LEON REID IS this year’s Irish national 200 metre champion thanks to a thrilling race against Marcus Lawler in Morton Stadium this afternoon.

Lawler, the Carlow man who ran the second-fastest Irish time ever in Cork earlier this month, crossed the line just 0.05s behind Reid’s mark of 20.74 in wet conditions.
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Bath-born Reid, who won a Commonwealth Games silver for Northern Ireland this year (with a time quick enough to take the Irish record), has been applying to transfer his allegiance to Ireland in the last two years and the hope is that the recently-lifted freeze on such moves will allow him to turn out in a green singlet as soon as next month’s European Championships.

Leon Reid of Menapians A.C., Co. Wexford, celebrates after winning the Senior Men 200m. Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

Galway City Harriers’ Cillin Green claimed 200m bronze crossing the line a second after Reid.

Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

In the women’s 200m final, Phil Healy led the field home, taking the national gold in 23,64 ahead of Ciara Neville and Catherine MacManus.

Brandon Arrey in the 400m heats. Bryan Keane / INPHO Bryan Keane / INPHO / INPHO

While Thomas Barr qualified for tomorrow’S 400m hurdle final, Brandon Arrey led the way into the 400 flat final with his 47.78 qualifying time and Sophie Becker will be among those in the starter’s blocks for the women’s 400m final.

Sophie Becker of St. Joseph's A.C., Co. Kilkenny, competing in the Senior Women 400m. Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE Sam Barnes / SPORTSFILE / SPORTSFILE

With 100m finals to look forward to tomorrow, the distance titles handed out today went to Stephen Scullion, who claimed the 10,000m title with an impressive controlled run, and Adam Kirk-Smith won out in the 3,000m steeplechase.

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