UCD AC’s Bori Akinola wins first senior title at national championships
24 February 2025
Bori Akinola (UCD AC) celebrating after winning his first senior national title on the second day of the Indoor National Championships Credit: Sam Barnes/Sportsfile
UCD AC sprinter Bori Akinola stormed to victory against fellow UCD Ad Astra Academy graduate Israel Olatunde to claim his first senior title at the National Championships.
The 23-year-old clocked in 6.61 seconds to win the Irish indoor 60m title in Abbotstown in a thrilling race to take the gold.
"It feels amazing, I'm just grateful to be here," said Akinola, who studied Computer Science while at UCD.
"I was nursing a hamstring injury and I wasn't quite sure how today was going to go but I'm just happy that I was able to come to the start line, compete with no issues, actually run a personal best as well was amazing,” he told RTÉ Sports.
Bori Akinola claims his first National Senior Title, sprinting to a gold medal and finishing in a time of 6.61 in the Men's 60m
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) (opens in a new window)February 23, 2025
Bori Akinola (U.C.D. A.C.) 6.61
Max OReilly (Riverstick/Kinsale A.C.) 6.69
Israel Olatunde (Tallaght A.C.) 6.72
Official Results… (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/yxvPjI2zWH
It was another championship record too for UCD AC athletics star Sarah Healy, who broke her own 1500m record set just 24 hours beforehand in the heats with a stunning 4:08.74.
Earlier this month, the UCD Ad Astra Academy alumna and two-time Olympian broken the Irish indoor record for the 3000m twice in the space of a week.
Speaking after the race the Law graduate said she had been delighted to be able to run in Ireland in front of her friends and family.
“It felt pretty good out there… I don’t get to race at home too much so it’s fun to get to see everyone and for my mum to get to see me race.”
Congratulations to UCD AC's Sarah Healy who was awarded Athlete of the Championship on the back of her championship record performances of 4:12.37 CR (heats) and 4:08.74 CR (final) in the women's 1500m over the weekend
— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) (opens in a new window)February 24, 2025
Congratulations Sarah(opens in a new window)#IrishAthletics (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/Ziy7R1KPJ9
Healy told RTÉ her performance sets her up nicely for the upcoming European Indoors in Apeldoorn, Netherlands, in March.
"I know I have a chance at a medal but I am not focusing on that too much because you have to keep thinking about the process and train for the next few weeks.”
In 4x400m relays, the UCD women’s team of Molly Hourihan, Renee Crotty, Ellie Hartnett, and Hollie Kilroe set a new national club record with a time of 3:47.66 on their way to gold.
(opens in a new window)@UCDAC_bears Women's 4x400m relay National Indoor Champions in a new championship record. (opens in a new window)pic.twitter.com/OsFOLHBmZq
— UCD Sport (@ucdsportsclubs) (opens in a new window)February 23, 2025
Elsewhere at the indoor championships, former Ad Astra Academy athlete Sarah Lavin (Emerald AC) claimed her seventh national title in the women's 60m hurdles.
Joint flagbearer for Team Ireland at the Paris 2024 Olympics, the Limerick native claim victory in 8.11 seconds.
By: David Kearns, Digital Journalist / Media Officer, UCD University Relations
To contact the UCD News & Content Team, email: newsdesk@ucd.ie
