Week ending Saturday 12th May
Fast course records set in Hyundai “Pat Finnerty Memorial” 5k
The course for the Pat Finnerty Memorial 5k last Wednesday evening was a straight point to point starting near the Cloghan Inn on the Delvin Road, straight through the Crazy Corner, and finishing at Donnelly’s Cross on the Castlepollard Road. The course was mostly flat or downhill and it certainly lived up to its prediction of being fast as the winner of both the men’s and women’s race recorded very fast times and earned bonus prizes in addition to their prizes for first place and the award of the Pat Finnerty Memorial Trophy to each of them.
While the runners in the 5k warmed up and made their way to the start either by jogging there or taking the courtesy shuttle bus, there was a 1,500m race for boys and girls u/16 on a very quiet side road beside Clonkill Hurling Club, which was the excellent location for Race HQ. A simple out and back course meant no one could go astray and first to finish was Philip McCartan (4:30), followed by Callum Costello (14:37) and Conor Liston (4:55). Fifth overall and first girl to finish was Grace Byrne (5:09), with Orla Manning (5:24) second just ahead of Eva Farrell (5:25) a very close third. Once all 41 youngsters had finished and the trophies for the first three boys and girls were awarded and everyone received their finisher medals, they returned to the Clonkill Hurling Club for some well-earned refreshments.
Kenyan-born Peter Somba (Dunboyne AC) set off hard from the start of the 5k with clear intent and by the first kilometre mark had established a good lead. Coming through the Crazy Corner just past the half way mark he was well ahead and racing against the clock from there to the finish, which he reached in an excellent 14 minutes 56 seconds, inside the 15 minute mark that earned him a bonus prize and setting a course record that will be difficult to better. This was a marvelous exhibition of top class front running at its best. Shane Healy (MSB AC) took second place with 15:49 and Mick Fogarty (Ferbane AC) third in 16:07 in the men’s race.
Emma Mitchell (Queen’s University Belfast AC) is not long back from the Commonwealth Games in Queensland, Australia where she smashed her own Northern Ireland record on her International Championship debut in the 10,000 metres final, finishing fifteenth in 32:49.91 seconds, so clearly a woman in top form. Emma finished fourth overall against some very well regarded male Club runners, coming home in 16 minutes 23 seconds, inside the 16:30 mark that also earned her a bonus prize and setting a course record in the women’s race that should stand for a very long time. Behind Emma in the women’s race was the Mullingar Harriers duo Aine O’Reilly (18:12) and Sinead Whitelaw (18:35).
Right through the field of runners there was competition in the junior races and in the various master categories, with some very close finishes in some cases. All the results are available on www.myrunresults.com. After the race, there were plenty of refreshments for everyone in the Clonkill Hurling Club and the prizes were presented to the various category winners including the Pat Finnerty Memorial Trophies for first man and first woman presented to Peter Somba and Emma Mitchell.
This concluded a successful first staging of a new 5k race on a new fast course with good numbers registering for the event. The success of the race is due to the very many volunteers who gave up their free time. These are the people who took registrations, helped Clonkill officials with car parking, stewarded the course, organized prizes, and did all the other tasks required.
Finally, many thanks to the Committee of Clonkill Hurling Club, in particular Declan Leonard, for the generous use of their excellent facilities. Many present were seeing the clubhouse and sports hall for the first time, which they were told could be hired for all manner of events. Also thanks to My Run Results for looking after results in a professional manner, the Westmeath Civil Defence for providing first aid and ambulance cover, to Hyundai Mullingar for their generous sponsorship of the event, but especially to everyone who took part. The next big event for the Club will be the Mullingar 10 Mile road race in July.
Encouraging performances at opening IMC Meeting
The Irish Milers Club held their first meeting of the summer at a warm and sunny Greystones last Saturday. As always, it was organised very efficiently and competition was very strong for a season opening event.
Jamie Battle produced an excellent performance in the 5,000m race to finish in a personal best time of 14 minutes 55.58 seconds. This was a personal best by a huge 32 seconds and confirms Jamie’s status as one of the leading u/20 endurance athletes in Ireland. Padraig Moran also had a fine race in his 5,000m to record a personal best of 15 minutes 04.63 seconds. He looks set to dip under the 15 minute barrier at the next opportunity.
Colin Smith was in action in the A 800m and finished fourth in a time of 1 minute 53.96 seconds, which is marginally outside his personal best. Oisin Quinn has been targeting the 2 minute barrier for some time and availed of a well paced race to finish strongly and record a personal best of 1 minute 59.63 seconds.
Cormac Dalton used the 1,500m race as an opportunity to prepare for 3,000m and 5,000m races in the months ahead and finished strongly in a time of 4 minutes 06.73 seconds, just outside his personal best for the distance.
Drogheda 10k
Temperatures were very high last Sunday afternoon when nearly 1,200 runners, walkers and joggers took to the streets for the Drogheda 10k, among them Kieran Nolan and Hans de Raeymaeker. Kieran finished well up in nineteenth place overall, sixth in his master age category with 38 minutes 23 seconds and Hans in fortieth place, also well up in his master category, with 40 minutes 13 seconds, so plenty to be happy with when they crossed the line and glad to be able to get out of the sun and tuck into the post-race refreshments laid on by race host Drogheda & District AC.
North & South Leinster Schools
A number of the Club’s underage athletes were in action last week for their Schools and Colleges at the regional preliminary rounds, some at day two of the South Leinster Schools T&F in Waterford RSC on Thursday but most at the North Leinster Schools in Santry on Wednesday and Friday. As expected, a great many of them – far too many to mention by name – secured places at the Leinster Schools T&F Finals in two weeks time in Santry.
Leinster underage T&F entries are now due
Despite having 280 underage athletes currently registered with the Club, either the word isn’t getting out or very few of them want to compete in the Leinster T&F this summer. Either way, we have very few entries returned and time is running out to get them back by Thursday 17th May. The underage Leinster T&F Championships in June take place on several days, depending on age group, but all will be held in Tullamore.
The younger u/9, 10 and 11 years of age compete in pairs, so they need to think about who they would like to be partnered with; if they are unsure, please ask the coaches of these age groups for guidance. Their event is the Leinster Pairs T&F (u/9, 10 and 11) on 9th June. The Leinster u/12 and 13 T&F will be spread over three days 9th, 16th and 17th June. The older u/14 to u/19 Leinster T&F will be on 16th and 17th June.
An application form is available in the Clubhouse, so please keep an eye out for it at home and make sure to return it by the due date on the form to avoid disappointment. Needless to say, if you don’t return an entry form, you won’t be entered.
Fundraising Table Quiz
We’re holding a fundraising table quiz in Wallace’s Pub at Dalystown this coming Friday evening (11th May) at 9pm and we’re asking everyone to show their support. A table of four adults is €40, and for juniors is €20. Donation of prizes would also be greatly appreciated.
Volunteers needed for Darkness into Light Mullingar
This Saturday morning, Mullingar will be one of a number of venues for a “Darkness into Light” 5k walk or run in aid of Pieta House the suicide and self harm crisis centre, starting at Gaelscoil an Mhuilinn on the Ashe Road at 4.15am. The Club has been asked to provide stewards around the course, so we’re looking for volunteers and if you can spare an hour or two, meet at the Gaelscoil at 3.30am.
For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club’s website www.mullingarharriers.com. You can also follow what is happening at the Club on our Facebook page.
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