The IUAA Track & Field Championships 2018 were hosted by Queen's University Belfast at the Mary Peter's track on the 13th and 14th of April. DCU retained the gold medal position, achieving 322 points, in the overall team competition, which they have repeatedly won since 2007. University of Limerick (87 points) came in 2nd for the fourth year in a row and UCD took third place with 79 points.
DCU blew away the competition in both the overall, female and male competitions. Athlone IT, Trinity College and University College Cork all attained 45 points, positioning the teams in joint second place in the female competition.
Some notable achievements of the event included IUAA records, University records, undoubtedly bringing pride to both competitors, teams, coaches and colleges around the country. Congratulations to all that broke records and won medals at this years event.
New Female IUAA records:
- Phil Healy (WIT) broke both the IUAA 100m & 200m records in the semi-finals and went on to win the gold medal in both finals. The new records are 100m: 11.55secs, 200m: 23.31secs.
- A new 1500m walk record was achieved by Kate Veale of DCU in a time of 6.14.48mins in the event final.
New Female University records:
- 100m: Orla Comerford broke the record of NCAD, bringing a new time of 12.84secs to the college and moved from 5th seed to win a bronze medal in the final. Grace Kilroy brings a new record of 14.66secs to IT Carlow.
- 100m hurdles: The top 4 hurdlers brought records to their respective colleges & universities. 1st place: Molly Scott (IT Carlow) in 13.96secs. 2nd place: Lilly-Ann O'Hora (DCU), 14.08secs. 3rd place: Kate Doherty (Trinity College), 14.49secs. 4th place: Sarah Quinn (NUIG) 14.93secs.
- 200m: Sinead Treacy beat her semi-final time by 0.27secs in the final, to bring a new record of 25.73secs to NUIG. Alannah O'Carroll brought a new record of 27.9secs to the National College of Ireland.
- 400m: Cliodhna Manning (DCU) won the gold medal and broke the university record in a time of 54.24secs. Ashling Forkan ran 58.66secs breaking the NUIG record.
- 1500m: Aisling Joyce brought another record to NUIG in a time of 4.48.46mins.
- 1500m walk: Niamh O'Connor broke the Maynooth University record in a time of 6.37.00mins, winning the silver medal.
- 3000m Steeplechase: Eimear Fitzpatrick won the silver medal and broke the University of Ulster record achieving a time of 11.59.39mins. Niamh Hennelly brought a new record of 12.30.49mins to NUIG.
- 5000m: Sinead Sweeney ran a time of 18.00.38mins, breaking the Queen University record and winning the bronze in the event.
- 4 x 100m relay: The NUIG and Athlone IT relay teams broke their college records and won the gold and bronze medals respectively. NUIG (48.34secs): Sarah Quinn, Sinead Treacy, Ciara Barry, Nicole King. Athlone IT (49.83secs): Amy McTeggart, Vicky Harris, Emily Jordan, Grace Lawlor.
- 4 x 400m relay: Another relay record and silver medal for NUIG in a time of 3.54.01mins. Team members: Nicole King, Ashling Forkan, Sarah Lannigan, Sinead Treacy.
- Long jump: A new record set by Amy McTeggart of Athlone IT in a distance of 5.58metres.
- Triple jump: Three new records for Solange Diogo (IT Tralee) 11.87metres, Maria Carey (University College Cork) 11.76metres and Lydia Mills (Queens University) 11.59metres.
- Pole Vault: Alannah O'Carroll of the National College of Ireland, achieved a new record of 2.1metres.
- Discus: Noelle Lenihan broke the Maynooth University record throwing 31.39metres and winning her the silver medal.
- Hammer: Ciara Maguire won the gold medal and broke the DCU record with a throw of 52.13metres.