NI athletes set for Finals day at Irish Indoors Day 1 Report

The Cork man blitzed away from the field in the opening lap of the 5km walk and continued at a relentless pace, crossing the line in 19 minutes 6.58 seconds.

Three-time Olympian Jamie Costin (West Waterford AC) was second in 19.35.06 and Michael Doyle (Tara AC) was third in 19.50.52.

Last year's silver medallist Colin Griffin pulled out midway through due to illness.

Laura Reynolds (Athenry AC) won the women's 3km walk in 21.46.23, retaining her national title, pulling clear of world youth champion Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) with one kilometre to go. Veale crossed the line in 21.52.79.

In the field events, Irish record holder Kelly Proper (Ferrybank AC) showed a return to form, winning the women's long jump in a season's best of 6.34m.

Claire Wilkinson (Ballymena & Antrim AC) cleared 3.80m at the second attempt to win the pole vault, but just couldn’t clear the next height of 3.95m. In the women's shot putt, the favourite Claire Fitzgerald won with a putt of 13.66m.

Hazel Murphy (Dundrum South Dublin) dominated the women's 3000m from gun to tape winning in 9.20.35 seconds from Teresa McGloin (Finn Valley) and Emer O'Brien (Sligo AC).

In the women's 60m heat, Amy Foster (City of Lisburn) was the fastest qualifier into tomorrow's final, setting a personal best of 7.39, edging closer to the Irish record of 7.30 held by Anna Boyle in 2007.

Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim) was second fastest qualifier in 6.92s behind Stephen Colvert (Crusaders AC) who set a personal best of 6.91 in the 60m heats.

Clare Bergin (DSD AC), who is just competing on day one of the championships, produced another sub 55 second 400m running 54.82 in the heats.

Former EYOF 400m hurdle medallist Christine Mc Mahon was back on the track after taking last season off, winning her heat in a personal best of 56.54, she will be the likely winner of tomorrow's final.

Alan Kennedy (Raheny Shamrock AC) took over the lead in the triple jump with a leap of 14.98m in the second round.  Denis Finnegan (Leevale AC) closed to 14.88m in the fifth round but Kennedy repeated his 14.98m in the last round to win.

Tomorrow's men's 400m final should be a tight affair with all athletes' times closely matched with Jason Harvey's (University of Ulster) fastest qualifying time of 49.31.