Dara Kervick & Mark English Hit European Indoor Athletics Standards

The performance of the day at the GloHealth Senior Indoor Athletics Championships at AIT International Arena- Athlone, came when Dara Kervick (Clonliffe Harriers AC) won his 400m heat in 46.80 seconds, well inside the 47.20 qualification standard for European Indoor Championships which takes place in Prague 6-8 March. The time by the 23 year old significantly improves on his previous best of 47.26 set this year at the AAI Games and moves him to number seven on the all-time list. Tomorrow's Men's 400m final should be a cracker with a quality field of athletes looking to secure spots on the men's 4x400m relay team for Prague. Qualifiers are Dara Kervick 46.80, Eanna Maddden 48.71 Paul Murphy 48.36, Timmy Crowe 48.39, Harry Purcell 48.09 and Brandon Arrey 49.07.

European Bronze Medallist Mark English Hits Standard in Grand Prix in Birmingham
Away from the action in Athlone, European 800m Bronze Medallist Mark English (UCD AC) secured the 800m qualification time for the European Indoors at the Sainsbury's Indoor Grand Prix in Birmingham today running 1.47.17 for sixth place inside the standard (1.48.50). The race was won by Kenya's Jeremiah Kipkorir Mutai in 1.45.93.

Rest of Action at GloHealth Senior Indoor Athletics Championships at AIT International Arena

Proper Takes her 17th National Title
In the field, Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) won an impressive 17th national indoor title with a leap of 6.22m in the Long Jump, further confirming herself as Ireland's greatest ever indoor athlete. However there was disappointment for the Waterford athletes as the jump was outside the needed European standard of 6.45m. Proper will line up in tomorrow's 200m and 60m in a bid to make it 19 National titles.

Stadium Record in Men's Pole Vault
There was a new stadium record for the Clonliffe duo of Ian Rogers and David Donegan who both cleared 4.80m in the Pole Vault and were both awarded first place.

Endurance
The women's 3000m title went to Maria McCambridge (DSD AC) in 9:26.77. McCambridge who has accumulated 17 national titles outdoors including Marathon wins, last won an indoor title in 2004.

Alex Wright (Leevale AC) retained his national title in the Men's 5000m Walk winning in 19:52.36 from Brendan Boyce (Letterkenny AC) with Luke Hickey (Leevale AC) in third. The women's 3000m Walk was won by Veronica Burke (Ballinasloe & District AC) in a time of 14.40.89.

Ciara Mageean Withdrawal
Ciara Mageean (UCD AC) who has achieved the European Indoor 3000m standard had to withdraw from the women's 1500m heats due to a niggle which will be monitored over the coming days by her coach and physio.