Week ending Saturday 10th June
Walks and steeplechase provide All-Ireland Schools T&F medals
One of the toughest underage T&F Championships in Ireland, the All-Ireland Schools T&F, took place in glorious sunshine last Friday and Saturday in Tullamore. The programme has become so big in recent years that to avoid a very long day for athletes and officials on the Saturday, this year, some events were held on the Friday evening, including the race walks and steeplechase, which featured a number of Mullingar Harriers athletes competing for their schools and colleges.
First into action was Daniel Glennon (St. Finian’s College) in the junior boys 1,500m walk. The race got off to a very quick start but Daniel kept his head and settled into his race and keeping in touch with the early leaders. Daniel was in third place at the bell and had enough in reserve to see off a challenge for the bronze medal and he eased away smoothly over the final lap and opened a gap to secure the bronze medal. John Glennon (St. Finian’s College) contested the intermediate boys 2,000m walk where he put in a great effort but couldn’t quite match the early pace, though he rallied well in the closing laps to finish strongly in sixth place. Aisling Lane (Mercy Ballymahon) went straight to the front in the senior girls 3,000m walk and delivered a master class in race walking, dominating from gun to tape to win comfortably. The senior boys 3,000m walk went out at a fierce pace perhaps aimed at putting Andrew Glennon (St. Finian’s College) under pressure. However, Andrew sat in behind the leader and never let up working hard and patiently waited to make his move at the bell, a move that proved decisive, and once he took the lead he pulled well clear over the final lap to win.
Though still a newcomer to the event, Grace Byrne (Loreto Mullingar) bravely went with the early pace in the intermediate girls 1,500m steeplechase, tracking the leader and slowly opening a gap on the chasing group. We know Grace has plenty of pace and strength, and she was able to use her height to full advantage as she negotiated the high wooden barriers including the water jump in a fast and technically challenging race. She had to let the leader get away but continuing to work hard she drove on and was rewarded with a fine silver medal for her efforts.
Saturday was very sunny and warm, not ideal conditions for middle-distance running. The intermediate girls 1,500m started at a relatively slow pace, but a slow start means a very fast finish, and though Grace Byrne (Loreto Mullingar) battled hard, her efforts in the steeplechase the night before took some of her edge off and though she finished strong she finished out of the medal places in seventh place. In contrast, the intermediate boys 1,500m went out very fast and didn’t slow up. Conor Sherwin (Colaiste Mhuire) had to work hard to keep in contention but with a lap to go it was clear he was not going to get among the medals but he kept working hard and has to be pleased with his efforts and an eighth place finish in a top class race. The final race with a Mullingar interest was the senior boys 1,500m where Diarmuid Fagan (Colaiste Mhuire) was in action. The pace was fast from the gun and Diarmuid settled in well with the lead group but as the race neared the closing stages Diarmuid began to fall back off the leading group but still came through to a fine eighth place finish.
Leinster Juvenile T&F medals hard won
Last Sunday, in sun-soaked Tullamore, day one of the Leinster Juvenile T&F took place. Competition was for boys and girls u/9, 10, 11, 12 and 13. The younger u/9, 10 and 11 athletes competed as pairs with their individual performances added to give a team score for the pair, while the older u/12 and 13 athletes competed as individuals. In all, Mullingar had 31 young athletes entered, most of them competing in more than one event, so we saw Mullingar athletes in action in 49 events spread across the arena, so it was quite a job keeping track of how they were getting on!
Chloe Bell got things off to a great start when she won her heat of the u/12 girls 600m to qualify for the final. Unfortunately, though they ran well in their heats, Liadan Gavin and Amelie Kelly didn’t advance with Chloe to the final, though Amelie came very close with a fourth place finish in her heat, missing a place in the final by just one place. The final was held a few hours later where Chloe ran really well but finished out of the medal places. Alex Sochanski competed in the u/12 boys 600m but was unlucky not to qualify for the final.
Our hopes were raised again in the u/13 girls 600m heats where Lily Walsh won her heat to qualify for final and though she ran much quicker in the final was unlucky to finish just out of the medal places. On to the u/13 boys 600m heats where Antonio Bertolo was second in his heat and Cillian Galvin won his heat and both qualified for the final. Unfortunately, Aonghus O’Reilly and Joel Kelly didn’t advance from their heats to join Antonio and Cillian. As expected, the final was run at a furious pace from the gun with Cillian always in contention and running a good deal quicker than in his heat he finished an excellent second place in a very close finish between first and second.
Katie Bohan and Penny Bohan competed in the u/11 girls 600m, both finishing well up in their heats, and when their finish times were combined to give the “pair” team score, they were unlucky to finish just out of the medal places. We had four boys in the u/11 boys 600m and with Daniel Cummins placing second in his heat, Conor Gavin third in his, and strong performances by Cillian Gavin and Fintan Harte, it was celebration for Conor and Daniel as their combined times saw them win gold for the pair.
Mullingar had four in the u/9 girls 300m where Heather Kelly and Maisie Walsh finished third in their races and Alicia Aghey and Rachel Robinson gave strong performances. Heather and Maisie had their times combined and were very unlucky to finish out of the medal places. No luck either for Helen McGrath and Rose Harte in the u/10 girls 500m and they finished out of the medals. Seeing Noah Morgan and Mel Bohan finishing well up in the u/10 boys 500m and a strong run by Senan Seery too gave us great hope for medals, but Noah and Mel combined and placed fourth “pair”, missing the bronze medals by only a few seconds.
Meanwhile, there was also plenty of action in the field events. Antonio Bertolo (boys u/13 shot putt) and Clodagh Doran (girls u/13 shot putt) enjoyed their events and competed well but finished out of the medal places. Unfortunately, Kate Horohoe (girls u/10 long jump) and Gearoid Doyle (boys u/10 long jump) had no pair with them, but they still loved the competition anyway. We had a three in the girls u/9 long jump, Heather Kelly who finished fifth, Maisie Walsh and Rachel Robinson, all competing really well and the combined jumps of Heather and Maisie saw them finish in fifth place, just out of the medals. In the boys u/11 long jump, Conor Gavin, Aaron Robinson and Cillian Gavin put in great efforts but there were no medals won. Finally, Penny Bohan and Katie Bohan competed in the girls u/11 turbo javelin where they thoroughly enjoyed the competition but didn’t finish in the medal places.
It was then back to the track for the sprints. In the u/9 girls 60m, despite great spriniting by Saoirse McDermott finishing fifth in her race and Alicia Aghey second in hers, their combined times weren’t enough to see them win medals in the pairs event. Liadan Gavin ran well in her heat of the u/12 girls 60m heats but didn’t advance to the semi-finals to join Amelie Kelly who was second in her heat and qualified for the semi-final but though she ran very well didn’t advance to the final but knows making the semi-final was excellent for her. In the u/13 girls 80m heats, Aoibhe Martyn was second in her heat to qualify for the semi-final but though Clodagh Doran ran well in her heat, she didn’t advance to the semi-final to join Aoibhe. The semi-finals were extremely competitive, with only the top two guaranteed a place in the final, so Aoibhe’s fourth place finish was very close but reaching a Leinster semi-final is an excellent performance. Kate Horohoe and Helen McGrath combined in the u/10 girls 60m, Mel Bohan and Noah Morgan in the u/10 boys 60m, and Aaron Robinson and Daniel Cummins in the u/11 boys 60m, but finished out of the medals. Aoife Dunne competed well in the u/11 girls 60m but with no other girls from Mullingar to pair with she couldn’t score in the pairs competition but still but enjoyed competing.
Vinny Connolly honoured by Athletics Leinster
Congratulations to Vinny Connolly on receiving the Athletics Leinster Senior Athlete Star Award for Westmeath for 2022. Vinny earned the award based on his performances in Leinster Championships in 2022, when he won the 5,000m at the Leinster Senior T&F in Carlow in May and won the novice men race at the Leinster novice cross country in Bellurgan Park, Dundalk in October.
The award was presented at the recent Leinster Junior, Senior & Masters T&F in Carlow, along with the awards for athletes from the other Countries in Leinster. Unfortunately, Vinny was unable to attend to receive his award in person as he was competing in the 5,000m at the IFAM meeting in Oordegem in Belgium that day, but Club Chairperson Margaret Daly accepted the award on his behalf from Catriona Duffy, Athletics Leinster Chairperson.
Coralstown 5k
The annual Coralstown 5k always attracts a large turnout from Mullingar Harriers members. Last Wednesday evening, in splendid sunshine, more than 50 of our athletes took part in a well organised and marshalled race, which brought the runners along country roads from the village, along the tow path of the Royal Canal, and returning via the slip road off a link road to the M6 motorway. Mullingar Harriers filled the winner’s position in both the men and women categories. James Keegan was first across the line in 16:09, with Susan Glennon leading home the women in 18:54.
Everyone was treated to a tremendous array of food and refreshments by the hard-working committee in the school after the race. In total 216 completed the event, which is an important annual fundraiser for Coralstown NS.
Ballyskenach 5k
The splendid grounds of the Cistercian Abbey of Mount St Joseph’s were part of the backdrop to the route for the Ballyskenach 5k last Friday evening. This was the fifth race of the 2023 Offaly race series. With the Mullingar Harriers women team nicely placed in the first three teams overall in the series, seven of our women athletes took in this latest race in the series. 369 finishers emerged in the Abbey grounds at the conclusion of the race. The Harriers women team of Susan Glennon (19:00), Aisling Corcoran (20:40) third in her master category, and Gemma Kelly (22:16) placed first of the non-Offaly teams on the night. Backing them up with excellent running were Linda Cunningham (22:22), Brigid McCabe (23:46) first in her master category, Joanna Tyrrell (23:45) and Pauline Troy (25:07) third in her category.
Bohermeen 5k
The 37th running of the annual Bohermeen 5k took place last Friday evening in warm sunny conditions. The event is held on a very flat circular route around the country roads adjoining the club grounds. The finish brings athletes off the roads and into the track for the final 300m. Three athletes from Mullingar Harriers joined 360 others in the warm sunshine and enjoyed the occasion. Enda Seery was first club man home in 18:03, with Paul Ginnell happy with another race following a long layoff from injury, coming home in 21:16. Liam McGlynn made up the Mullingar trio on the night finishing in 22:00. After the race the three men stayed for the barbeque, which is a highlight every year at this event.
Cork City Marathon
Starting and finishing on St. Patrick’s Street, the annual Cork City Marathon last Sunday morning was a great success. Held in glorious sunshine, the warm conditions proved tricky for the athletes as the early morning cool breeze gave way to warmer conditions as the race unfolded, with temperatures topping 25degC, but plenty of water stations provided a welcome respite. Undeterred were the Mullingar Harriers competitors Mary Stuart, Dara O’Shea and John Keane. Dara O’Shea was delighted to break 3 hours 30 minutes for the first time, finishing in a new personal best of 3 hours 25 minutes 47 seconds. Also delighted with his race was John Keane finishing in 3 hours 58 minutes 57 seconds, breaking the four hour mark in his first marathon. Congratulations to Mary Stuart on successfully completing another marathon. There was also a half marathon, where John McNamara was happy to finish in 1 hour 49 minutes 50 seconds.
Peugeot Race Series update
This series consists of eight races over different distances across the country. This year’s series commenced in Portlaoise on St. Patrick’s Day and with four races completed with the Aisling Murphy 4 mile in Tullamore recently, Mullingar Harriers is well positioned in the team standings. Based on the top 3 women and top 3 men finishers in each race, at this stage the top three teams are Dundrum South Dublin (40 points), Clane AC (28 points) and Mullingar Harriers close behind (23 points).
The next three races are relatively local, starting with the Dunshauglin 10k in mid-June, then the Roscommon 10 mile in early July followed in mid-July with the Edenderry 10 mile. This is a a great opportunity for our athletes to chase the team prizes and perhaps improve on their current third place.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
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