Slovakian Gold Level World Athletics Racewalking Tour Meeting 2024 (16th Mar)

Mixed emotions for Mullingar racewalkers in Slovakia

It was a day of mixed emotions on Saturday in Dudince, Slovakia for the racewalkers of Mullingar Harriers at the Slovakian Gold Level World Athletics Racewalking Tour Meeting. In the cool morning with traces of lingering showers, Andrew Glennon set off with focused determination in search of the World u/20 Team Championships qualification standard of 45 minutes 30 seconds for 10k. With a blistering early few laps  he was right on target at the half way mark. However, the effort took its toll and he lost some precious seconds per lap to finish in 45:50. This was an excellent personal best but an agonising 2 seconds per lap below the required time; a great hard working performance, but still hard luck.

Meanwhile, older brother Matthew Glennon took on the cream of Europe’s u/23 walkers over 10k. In a very much “to and fro” battle, Matthew changed race position several times but at the end he was well clear of fourth place and the rest of the field to earn himself his first ever continental podium position, bronze, in a time of 45 minutes 3 seconds. Well done Matthew. Also with an eye to the World Team Championship qualification standard for 10k was Aisling Lane. Just like Andrew going before her, Aisling was right on target at half way but struggled to hold the pace. However she still improved her personal best with a 52 minute 43 second performance for the distance.

Later in the afternoon it was the turn of the elite senior men to toe the line in a star studded 20k. Oisin Lane was there with the top athletes but feeling under the weather after a very recent virus. While he held excellent form to reach 10k in 41 minutes 44 seconds, his recent illness came against him and he was forced to withdraw soon afterwards. Hopefully he will be back to full health and fitness very soon [ML].