UCD Bears recorded a highly successful year, achieving outstanding results through individual performances across intervarsity, national, and international competitions.
At the National Senior Track & Field Championships, Bori Akinola won silver in the 100m, Michelle Duggan and Cara Murphy secured bronze in the 400m and 400m hurdles, respectively, Cian McPhillips claimed his first senior national 800m title, while Nicola Tuthill won the Women’s Hammer. UCD also won the Women’s 4x100m relay through Ella Duane, Aisling Kelly, Debbie Lawal and Rhianna McCarthy, and claimed silver in the Women’s 4x400m relay through Beth Fitzpatrick, Michelle Duggan, Rhianna McCarthy and Renee Crotty.
At the National Senior Indoor Championships, Bori Akinola won the Men’s 60m, while Lughaidh Mallon claimed the Men’s 1500m. UCD also took the Women’s 4x400m Relay (Renée Crotty, Ellie Hartnett, Debbie Lawal, Hannah Murray).
At the National U23 Outdoor Championships, Jonas Stafford won the Men’s 3000m Steeplechase, and claimed silver in the Women’s 4x400m relay through Beth Fitzpatrick, Michelle Duggan, Rhianna McCarthy and Renee Crotty.
At the Outdoor Intervarsity Championships, individual titles were won by Hannah Kehoe (1500m), Sean McCabe (Long Jump), Aoibhín McDonald (Pole Vault), Cara Murphy (400m Hurdles), Darragh Murphy (400m), and Zoie Ritchie (800m). UCD also secured relay gold in the Men’s 4x400m (David Bosch, Joe Doody, Robert Hayes, Andrew McGilton), Mixed 4x400m (Finn Campbell, Eva Cormack, Robert Hayes, Amy-Jo Kierans), and Women’s 4x400m (Eva Cormack, Amy-Jo Kierans, Rachel Lynch, Cara Murphy).
UCD was also well represented internationally. Michelle Duggan, Sarah Healy, Cian McPhillips, and Nicola Tuthill were selected to represent Ireland at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. Cian McPhillips broke the Irish national 800m record in the Men’s 800m final at the event.
Nicola Tuthill enjoyed an outstanding season in the hammer throw, claiming gold at the U23 European Athletics Championships in Bergen. She also secured silver at the European Throwing Cup in the senior women’s event and a silver medal at the World University Games in Germany.
At the European Cross Country Championships in Lagoa, Lughaidh Mallon and Jonas Stafford were members of the U23 Ireland team that won gold.