Thomas Barr has claimed the Athlete of the Year accolade at the Irish Life Health National Athletics Awards in Dublin.
Barr was Ireland’s standout performer on the track at Rio 2016, setting new national records in both the semi-finals and the final of the 400m hurdles.
The Ferrybank star clocked 47.97 seconds in the final to finish fourth. Barr’s remarkable time in the final, which would have seen him medal at the previous three Olympics, was all the more meritorious as his build-up to the Games had been blighted by injury.
Robert Heffernan (Togher) won the Endurance Athlete of the Year award at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Santry after finishing fifth in the 50km race walk.
Thomas Barr 'delighted' with athlete of the year honour https://t.co/UppSTtcZyt
— RTÉ Sport (@RTEsport) November 30, 2016
Former 1500m star Marcus O’Sullivan was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Award Winners
Athlete of the Year: Thomas Barr (Ferrybank)
Hall of Fame: Marcus O’Sullivan
Lifetime service to Athletics: Liam Hennessy
Official of the Year: Michael O’Hart
Under-20 athlete: Adam King (Iveragh)
Under-23 athlete: Siofra Cleirigh Buttner (DSD)
Endurance: Robert Heffernan (Togher)
Track & Field: Thomas Barr (Ferrybank)
Inspirational performance: Phil Healy (Bandon)
Performance club: Clonliffe Harriers
Development club: Cushinstown AC
Team of the Year: Women’s Senior Team European Cross Country Championships
Service to coaching: Donie Walsh (Leevale)
Mountain runner: M35 Team Mountain Running World Champions
Master athlete: Brian Lynch
Ultra athlete: Eoin Keith (Sportsworld)
University athlete: Michelle Finn (Leevale/UL)
Tailteann schools award: Michaela Walsh (Swinford)
