Yet another National title for Nolan
Adam Nolan won another men's 60m hurdles gold medal at the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships at the National Indoor Arena on the Sport Ireland Campus Photo: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
Last weekend there was plenty of action for athletics enthusiasts to choose from. A trip up north to Newtownabbey for the All-Ireland schools cross-country. The safe haven of the indoors for the Intervarsity Indoor Championships or any number of a plethora of road races taking part across the country.
Mid-week, the final night of the track and field live saw several Irish teams make an attempt at some world masters relay records. Two Carlow athletes formed part of these teams: Keith Pollard and Teresa Doyle. While either efforts resulted in world records, it was a special night with two national records being set.
Adam Nolan has been unbeaten in the 60m hurdles so far this season – his victory at the Intervarsity continued with that trajectory. Nolan spearheaded an excellent SETU team in the points ranking. Molly Scott was racing in Austria over 60m and recorded a season’s best of 7.37 seconds.
The attempt at world masters relay records has become something of an enigma this past two years. Organised by Ronan Gately and the masters athletics association, the Irish relay teams have secured a number of world records over varying distances and age groups. Last Wednesday at the final track and field live event yet another attempt was made. On this occasion two Carlow athletes were part of the attempt: Teresa Doyle and Keith Pollard.
Teresa was part of the mixed over 35 4x200m Irish team who clocked 1.42.95. While the team did not manage to secure a world record, they did break the previous Irish record of 1.46.95 which was set last year. Accompanying Teresa on the team were: Sinead O’Connor (MSB), John Kirby (St Senans) and Chris Sibanda (Clonliffe Harriers).
Keith Pollard (also SLOT) was also part of a 4x200m mixed relay team. Competing in the over 45 category, the team clocked 1.41.48, obliterating the previous Irish record of 1.44.20 which was set back in 2023. Joining Keith on the team were Avril Dillon (DSD), Annette Quaid (Leevale) and Carlton Haddock (Leevale).
Back in December fellow clubmate Bronwen McDonald was a member of the Irsh over 40 team that broke the world 4x400m relay, taking 6 seconds off the previous mark. Three SLOT athletes have already made their mark at these relay attempts, with undoubtably more to follow throughout 2026.
At the juvenile races, several SLOT athletes raced over 60m. Emily Coady was 6th in her u12 60m heat. Isabella Blanche finished 5th in the u14 girls heat while Sophia Blanche was 3rd overall u16. Paddy Coady won the boys u16 event.
Several Masters took part in the senior and masters events at the same venue. Bronwen McDonald clocked 60 seconds exactly to win her 400m race. The 800m world silver medallist’s hoping to break 60 seconds. Teresa Doyle who had competed over 400m at the national seniors a few weeks ago finished 5th in her 400m heat, recording 61.20 seconds.
Keith Pollard in a warm-up for his relay attempt won his 60m race. David Hayde was another winner, with the fasted time in heat 2 of the 200m. Ken Archbold and Vincent McCormack took on the middle distance events. McCormack was 4th in his 800m heat with Archbold finishing 4th overall in the 1000m race.
Adam Nolan continued his run of unbeaten success over the 60m hurdles, when winning the Intervarsity event last Saturday. Nolan ran 8.06 in the final, amounting to a decisive victory over Sean Carmody, runner up at the National Indoors a few weeks ago.
The SETU student had earlier won his heat in 8.04, his second fastest time he has recorded this year. He was also 9th in the 60m sprint, an event you do not often see him participating in. Ruben McCarthy also representing SETU was third in 8.60 seconds.
Jennifer Sawyer with no long hurdles available indoors, took part in the 200m finishing 7th overall in a seasons best of 25.52. Michaela Subrtova representing SETU took 6th place in the triple jump, leaping to 10.79.
The SLOT athletes was in action over multiple events throughout the day, contributing in no small part to the SETU ladies team total points. She finished 9th in the 60m hurdles and was 12th in the long jump. Subrtova along with Arabella Adekoya, Cara Kelly and Winner Alozie finished seventh in the 4x200m relay.
There are a few more indoor competitions remaining in the season. The u20 and u23 athletes will be in action this weekend at their national championships in Athlone. The juveniles will have three days over two weekends commencing on March 28th again in Athlone.
Molly Scott now working as a lawyer is still learning how to balance a full time job with her athletics career. Scott finished 3rd at the recent national 60m indoors. Last weekend the SLOT athlete was in action in Vienna, Austria. Once again competing over 60m, Scott clocked 7.37 seconds, a new seasons best to finish second to Austrian athlete Isabel Posch.
