AAI National Race Walk Championships 2021 (19th Dec)

Superb race walk performances by Mullingar athletes

St. Anne’s Park, Raheny hosted the World Athletic Race Walking tour on Sunday 19th December. The main event was the 35k race walk and incorporated the AAI National Race Walk Championships. There were also 20k and 10k races on the programme for athletes looking to try a longer distance ahead of the 2022 season or seeking an early qualification for forthcoming championships, including a number from Mullingar Harriers.

For Mullingar Harriers the standout performance was the brilliant personal best by Matthew Glennon of 43:58 in the Open 10k held in conjunction with these Championships. This gave Matthew a clear victory by over three quarters of a minute from his nearest rival from the UK. Matthew’s target was to qualify for the World Cup of Racewalking and this he did comfortably by over a minute and a half. He can now look forward to competing in this event in Muscat, Oman in early March next year. Andrew Glennon, his younger brother, also had a big personal best when finishing fifth in 48:53 and this time puts him within striking distance of the 2022 European Youths (u/18) qualifying standard.

Also having her first attempt at the 10k distance was Aisling Lane who walked 52:53, which is an excellent debut for a 15 year old at this challenging distance. In fact each of Aisling’s 5km splits were faster than all of the athletes who walked just a 5km itself, and augurs very well for her main competitions in a few months. Also making a big jump in competitive distance was Oisín Lane who attempted his first ever 20k. Oisín achieved his goal with an 89:51 performance and the third fastest 20k time ever by an Irish Junior Racewalker. He too can look forward to the 2022 competitive year.

As well as our Junior and Youth walkers displaying excellent form, the evergreen Sean McMullin proved once again that with focus and determination, age is not a barrier to performance or achievement as he finished third Master overall in the Masters 10k event in 64:47, and a clear winner in his own age category to achieve another podium performance for Mullingar Harriers. He too can look forward with confidence to the 2022 top international Masters competitions.