National 800m title for Trim runner

Harry Purcell (Trim AC) won the AAI U/18 national indoor 800m title at Athlone Arena in a time of 1.57.02. Earlier in the month Harry set a championship best time for the same event when winning the Leinster title. He ran in the lead group for the first 600m, before taking complete control of proceedings and takiing the race and his first national title with over 20 metres to spare over his nearest rival crossing the finish line. Last season was his first season of competitive athletics, and the versatile Castlenock College student went all the way to the schools finals and a fine national championship silver in the intermediate 800m behind Rob Tully (Star of the Sea AC & Franciscan Gormanston). Over the winter Harry worked on the endurance and stamina aspects of his running while holding down a place on the Meath minor panel. In January he finished a fine fourth place in the AAI junior 800m, an event for which he will be eligible for the next 2 years.