Indoor Success in Belfast
There were several top results by Kilkenny athletes at the National Indoor championships at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast last weekend. Emily Maher has been clocking 7.39/7.40 for the 60m consistently over the last month and went to Belfast hoping for a 7.37 performance which would give her the qualifying time for Moscow. She achieved her goal when she finished third in the 60m final in a time of 7.36 secs a new PB. Former KCH athlete, Joanne Cuddihy also got in on the winning act with a fine run in the 400m final. Joanne ran a tactically perfect race pacing herself throughout and using her strength to move into first place just as she approached the line, winning the gold medal in 54.13 secs. Catriona Cuddihy, KCH, competed well in the 400m and qualified for the "B" final but taking a stumble she was forced to withdraw with a sprained ankle. Eoin Everard, KCH, having qualified for the 800m final was disappointed to finish in 6^th place. The race tactics of a very slow first lap didn't suit him but the experience gained will be of immense benefit in future outings. Another Kilkenny athlete, Willie Hoyne, from the Thomastown club, put in a good showing in qualifying for the 1500m final. An 8^th place finish in this his first national indoor competition will, as in the case of Everard, be a valuable lesson for future competition. Well done to one and all.