with a 51.71 split in the 4x400 relay, the quartet clocking 3:28.05, fellow Irish athlete 53.67 Davicia Patterson also chipping in with her 53.67.

Athletics Ireland Indoor League Final League Standings: Men 1 Leevale 62; 2 Crusaders 52; 3 Clonliffe Harriers 45; Women: 1 Leevale - Women 58; 2 Raheny Shamrock 54; 3 Dundrum South Dublin 53