Reid is chasing eligibility before Berlin
LEON REID turned in a stunning performance to take the men’s 200 metres title at the Irish Life Health National Championships in Santry yesterday, and the Bath-based sprinter now finds himself in a race against time to represent Ireland at next month’s European Championships.
Reid came from behind in dour conditions to take victory in 20.74 ahead of Marcus Lawler (20.79) and afterwards the 24-year-old shed light on his current transfer of allegiance from Britain, a process he began in 2016.
‘We sent all the paperwork [to the IAAF] last week so they’ve had it for a week and a half now so it should be just: review it, tick it,’ he said.
Reid held his form to great effect to edge Lawler late in the race. ‘That’s what we work on in training. There was no way I was going to come all this way and not win so I was like, “fight, fight, fight”.’
Phil Healy had things all her own way in the women’s 200m final, the 23year-old Bandon sprinter coming home all alone in 23.64, her last race before the European Championships in Berlin that begin on Friday.
‘It’s been an amazing few weeks and this is perfect timing,’ she said. ‘Conditions weren’t ideal today but it’s about getting the win, ticking the box, go back and recover and on to Berlin.’
Healy has opted to compete in the 100m, 200m, 4x100m and 4x400m in Berlin, overlooking the 400m which she ran at the World Indoor Championships in March.
‘I wanted to capitalise on the speed I have at the moment and take it to future years,’ she said.
Ciara Neville came home second to Healy in 24.27, with Catherine McManus third in 24.63.
Stephen Scullion was an easy winner of the men’s 10,000m in 29:25.31, the same event he’ll contest in Berlin the week after next. ‘I felt really good at an effort like that, it was really in my comfort zone,’ he said. ‘I’m in about 28:10 shape now. It should boost my fitness for Berlin.’
Emma Mitchell retained her title in the women’s 5000m in 15:59.34, kicking away from Shona Heaslip on the last lap to take gold.
The action continues in Santry this evening, with Ciara Mageean attempting a double over 800m and 1500m and Mark English looking to erase fitness concerns in the men’s 800m final. Thomas Barr will chase his eighth national title in the 400m hurdles.
The action is televised live on RTE 2 from 5.30pm this evening..