For the second time in three days, Ben Reynolds was the star performer at a major event, this time at the Belfast International Games, held to mark the official opening of the new refurbished Mary Teters Track and the unveiling of Mary Peters’ statue. In front of Lord Sebastian Coe, Mary Peters (in the flesh and also cast in stone) the Lord Mayor of Belfast and a host of dignitaries, Ben ripped apart his recent Northern Ireland 110m hurdles record to win in 13.49 secs (+1.9). The time demolished his pb, set a stadium raecord, a Northern Ireland record, reinforced his Commonwealth Games qualification and was inside the A standard for the World Championships in Moscow.
Other North Down athletes revelled in the charged atmosphere. Adam McComb again had a pb and broke his own North Down 400m record with 48.23 sec. Kenny Elliott had apb of 50.20 in the same race. Sarah Connolly tied for first in the U20 high jump, equalling her 1.65m pb. Michael Dyer ran 1:50.93 in the 800m to beat his pb from the recent Senior Championships. (Mark Patterson 1:51.42). Young Oliver Wakefield had a pb of 11.92 sec when second in the U15 100m. In the U18 javelin Niall McGrattan was 3rd with a pb of 47.54m. Pete Glass won the Senior Javelin with55.00 from Brendan McConville‘s 45.87.
Plus events for wheelchair and primary school athletes plus events for Special Olympians where North Down Special Olympians seemed on every podium. All in all, a btilliant night.