Everard & Mooney Secure European Indoor Athletics Qualification Standard At GloHealth AAI Games

Irish Indoor record holder, Ciara Everard (UCD AC) ran inside the required qualification standard of 2:03.50 for the European Athletics Indoor championships when winning the 800m at the GloHealth AAI Games in 2:03.39 from Suzanne Voorrips of the Netherlands in 2:09.06. Everard's fellow UCD club-mate Aislinn Croseey was third 2:09.76.

Everard who is coached by James Nolan was brought through the first 400m by pacemaker Aisling Drumgoole in just under 60 seconds. The Kilkenny woman powered through the final 2 laps to dip under the qualification standard for the European Indoor Championships which take place in Prague on the 6th-8th of March. Everard was a finalist at the last European Indoor Championships in Gothenburg 2013.

Everard who is set to compete in the IFAM Indoor Games in Gent, Belgium next weekend was in upbeat mood after the race saying: "I am absolutely delighted to get the qualification standard, I'm feeling strong, and I've had a good winter behind me this year." She added: "I am working now with Martina McCarthy (on strength and conditioning) with Athletics Ireland and the institute (Irish Institute of Sport) that has made a massive difference, I owe her a lot of credit"

26 year old Danny Mooney (Letterkenny AC) produced a personal best performance of 3:42.69 to win the 1500m inside the European qualification standard of 3:43.00 . Mooney who is coached by Teresa McDaid finished ahead of Andreas Bueno (Denmark) in 3:42.78, speaking after the race he said: "The pace maker did a really good job and pulled us through 800m on schedule of 1.58, then there was four or five of us in the mix at that stage." He added "With 400m to go the Danish guy went through at a fierce rate and I just got back on him and tried to go as hard as I could."

Joe Warne Doheny A.C. was third in 3:45.42 while Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea AC) in finishing fifth in 3:47.04 was inside the A standard for the European Athletics Junior Championships of 3:47.30

In the men's 400m Dara Kervick (Clonliffe Harriers AC) ran a personal best to win the 400m 47.26 just six hundredths over the qualification standard for the European Athletics Indoor Championships. 19 year old Paul Murphy of Ferrybank AC was second in 47.75 dipping under 48 seconds for the first time outdoors and equalling his outdoor best. Luke Smallwood of Great Britain was third in 47.98.

Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers A.C.) produced a stadium record in the Shot Putt with winning with 17.14m moving him to fifth in the Irish All-Time Best list.

In the Men's 800m the young Harry Purcell (Trim AC) was just dipped on the line by Wouter Ploeger of the Netherlands in 1:50.79 with Purcell just four hundredths off in 1.50.83. Karl Griffin (U.C.D. A.C.) who never got himself in contention finished third in 1:51.35.

In the Men's 60m Hurdles, Gerard O'Donnell (Carrick-on-Shannon AC) produced a personal best time of 7.99 to win, just off the stadium record of 7.97 held by Great Britain's Alex Al-Ameen.

Catherine McManus (Dublin City Harriers AC) did the double winning the 60m in 7.57 and the 60m Hurdles in 8.50 both just off her personal best. Kelly Proper also completed a double in her indoor season debut winning the 200m in 23.76 and the long jump in 6.25m.

In the 3000m there was no joy for winners of the men and women's race John Travers (Donore Harriers) and Sarah Treacy (Dunboyne A.C.) both of whom were targeting qualification standards. Travers who already has the 1500m qualification standard lead the race out from the start was on pace for the 8:00 mins until the closing laps crossing the line in 8:19.30. While Treacy was 12 seconds off the standard in 9:12.22.