Donegal's Mark English and Sligo-based John Travers both produced impressive performances when winning their respective events at the Irish Life Micro Meet at the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown on Saturday night.
The event was the first athletics meet in Ireland for several months because of Covid regulations and had a restricted entry list to comply with public health protocols.
English, running for Finn Valley AC won a very competitive 800 metres in a new indoor PB of 1minute 46.10 seconds, improving his own national record.
The time was well inside the qualifying mark for next month's European Indoor Championships in Poland, although the Letterkenny man had already qualified for the Indoors.
English was a European indoor bronze medallist in 2019.
💥New National 800m Record of 1:46:10 for @markenglish_ in a stunning finish with Cian McPhillips (1:46:13)💥
Both men well inside European Indoor standard of 1:48:25 🙌🏼
What a race!!https://t.co/raTXnSjDRh pic.twitter.com/zNi3X4QuOT
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) February 20, 2021
Later, John Travers needed all his experience to see off a gutsy challenge from Darragh McElhinney to win the men's 3000 metres in a time of 7 mins 40.50 seconds, which was also well inside the European Indoor qualifying mark.
The final event of the day at the @irishlifehealth Elite Micro Meet was the Men’s 3000m which saw four athletes run under the European Indoor Championships (EIC) standard.🙌🏼https://t.co/raTXnSBffR pic.twitter.com/PrFS5SGsrZ
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) February 20, 2021
Carrick AC's Gerard O'Donnell was one of just two sprinters in the men's 60 metres hurdles with Matthew Behan.
O'Donnell was beaten in the first sprint - but reversed the placings in the second race later, winning in a time of 7.95 seconds.
The action continues on Sunday with North Sligo AC's Christopher O'Donnell among those competing in the men's 400 metres.
