Purcell third in 800m while Foroughi wins high jump

Trim athlete Harry Purcell took third place today at Athlone in the final of the senior men’s 800 metres after setting the fastest time in qualifying (1:54.77) yesterday. Purcell improved that time by over a second as he finished with a time of 1:53.67, but that was only ggood enough for third behind Niall Tuohy and Karl Griffin.

There was some success for the Royal County when Star of the Sea athlete Kourosh Foroughi won the high jump with a leap of 2.15m ahead of David Cussen in second and another Meath athlete, Jamie Murtagh (St Andrew’s) in third position.

Foroughi also competed in the Shot Put 7,260kg where he finished sixth overall.

Purcell, who was a nominee for the 2013 young Meath sportsperson-of-the-year award a few weeks ago, set the fastest time in qualifying for the 800m on Saturday.

With Mark English (UCD) withdrawing from the championships last week due to illness it left the battle for the National title wide open with Tuohy capitalising.

In other finals Dunshaughin’s Thomas Moran finished 12th in the 3,000m in a time of 8:39.44 while Trim’s Shane Aston was seventh in the 60m hurdle.

Navan’s Aisling Watters was sixth in the 200m final.

Dunboyne’s Keith Doherty was seventh in the pole vault.

Conall Collier