Week ending Saturday 18th May
Brigid McCabe part of Masters World Record relay team
An initiative of the Irish Masters Athletic Association, Brigid McCabe was selected to be part of a six strong squad of master women to target the World record for the o/65 women 4 x 800m relay, held by the USA since July 2022. Trials were held and Brigid’s time was fast enough to be selected to be part of the racing four with Mary Browne (Mayo AC), Noreen Bonner (Finn Valley AC) and Pauline Moran (Mayo AC). Thanks to Dublin Athletics, a 4 x 800m relay race was added to the programme at the Dublin Graded Meeting in Santry last Sunday afternoon where conditions were perfect for the World record attempt. Running the third leg, thanks to a great team effort, when Brigid handed the baton over to the final runner, the Irish women were well ahead of schedule and finished in 12 minutes 59.94 seconds, a new World Record, taking a whopping 1 minute 49 seconds off the previous record. It’s not often we have a World record holder in our midst and congratulations to Brigid and the Irish team on setting a new master’s World record [GD].
Perfect start to the Pat Finnerty 5k League
We couldn’t have asked for a better evening last Wednesday for round one of the Pat Finnerty Memorial 5k League in Belvedere with sunny, warm and calm conditions enjoyed by the runners, officials and spectators alike. Strong pre-race online entries were boosted significantly with new registrations on the night, and no doubt many were attracted by the lovely evening, ideal for a 5k through the beautiful woodland trails in Belvedere. Entries were well up on the corresponding opening round last year and the runners were taken on some familiar paths but also some new interesting paths through the woods showing Belvedere off at its very best.
The event was well supported by our own members and it was great to welcome many newcomers, and of course to welcome back many familiar faces. We know from experience that numbers will grow in the coming two weeks. Thanks to the chip timing system the results were posted shortly after the race on the My Run Results website. We know not everyone can enter for the full series, but if you can only run one or two nights, online entries are open again and of course we’ll also accept individual entries on any night. All proceeds will go to Tanzanian Heavenly Homes, a Mullingar-based non-profit organisation founded by John McCauley, so we’re asking everyone to sign up and support this very worthy cause. We’ll also take donations on the night for anyone that wants to give more.
Just after 8pm, the race got underway and it wasn’t long before a small breakaway group forged ahead, led by James Keegan (Mullingar Harriers) with plenty of Mullingar club mates for company. Between 3k and 4k, James began to pull clear of John Whitelaw (Mullingar Harriers) who continued to chase him but over the final 800m the gap ultimately proved impossible to close. James finished in 16 minutes 18 seconds, ahead of John Whitelaw (16:37) and Dan Morris (16:53). First woman to finish was Fiona Gettings (Longford AC) in 17 minutes 53 seconds, and in a terrific battle behind, Sinead Whitelaw (Mullingar Harriers) held a slender lead in the closing stages to finish in 18:32, just ahead of Emily Grennan (Tullamore Harriers AC) in 18:35. First three men and women aside, there was great competition right through the field in the various master categories too. Full results of the race are available on www.myrunresults.com. With the best two of three races to count, there’s still time to enter the league, either online or on the night in the Courtyard Café.
Round two this week should see another good entry and we’re appealing for participants to come early, especially those who will be registering for the first time and those looking to run just the single race. Many thanks to everyone who gave up their free time and helped out on the first night taking entries, organizing car parking, helping as stewards on the course etc, and we appeal to everyone who can spare a couple of hours to help out again this week. Thanks also to the staff of Belvedere House and of course to Westmeath Civil Defence for their invaluable input providing first aid and ambulance cover.
Finally, it’s really important to remember to bring your number with the timing chip for round two or your place and time will not be recorded [GD].
Kilkenny Racewalking Grand Prix
Before the main T&F season gets underway, most of the Mullingar Harriers racewalkers made the long trip down to the Sunny South East last Sunday week (5th May) for a day of open races hosted by St. Joesph’s AC, the Kilkenny Racewalking Grand Prix in Pink Rock, in south Kilkenny, just across the river from New Ross.
First on the road was Matthew Glennon attempting a pacing exercise over 20k. The effort of winning the Leinster Novice Road Championships the day before took it’s inevitable toll on his technique and so led to him being promptly disqualified. The honour of being first Harrier home went to the ever-young Colm Walsh with a quite easy victory in the Masters 5k. Next home, was Andrew Glennon who completed the longer 10k. He finished second senior overall and easily the first u/20 man across the line. Aisling Lane too was at her ease in comfortably winning the open 10k by a substantial margin.
While the u/20, Senior and Master athletes were competing over the longer distance, a series of Juvenile races took place. Doing his first ever 2k race was the very young Gareth Glennon. Not daunted by the distance, he paced himself well and so destroyed the rest of the field for a special debut victory. Finally, it was Daniel Glennon’s turn. With an eye to the future, rather than race his own u/16 distance of 3k, Daniel decided to do the 5k instead, which is usually for older walkers. While many would be scared of such a challenge, not Daniel. He walked with calm control to finish unstressed and only just outside of the medals. All in all a very pleasant experience in scenic surroundings with nice sunshine – a perfect competitive way to enjoy a bank holiday weekend [ML].
Ferbane 5k
Ferbane AC hosted the fourth round of the Offaly 5k series last Sunday morning. The annual Hugo Smith Memorial 5k attracted 351 runners on an overcast but warm morning with little breeze to cool the runners. The course was a challenging one of constant rolling hills for the first 4k before a final flat last kilometre through the Business Park. Excellently marshalled with road closures along the country roads on the eastern side of the town, Mullingar Harriers had 3 participants.
Kevin Moore was always in contention with a lead group of 6, the other 5 being Tullamore Harriers athletes. At the 4k mark, a trio of the Tullamore group opened a gap and held that over a frantic last 800m to the finish line. Kevin led the chasing group and was very pleased to hold his fourth place position to cross the line in 16 minutes 14 seconds. Eddie Newman continued his good form winning his category with a time of 18:01, with Michael O’Sullivan coming home in 23:45 [MO’S].
Club’s youngest athletes to compete in Tullamore
The Midland Inter-County Juvenile T&F Match between Laois, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath will take place in the Tullamore Harriers Stadium this Friday evening at 6pm. Despite the title, this really is a low key very friendly competition for girls and boys from u/9 (born 2016) to u/14 (born 2011) and a chance for everyone to try several events, choosing any three events from sprint, middle distance, long jump, turbo javelin and shot. If you ran in the recent Mullingar Harriers Juvenile Spring T&F Meet, you’re in for a treat in Tullamore, as it will be just as much fun.
You cannot enter on the night, you must pre-register and if you haven’t already done so, do it immediately by using the relevant WhatsApp group. This is an ideal competition for our younger athletes and newcomers and we expect to see all our younger Club members take part. It’s an Inter-County competition, so wear your Club vest, so everyone knows you’re from Westmeath. Finally, just like our own new all-weather track, 5mm spikes or runners only on the track in Tullamore.
Approaching closing dates for Leinster T&F
Entries for the Leinster u/20, Senior and Masters T&F to take place in SETU Carlow in late May close this coming Sunday. Entries for the Leinster u/9, 10 and 11 (Children’s Games) and u/12 and u/13 T&F to take place in Tullamore in early June close on Friday week (24th May). There are no late entries, so don’t miss the deadline and as always, if anyone has any difficulty submitting their entries, please don’t hesitate to contact Greg.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
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