European Masters Indoors 2018 (19th to 24th March)

Sean relaxes after the 3,000m track walk

(PHOTOS courtesy of the EVENT WEBSITE)

European Masters Race Walk Double Silver for Sean McMullin

Sean McMullin got off to a medal winning start at the European Masters Indoors in Madrid on Wednesday afternoon 21st March when he won the silver medal in the 3,000m track walk at the magnificent Gallur Municipal Sports Centre. Race walking is a very technical event and not without its pitfalls; of the 15 starters, 2 were disqualified and 4 others given a warning during the course of the race, but Sean kept a clean sheet and put in a sterling performance to take the silver medal behind Ettorino Formentin (Italy) and ahead of Ludwig Niestelberger (Austria) who had kept close to Sean in what was a tactical race but Sean kept to his task and pulled well clear in the closing stages to secure second place, to the delight of the very big 126-strong Irish team.

Even though it is an indoor Championships, there is also a race walk on the road and even a cross country, so Sean’s attention turned to the 5k road walk on Friday morning 23rd March at nearby Casa de Campo where in perfect 14degC but cloudy and damp conditions he put in another great performance and avoided any distracting warnings to win his second silver medal of the Championships, finishing behind Formentin of Italy and ahead of Niestelberger of Austria again, to give the same 1-2-3 result as in the 3,000m track walk two days earlier. Congratulation to Sean on winning double silver in European masters race walk.

Sean rounded off his trip to Madrid early on Saturday morning 24th March when he competed in the 5k cross country in the Cuña Verde Park beside the Indoor Stadium where in cool but very windy conditions and despite only a day’s recovery from the 5k road walk, Sean put in a strong performance to finish well up with the pack, out of the medals but pleased with the run nonetheless.

Photos from the 3,000m track walk