AAI National Masters T&F 2020 (6th Sept)

It was cool but dry and bright in an eerily quiet Santry for the AAI National Masters T&F on Sunday 6th September. Colm Walsh went out strongly from the start of the 5,000m walk, tracking the early leader and keeping within striking distance but careful not to fall foul of the ever vigilant judges and risk picking up penalties. Meanwhile, Sean McMullin worked away steadily further back, dominating his own category as expected. Both Mullingar men continued to drive on as the laps counted down. With two laps to go the long time race leader was disqualified putting Colm in the lead and he held it all the way to the end, arms aloft as he crossed the line in first place. Finishing strongly behind him in third place overall was Sean, comfortably winning his category and even beating all but one man fifteen years his junior, such is Sean’s prowess as a race walker.

Pauric Brady and Gerard Gavin contested the very competitive 1,500m where both men put in great efforts in their races but the relatively short distance wasn’t to their liking on this occasion and they had to settle for places out of the medals but top marks for their competitive spirit against the best masters in Ireland.

Over at the 35 pounds weight for distance event, Tom Walsh was in second place by just one centimetre with 7.05m after two attempts but on his third of four attempts, he launched the weight out to 7.21m to take the lead, which proved the best of the day and he was delighted to win the National title and add to Mullingar’s medal haul.

The day finished with the 5,000m where there were so many entries that they were split into five separate races with Patrick Muldoon running in the first race where he stuck gamely to his task but despite his best efforts he finished out of the medals.