Week ending Saturday 14th April
Golden ending to Juvenile indoor season
The domestic indoor season drew to a close last Saturday at the final day of the AAI Juvenile Indoors in Athlone IT and the Mullingar u/12 boys 4x100m team certainly ended their season in style!
Having carried the baton across the finish line and secure victory for the Mullingar team in the Leinster relays some weeks ago in a new Championship Record, it was very disappointing that Kyle Faherty was unable to run with his team mates in the All-Ireland finals because he had been very ill during the week and was still recovering. However, that didn’t stop him being in Athlone to support the team and see James Flynn anchor the team in his place. An added incentive was that if the team won medals, Kyle would get one too, as he had been on the original team entry.
The Mullingar team of Criostoir Ormsby, Conor Liston, Jamie Wallace and James Flynn made short work of the heats, winning theirs in the fastest time of the three heats and lined up in the final as favourites in the coveted outside lane. Any notion that it was going to be a close run race was soon dispelled as Criostoir, Conor and Jamie put in tremendous performances, leading all the way and when Jamie broke lane coming off the third bend he had a clear lead of over five metres, which increased further thanks to a flawless final changeover with James. Once he had the baton safely in his hand we knew it was all over and there was no catching James who sprinted furiously around the final bend and into the home straight to win. This was a brilliant team effort and it was great to see all five boys mount the top of the podium to receive their All-Ireland gold medals.
Leinster 10 Mile successes for Mullingar
The “Battle of Clontarf” 10 Mile Road Race hosted by Raheny Shamrocks AC in a cold, wet and windy St. Anne’s Park on Easter Monday incorporated the Leinster 10 Mile Championship. There were 381 finishers in the Leinster race and first to finish for Mullingar was Eddie Newman in 18th place overall (58:58), easily winning his master age category by over 8 minutes. Close behind came Gerry Gavin 20th overall (59:19), also winning his master age category but by a much closer 6 second margin. Finishing very strongly in 34th place overall was Pauric Brady (61:01), providing the vital third team score to see Mullingar finish first Club in the master men over 35 race. Congratulations to Eddie, Gerry and Pauric on their excellent individual and team performances.
Poděbrady Race Walk Grand Prix
The Poděbrady Race Walking Festival in the Czech Republic last Saturday included the Czech National Championships, an International match and was a European Athletics Grand Prix meeting. Among the contingent from Ireland under the watchful eye of our own Michael Lane and getting a flavour of International competition was Rachel Glennon and Jennifer Fidgeon. Competing against top quality opposition and despite racing in very warm 17degC conditions, which was very testing for the girls, they both recorded personal best times in their races.
Rachel competed in the gruelling senior women 20k race and put in a very good performance to finish in 1 hour 59 minutes and 40 seconds, her first time under the two hour mark and a big personal best for her. Jennifer started well and kept in close contact with the leading group throughout the youth women (u/18) 5k, and found a little extra over the final kilometre to finish strongly in a fantastic seventh place in 25 minutes and 14 seconds, a new personal best for her but much more importantly is inside the qualifying standard of 25 minutes and 30 seconds set by AAI for the European Youth (u/18) T&F in Hungary in July. Jennifer continues to improve in race walking and this race marked a real breakthrough performance for her.
Kevin Baker in Manchester Marathon
Billed as the flattest and fastest marathon course in the UK, the Manchester Marathon last Sunday attracted a huge entry and among the nearly 20,400 finishers was Kevin Baker. Kevin wisely started conservatively in around one hundredth place and by maintaining a very consistent pace he slowly worked his way through the field up to the 30k point when he had to ease back slightly, which cost him a few places, but he rallied again in the closing stages and was delighted to finish so well up in twenty sixth place overall in 2 hours 37 minutes and 44 seconds, placing him sixth in his master category. Congratulations to Kevin on a great performance.
Volunteers needed for the Hyundai “Pat Finnerty Memorial” 5k
As everyone should know by now, this year there will be no road league in May but instead there will be a single race on the first Wednesday evening on a new fast slightly downhill straight course based out of Clonkill GAA. Entries are now open at www.myrunresults.com for €12 online or €15 on the night. We’ll also have a 1,500m race for boys and girls aged 15 and younger before the main 5k race.
This is an important fundraiser for the Club, so we’re calling on all members and parents of members that won’t be running to help in any way you can to make the event a success. Help is needed with registration, parking, water station, stewarding/traffic control on the course, refreshments (tea/coffee, food – sandwiches, cakes, buns etc) and lots of other jobs needed for a road race. Please contact any member of the Committee or Club Official to indicate your willingness to help on the night. Thank you in anticipation.
For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club’s website www.mullingarharriers.com. You can also follow what is happening at the Club on our Facebook page.
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