Report by Gerry Naughton

The Donore Harriers team had plenty to celebrate in the 2018 Dublin Indoor track and field championships at the National Arena at Abbotstown last weekend. Top of the bill was Louis O’Loughlin and Jack Raftery going head-to head in the Under 18 Boys 800m final on Sunday. O’Loughlin had already secured the 1500m title on the Saturday by front running a time of 4.05.79, whilst Jack Raftery won the 400m gold on the same day with an excellent 50.53 time.

Whilst waiting for the 800m final, Raftery jumped a personal best of 1.73m to secure gold in the High Jump. The training partners then brought the house down with two massive personal bests in a scintillating 800m race. O’Loughlin passed the first 200m in 26 seconds, with Raftery in close order. At the 400m mark the unrelenting O’Loughlin had a clear lead passing just outside 54 seconds, whilst Raftery (57 seconds) slipped back to 4th.

Something special was on when the boys reached the bell in 1.23 and 1.27 respectively. O’Loughlin had a big lead, but Raftery had already passed Cian Bolger of Clonliffe Harriers and was bearing down on Ben Jones of DSD AC. With both boys running 29 seconds for the final lap it meant a Donore Harriers gold and silver as O’Loughlin took more than 2 and a-half seconds of the personal best with a time of 1.52.24, whilst runner-up Raftery (1.56.64) took 3 seconds off his previous best mark.

Full Championships report to follow.