Week ending Saturday 22nd July
Schools International Bronze for Conor Sherwin
The Irish schools team competed at the SIAB Schools International T&F in Grangemouth Stadium, Scotland last Saturday against the best schools athletes from England, Scotland and Wales. The Irish team woke to dry pleasant conditions, in contrast to the driving rain when they left Dublin Airport the day before.
Taking his place on the Irish team was Conor Sherwin, who was competing in the 1,500m in a very competitive field. The pace was steady for the first 800m with the two English, two Scottish and two Irish boys making up the first six. There was then an injection of pace that stretched the field and Conor worked hard to stay in contention. He moved into fourth place and then with 300m to go, he passed the Scottish athlete to go into third place and then fought hard to the line to secure the bronze medal for himself and the Irish team. He also set a new personal best of 4 minutes 2.51 seconds, which he was also very happy with. The Irish team performed excellently, securing 26 medals and Conor thoroughly being part of this success.
Breakthrough 5,000m for Cormac Dalton
As the meeting had been awarded the status of a bronze meeting on the World Athletics Continental Tour, high quality fields were guaranteed at the Morton Games last Friday evening and there was significant attraction for International athletes in all events. Cormac Dalton was in action in a high class 5,000m race after a very successful final collegiate season in the USA. Conditions were challenging but Cormac delivered a real breakthrough performance. He finished in a superb second place in a time of 13 minutes 27.81 seconds and was the leading Irish athlete in the race. This was a personal best time by over 12 seconds and the second fastest time by an Irish athlete this season. Interestingly, it is also the second fastest time by a Mullingar Harriers athlete, bettered only by Cormac Finnerty’s Olympic qualification run in 1995 for the Atlanta Games in 1996. Cormac will now focus on the National 5,000m in two weeks.
In the pre-programme to the Morton Games, Grace Byrne competed in the u/20 women mile. Grace worked hard from the gun, keeping in the pack but always in contention throughout the early laps and looking strong. With 100m to go, Grace was in sixth place but with a terrific fast finish she moved through the field on the home straight to cross the line in fourth place in 5 minutes 6.36 seconds, a personal best for the distance.
National 10,000m Bronze for Claire Fagan
The AAI Games last Saturday incorporated the AAI National 10,000m. Among those toeing the line on the hunt for National honours was Claire Fagan. Maintaining a consistent strong pace over the long 25 lap distance, and finding a bit extra in the closing stages, Claire was rewarded for her efforts with an excellent third place finish in 34 minutes 49.03 seconds, a new personal best by nearly 20 seconds.
Mullingar’s young athletes compete in Tullamore
There are limited opportunities for our younger members to take part in competition but last Friday evening nearly 50 boys and girls from Mullingar Harriers aged 8 to 13 years competed at the second edition this summer of the Midland Inter-County Juvenile T&F Match between Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in Tullamore Harriers Stadium. This was a follow up to the earlier very successful similar event held in May. The weather during the day on Friday was dreadful, with heavy thundery showers and many must have been thinking the event would be cancelled, but the forecast had the rain to clear, and thankfully by evening it was cool but mostly dry, with only the occasional fall of drizzle, which certainly wasn’t enough to dampen the enthusiasm of our youngsters. For some of the Mullingar boys and girls, this was their first time to compete in Tullamore, while for others it was nice to return to Tullamore for a lovely relaxed event away from the red hot competition of the Leinster Juvenile T&F in June.
The young Mullingar athletes certainly enjoyed it and most took part in multiple events. Many of them visited the medal podium during the evening and lots of them more than once. The emphasis was very much on fun and participation and just having a go at different events, and less on competition. A big thanks to Athletics Offaly and to Tullamore Harriers AC for organising and hosting another brilliant event, and to the Mullingar parents and coaches that attended to ensure our youngsters could take part and enjoy themselves.
Strong individual and team performances in Edenderry
The 2023 Peugeot Race Series reached its penultimate event at the Edenderry 10 mile last Sunday morning. Mullingar Harriers was well represented by twelve athletes among the big field of nearly 350, as they continue to push for an overall podium finish in the mixed team race of 3 men and 3 women finishers from each club.
Despite the dark grey clouds over the start line, the sun burst through and shone for the entire race. Heat, along with a very strong headwind for the first four miles, made for some tough running conditions along the rolling course, which is run mainly on country roads, finishing over 250m on the track where there was lots of local support to cheer the runners home. As expected, the Mullingar contingent had excellent performances. Andrew Nevin finished an excellent third place in 56 minutes 17 seconds, followed by Alan Crowley in 60:15 taking third prize in his master category. Sinead Whitelaw led our women home, finishing an excellent fourth in 63 minutes 42 seconds, with Joan Flynn winning her master category in a time of 68:29. Kieran Nolan was our third man finisher for the team with a time of 64:12 and Jacintha Reilly completed the team of six with a time of 69:09. This was sufficient to earn fourth place on the day in the team event, and should ensure that Mullingar holds on to third place overall in the series heading into the final race in Cork in August.
Our other competitors in Edenderry were James Cribbin (67:12), Tony Doran (68:29), Tommy Byrne (68:28), Enda Seery (69:40), Aisling Corcoran (71:53) and John McNamara making a welcome return to competition after a number of months sidelined with injury, very pleased to cover the distance in 86:26.
Aidan O’Donoghue complete an Icosathlon
Most are familiar with the Pentathlon (5 events in one day) and the Heptathlon and Decathlon (7 events and 10 events respectively over two days), which are the usual multi-event competitions but we’re sure not many will have heard of the Icosathlon, which is an ultra multi-event competition with 20 events over two days. It’s also called a double decathlon. Aidan O’Donoghue completed his first Icosathlon at the International Association for Ultra Multi-events (IUAM) in Turnhout, Belgium last Sunday week, 9th July. This was the World Championships and Aidan was competing in his master age category.
The Championships opened on the Friday evening with an athletes’ parade, which was also a good opportunity for Aidan to get familiar with the surroundings. There was an early start on Saturday, arriving to the track at 6.30am when the temperature was already above 20degC. First event was the 100m followed quickly by the long jump and 200m hurdles. Temperatures were soaring during the shot putt and reached 34degC by midday, which coincided with the 5,000m. Conditions were cruel and water sponges were a necessity on every lap. There was a break of one hour and then the 800m, high jump and 400m followed. He performed well in the 800m and executed the maximum number of jumps in the high jump but paid for this effort in the 400m where he felt his legs were nearly dead. The day was beginning to cool slightly to 27degC as he was throwing the hammer in preparation for the final event of day one, and definite milestone, his first time to run 3,000m steeplechase. A baptism of fire awaited him, as on his first attempt at the water jump he fell in neck deep, but on reflection it was a blessing because it kept him cool for the remaining laps. He survived day one, but was exhausted.
A 5.30am rise on Sunday and his only focus was to survive the day and get to the start line of the final event, the 10,000m in the evening. He had a relatively easy start to the day with the 110m hurdles, then pole vault, 200m and discus. Midday approached and the temperature was matching Saturday’s as he toed the line for the 3,000m. Completely exhausted crossing the finish line with only a short break before the 400m hurdles, truly one of the toughest track events. Blisters on his toes needed attention and he also arranged a physio session for later in the day. The javelin gave some respite before the 1,500m and he was delighted that a technical fault with the starting gun and a thunder and lightning storm delayed the start by 10 minutes. A small but welcome rest! His legs were gone at this stage and he was dreading the 10,000m. Triple jump followed, then the visit to the physio. The physio worked a miracle and in the 10,000m he cruised through the first 5,000m but the second 5,000m was torture. The thunderstorm had cleared the air and it was much easier to breathe but fatigue was setting in rapidly. However, the support from his wife and the Irish team who were on hand to give water and encouragement and the applause from the crowd and fellow competitors was invaluable to see him to the finish line and the completion of the Icosathlon.
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