The Irish Times, Monday 22 February 2021
DSD’s Georgie Hartigan made a week of restricted movements, hidden in an Airbnb near Abbotstown, all worthwhile with a massive win at the Athletics Ireland Micro Meet on Sunday 21st February. Georgie posted 2.01.48 to win the Indoor 800m, and claimed a DSD Club record and put herself 2nd on the Irish All-time list.
From the gun, DSD’s Sinead Denny did the heavy lifting for the whole pack by setting a blistering pace for the first two laps. Anyone watching saw Georgie use that pace, getting through the first lap in a brisk 27/28 seconds. With half way in sub 60 it was clear something big was on and Georgie broke free at the front. Though the chasing pack closed slightly, Georgie showed great strength and poise to close out the last lap.
Speaking on her way through Dublin airport on Sunday evening, she said, “I knew it would take 2:02 to make the team, so that was my goal. The last few metres I just thought I was going to fall over. I’m just a bit in shock. But I said to myself before the race, I didn’t come over and spend a week in quarantine to run badly”.
Whilst her run was briefly a Club record on Sunday (Síofra Cléirigh Buttner achieving a 2:00:58 in Arkansas a few hours later!), she has yet to break the family record of her Mum, Bev, at 2.00. Her dad, John, is a handy 8.33 steeplechaser… Choose your parents wisely, folks!
Sunday night’s spectacular performance by Síofra – back on top as the fastest Irish woman in the 800m indoor – has put Georgie into 3rd place on the Irish All-time list, with Nadia Power now in 2nd place.
The hard work was rewarded on Monday 22nd when Athletics Ireland announced its team of 24 for the European Indoor Championships in Poland from 5th to 7th March: Síofra and Georgie are on the team! Congratulations to both!
John Eves, London.
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