A: Grange, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland | E: info@mullingarharriers.com

National Combined Events & AAI Games 2024 (13th/14th July)

 

The National Combined Events & AAI Games took place together in Santry on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th July. Conditions were ideal on Saturday when Aidan O’Donoghue competed in the Masters Pentathlon (long jump, discus, 200m, javelin and 1,500m), where competition for medals was very keen. Over the course of a long day, starting with the long jump early in the morning and finishing with the 1,500m in the late afternoon, Aidan came close to his personal bests in the long jump and discus, but personal bests in the 200m (28.76 seconds), the javelin (35.84m) and the 1,500m (6 minutes 16.83 seconds) gave him the edge to finish third overall to win National bronze, just 28 points ahead of the athlete in fourth place in a very tight finish.

Also on Saturday, Claire Fagan competed in the 10,000m, which counted as the National 10,000m Championship. Starting conservatively, Claire tracked the leaders and stayed in fourth place up to 5k but then increased the pace to slowly reel the field in and move nearer the leader, going on to finish an excellent second place in 34:37.20 and win the National silver medal.

Aimee Wallace took to the start line on Sunday morning for the 1,500m looking to blow off the cobwebs in her first race since sitting the Leaving Certificate exams in June. It was a very tactical affair but Aimee sat in with the leading group and had plenty in reserve when the pace suddenly increased at the bell for the final lap. There was a tangle of bodies with 200m to go and Aimee was fortunate to keep her footing and not fall. Despite losing a bit of momentum she recovered well and finished strongly in fourth place in 4:38.85 and can face her next outing with confidence.

Finally, Patrick Leydon competed in one of four 400m races, which he won with ease in 49.65 seconds to continue his current run of good form [GD/AO’D].