McElhinney and Mawdsley star at National Indoors

Darragh McElhinney, Robert McDonnellandSharlene Mawdsley starred on day one of the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena.

Darragh McElhinney (UCD AC), who recently broke the Irish 3,000m (U23) record showed all his class and experience to take the 3000m gold medal in what turned out to be a hugely tactical race, crossing the line in 8:02:84.

It was a stacked 3000m race, and fans got to see the exciting Nick Griggs (Mid Ulster AC) going with the injection of pace set from McElhinney with five laps to go.

Griggs, the Irish U20 record holder, stayed on bravely to cross for silver in 8:05:8.

The men's 200m was a brilliant race with Olympians Robert McDonnell (Galway City Harriers) and Marcus Lawler (Clonliffe Harriers) going toe-to-toe.

It was 19-year-old McDonnell who would eventually come out on top in a blistering time of 20.86 which saw the Galway star go third on the Irish all-time list.

Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), pictured above, secured the women’s 200m in impressive style, breezing through the morning’s heats before battling it out for gold with Sarah Leahy of Killarney Valley AC in the final. Mawdsley looked all class in the final and maintained her form coming around the final bend to cross in a winning time of 24.05.

Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) secured the 60m hurdles title with a superb 8:12 display, while Matthew Behan of Crusaders AC took the men’s title in 8.14.

There was also action aplenty in the field events, with Eric Favors making the trip from Stateside all the more worthwhile by taking the shot put title, while Zoe Mohan (Cushinstown AC) secured the other throws title on offer, claiming the WFD gold.

Sarah Buggy (St Abbans) claimed yet another indoor