AAI National 10k 2019 (14th April)
On a dry but cool and windy day in the Phoenix Park, Mullingar Harriers were represented by 30 athletes at the AAI National 10k Championships on Sunday 14th April, which was run in conjunction with the Great Ireland Run. Over 3,000 competitors crossed the finish line but to the fore were the Mullingar Harriers Senior Ladies who topped the podium in a very close race.
Grouping together during the early stages of the race, Elizabeth Carr, Sinead Whitelaw, Aine O’Reilly, Michelle Bohan and Jenny Algar started out with great determination and one target in mind, to win the National team title. At the halfway mark there were 4 clubs in contention, but by the time the Mullingar ladies crossed the finish line they had done enough to secure gold. Elizabeth Carr and Sinead Whitelaw finished 10th and 11th in the ladies race and Aine O’Reilly finishing just a few seconds later, picking up an individual silver medal in her Masters category.
Eddie Newman led the large Mullingar contingent home and was third in his category, earning an individual National medal. Eileen Kenny also had a great race and won her masters category. Geraldine Walsh who, despite being knocked to the ground at the start of the race and picking up an injury, went on to win her category and Des Walsh finished third in his age group.
Mullingar Harriers had four teams entered in the Master’s events. Maura Dervin, Eileen Kenny, Vera McCool and Emer O’Hanlon all finished towards the top of their categories and it wasn’t unexpected when it was announced that they finished third team, taking home bronze medals. Joanna Tyrrell, Criona Reid, Linda Cunningham and Siobhan Farry represented the F35 team and although they put in a number of personal best performances they were unlucky to finish out of the medals.
Joining Eddie Newman on the M50 team were Paddy Daly, David Fagan, Paul Ginnell and Paul McCool who combined successfully to finish third team. Patrick Muldoon, Ken Whitelaw, Pauric Brady, Brian Collentine, Gerard Brady, Robin Jackson, Mervyn Kennedy and Joe Fagan represented the M35 team with great performances in a very large and competitive Master’s field but were unlucky not to finish with a team prize.
This is the first time the Mullingar ladies have won a National Senior team title and the Harriers first National Senior title in 20 years. It completes the set of team titles giving Mullingar a National victory at every available age category from under 11 to senior in both male and female events.
