Sean Breathnach is the 2008 Irish Shot Putt Champion after a beating the competition in Santry at the weekend. Sean has been in superb form this summer and hopes were high of a good performance at the Nationals. He threw a fantastic 16.01 on Thursday night at the Galway championships in Dangan so things were looking good. Sean lead Saturday's final all the way with a best throw of 15.74. Later, he added to his medal tally, winning silver in the 56lb Distance and the 56lb Height events with 7.76 and 4.25 respectively. The Distance event was won in 7.70 and the Height event in 4.40.

Also in action from GCH was 2007 Javelin champion Mindaugas Kurcenkova. Mindaugas also made the podium but had to settle for bronze this year with a throw of 59.56. This event was won by Jarah Kubis from Kilkenny City Harriers with a throw of 61.41.

Elsewhere Gary Thornton had to relinquish his crown in the 10,000m which this year was won impressively by Martin Fagan, Mullingar, who will be representing Ireland in the marathon in Beijing.

Congrats to all the Galway athletes who competed, including Loughrea's Olive Loughnane and Athenry's Paul Hession who gave two of the outstanding performances of the weekend as they prepare for Beijing.