The 26-year-old Cork born Phil Healy was astonishing two days ago to win unusual double at Belfast Irish Miller Meet. She began with a commanding win in the 200m [23.29] ahead of Kate Doherty and Aoife Lynch, two of the Irish quartet who had finished second in the recent 4x200m at the World Relays.
Another member of that team, Sophie Becker, was her main opposition in the one lap race but Healy showed her class leading from the gun to the finish and setting that new personal best 51.50s, cutting off 0.69s from her old best since 2018.
Although she is high up the world rankings which already almost guarantees her selection she will now try and nail the time before the Irish Nationals at the end of June which come just before the Olympic qualifying period ends.
There wasn’t a bigger smile all day than that of Becker, who ran a massive personal best in second place of 52.32 to move to fifth on the Irish all-time list and she is now eyeing selection for the 4x400m mixed relay.
In the women 800m, another Irish Georgie Hartigan storm to a very impressive 2:00.18 personal best behind the winner, British Alexander Bell who won in 1:58.52 personal best.
The depth of Irish male middle distance running was on show in the men’s 800m despite the withdrawal of Mark English from the event.
It provided the closest finish of the afternoon with Tokyo hopeful John Fitzsimons edging out Harry Purcell in a photo finish.
Both runners were given the same time of 1:46.53, which were also personal bests for both, with Fitzsimons getting the nod when thousandths of a second were taken into consideration
DiscernSport