Tobin makes up for his 1500m misery by taking 10K title in style at Santry
AGONY last weekend turned to ecstasy this weekend for Clonmel’s Seán Tobin, who powered to victory over 10,000m at the Irish Life Health National Championships in Santry yesterday.
Surging to the front with five laps to run, the 26-year-old drew clear and had enough to hold off the late charge of Donore’s Eric Keogh to win in 29:35.16.
‘Most of the way I was very comfortable but the last couple of laps the body started to break down and I was hurting pretty bad that last 600,’ he said.
‘But it’s a national title, you don’t shake anyone off easy. It’s always tough.’
Tobin was denied 1500m gold in agonising circumstances last week, beaten in an epic homestraight battle by Paul Robinson by 0.02 of a second.
‘The most disappointing thing was I didn’t bring the title down to Clonmel, that’s what I wanted more than anything and a 10K/1500 double would have been sweet.’
This was Tobin’s first national title since winning the 1500m in 2017 after a few near-misses at both track and cross country in the years since.
There was an outstanding performance in the men’s 10,000m race walk as Callum Wilkinson of Togher AC won in 39:52.05.
The British athlete, a world Under 20 champion in 2016, moved to Cork last year to be coached by Rob Heffernan.
His training partner David Kenny finished second with 41:38.45, while 50km specialist Brendan Boyce took third in 42:19.89, having served a time penalty midway through the race.
Kate Veale won her 12th national title by taking the women’s 5,000m race walk, clocking 24:51.49 to come home well clear of Ruth Monaghan. Saragh Buggy of St Abban’s continued her dominance by winning the women’s triple jump with 12.97m, her fifth straight outdoor title and 13th overall.
Jai Benson of Lagan Valley came up clutch in the last round of the men’s triple jump, his 14.53m making the journey back to Belfast a better proposition.
‘I was about to be depressed on that way home,’ he said.
‘I slapped myself in the face and said to get it done.’
Colin Quirke claimed discus gold with a best of 55.50m, making his long journey from California and his period of selfisolation in Offaly all the more worthwhile. Niamh Fogarty took the women’s discus with 49.46m.
The championships will conclude today, with the action live-streamed on Athletics Ireland’s YouTube channel from 11:30am.