*Alex O’Neill. Photograph: Sportsfile.
QUIN’s Alex O’Neill has won her first national senior title taking first place in a thrilling Women’s 800m final in the National Athletics Championship.
Representing Limerick Track, Alex won gold ahead of Sarah Healy (UCD) in a nail-biting 800m final where sixteen seconds separated the top three. Healy tried to find the gap on the last lap but O’Neill held her form brilliantly to edge it on the line.
Her first place finish was in a time of 2:04.53 followed by Healy in 2:04.57 and Doheny AC’s Maeve O’Neill in 2.04.69 at Morton Stadium, Santry on Sunday evening.
Alex recorded her season best at the same venue last month with a time of 2:01.70 for the Morton Games.
In August 2019, Alex moved to the United States of America on a scholarship to Providence College. The twenty four year old has already won over 30 All-Ireland medals in her athletics career. She has represented her country on numerous occasions.
She started her juvenile atheltics career with St Cronan’s Athletic Club where her father Conor was among her coaches. She transferred to Ennis Track in 2018. Alex has credited the Community Games and Tommy Loughnane for sparking her interest in athletics.
A past pupil of Rice College, Alex is an older sister of Clare senior hurler Jack who was part of the extended panel to win the All-Ireland SHC last year.
