Nakita Burke and men's 4x400m impress for Letterkenny AC at National Indoor League

On a day when Letterkenny AC fielded a women’s team at the National Indoor League for the first time, Nakita Burke bagged a second-place finish over 3000m.

The Letterkenny AC women were sixth when the sums were totted and the men’s team fourth in Round 1 of the 2024 National Indoor League at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Dublin.

A team of young teens and the experience of Burke and Kathryn McDevitt saw LAC enter a women’s team for the first time in their history.

They amassed a total of 58 points with Burke their lead performer. Burke was second in the 3000m, clocking 9:35.18 and beaten only by Dundrum South Dublin’s Amy O’Donoghue, who crossed the line in 9:33.84.

Fern Duffy was ninth fastest over 200m and second in her heat in 27.11 seconds. Duffy leapt out to 9.34m for eighth in the triple jump.

Katie Elliott was second in her 60m hurdles heat, going 10.90 seconds for eighth while Emma Bonar was sixth in the 800m, finishing in 2:20.99.

In the weight for distance, McDevitt reached out to 4.95m for sixth.

Elliott, McDevitt, Erin Friel and Duffy were second in their 4x400m race, timing 4:20.37 to secure seven points.

The LAC 4x400m quartet of Ryan Canning, Joseph Aidoo, Sheldon Nyoni and Eoin Kelly stormed to a victory. The black and amber men finished in 3:36.20 to take the maximum points with LAC just seven points off a top three finish on the day.

Aidoo was third fastest overall in the 200m in 22.71 seconds with Canning third over the 60m hurdles in 9.53 seconds.

In the 800m, Eoin Kelly was fifth in 2:06.52 while Donal Farren finished the 3000m in 8:51.72 for seventh.

Elvis Okoh was fifth in the triple, going out to 12.09m, and seventh in the weight for distance when throwing a best of 4.77m.

In one of the guest races, held as part of the day’s events, Finn Valley AC’s Eimear McCarroll - just days after her scholarship link up with NCAA Division 1 college Bradley University in Illinois was confirmed - won the women’s 800m.

McCarroll won in 2:16.17 from City of Lisburn woman Kelly Neely, who finished in 2:17.14.

Letterkenny AC’s Johnson Banguar was second in two 60m sprints and third in a 200m while Finn Valley AC’s Janine Boyle was third in a 200m and fourth in a 60m.