Week ending Saturday 22nd October
Mullingar relay teams on the National stage
In a change from the norm, Athletics Ireland brought the Juvenile Inter-Club National Cross Country Relay Championships forward to kick off the cross country season, and the event took place last Sunday before the Autumn Open International Cross Country Festival at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Co. Dublin. Held on the same course that hosted the European Cross Country last December, over 140 relay teams from all across the Country battled it out for National honours and the event gave athletes the perfect opportunity to whet their appetites for the upcoming cross country season.
Mullingar Harriers AC had teams in each of the six races, starting with the u/11 girls who had to complete four legs of 500m each. Led out by Clodagh Keane with a strong start she put the girls in contention from the early stages of the race. Strong running from Penny Bohan and Amelie Kelly kept the team with the leaders throughout. Running the fourth leg, Chloe Bell took off sensing glory around the final corner and ran the girls on to the podium, crossing the line in third place and collecting National team medals in the process.
The u/11 Mullingar boys set out with great determination in an attempt to continue the Club’s early success. Although Conor Gavin, Harry Flanagan, Myles Thornton Sleator and Gareth Glennon gave it their best around the circuit where they stayed in the top ten throughout, they were unfortunate to see the top three pull ahead as the race progressed. Although they didn’t match the girls accomplishments, they’ve shown their potential for what’s to come at the Leinster Cross Country Championships over the next few weeks.
The u/13 girls had to contend with the biggest race of the day, with nearly 40 teams toeing the start line. The large group took off with great speed and by the time Aobh Smith met Lucy Kilmurray at the first hand-over some of the stronger teams had already made a commanding lead. The Mullingar girls never gave up though and all four girls, with Lisa O’Brien and Lily Walsh completing the line-up, chased the race all the way to the finish showing great fighting spirit, something that will encourage the girls considering half the team were giving away a year on their competitors.
Nearly all of Mullingar u/13 boys were giving a year away in this age group but that didn’t deter them from putting it up to their rivals. Just like the u/11 boys earlier, the team of Antonio Bertolo, Cormac McGrath, Louis Kiernan and Cillian Galvin kept in touch with the leaders over the four legs but were similarly unfortunate to gradually drop off the fast pace before reaching the finish line. The boys did themselves and the Club proud and can look forward to showing their strengths again in the upcoming Leinster events.
For the u/15 girls, the race distance doubled and each athlete had 1,000m to cover. Blathnaid Peters took on the responsibility of leading the Mullingar girls in to the race and had an impressive run on the first leg. The team was depleted before race day but Chloe Duggan, racing well out of age, ensured Mullingar could field a team. She kept the girls in the race but even though Emma Lagan and Sadhbh Carey made their way through the field as the race progressed the girls were unfortunate to finish with nothing to show for their hard efforts.
The final race of the day, the u/15 boys, proved to be the most exciting race with the lead changing hand on almost every leg. Luke Greene led out the Mullingar team and although keeping in touch with the main pack, a couple of runners made a break just before the changeover. Conor Walsh took the baton and set out to close any gaps as quickly as possible. Making ground on the leaders there was a sense that more medals could be going home to Mullingar before the day was done. On the third leg a huge run by Niall Brady brought the team in to third place and when Matthew Molloy took the baton for the final leg everything was to play for. Just 300m in to the last 1,000m Matthew had caught the leaders but so too had the fourth place team. A battle to the line ensued and although two runners managed to pull slightly away Matthew dropped the fourth runner bringing Mullingar home to win National bronze medals.
Many thanks to the parents and coaches who helped organize and prepare the teams for their races. Memorable days like this can only happen with the support and volunteering of the parents of juvenile members.
Strong showing by Mullingar at Autumn Open
Last Sunday afternoon, the first big cross country fixture of the season, the Autumn Open International Cross Country Festival was held at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Co. Dublin. This event is used to gauge early season form, with a focus for some of the Mullingar men being a place on the Irish teams to compete at the European Cross Country in Turin, Italy in December. The races also incorporated the trials for the Irish Masters team to compete in the British & Irish Masters International Cross Country in Santry in November and Mullingar had a number of its master athletes in action vying for selection on the Irish masters team. The Dublin Cross Country Championships and the National Inter-Club Juvenile Relays were held over the same course in the morning and the rain began to fall just as the afternoon programme got underway, so it was inevitable that the course broke up a bit and became softer and stickier in places and was a real test of endurance and mettle, but that’s what cross country running is all about.
The programme consisted of two races. The first race was the 6,000m for senior and master women, where Michelle Bohan put in a great performance and finished well up overall but unfortunately not enough to secure a place on the Irish team. It was a better result for Maura Dervin though as she finished only a few places behind Michelle, but it was enough to win her master category, which will secure her selection on the Irish masters team.
The second race was the 7,500m for senior and master men, which was combined with the 6,000m for the older master men and they ran a lap less. A huge entry of men took off at a furious pace, and going with the early pace and keeping right in the thick of the action throughout was Jamie Battle and Jack O’Leary. After a tough race on the testing course Jamie has to be satisfied with his fifth place finish, third under 23 man in his best race in over a year, with Jack close behind in eighth, happy to dust off the cobwebs and is looking to improve as the season continues. With only a little over 30 seconds separating the top eight places, this was a quality field and it was great to see Jamie and Jack right in the mix to the finish. Also competing extremely well and finishing just outside the top twenty was Vinny Connolly, just ahead of Jack Moran and Euan Lagan packing in well to finish inside the top thirty, great performances by all three men and will give them added confidence for the season ahead.
Mullingar had two master men competing. Eddie Newman ran in the 7,500m race where he battled hard finishing well up in his category but not enough to secure a place on the Irish team. Competing over the shorter 6,000m distance, Sean McMullin was very satisfied with his performance but must await the decision of the selectors to see if he makes the Irish masters team.
News from Amy Mahony in Toronto
Great to see that Amy Mahony, who moved to Canada a few months ago, has kept up with her running and knocked a massive seven minutes off her personal best by finishing in 1 hour 32 minutes 4 seconds at the Toronto Half Marathon last Sunday. We’re delighted to note that Amy continues to fly the flag for Mullingar Harriers, as she wore her Club vest in the race. Congratulations Amy from everyone at Mullingar Harriers.
Attention turns to Leinster Cross Country
This coming Sunday, the Leinster Novice, Junior and Juvenile Even Ages Cross Country Championships take place in Bellurgan Park, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Mullingar will have teams in every age group and has entered a huge squad of nearly 100 Club members ranging from eleven years of age up to adults, with a few athletes from Athlone AC helping to make up Westmeath teams and judging by the results of the recent Westmeath Championships, we’re confident that they’ll make a valuable contribution to the County teams.
Juveniles can only move one age group in cross country, so u/11 can run u/12, but u/10 cannot run u/12. The u/10 athletes will get their first taste of Leinster Championship racing in the u/11 race in Kilkenny three weeks from now. If for any reason you cannot compete in Dundalk, please let Club officials know as soon as possible. This is the first major fixture of the season and a big crowd is expected. Newcomers in particular are reminded that as this is a Championship they must wear a Club vest (buy one at training this week or borrow one). Please bring a change of clothes, a packed lunch, water or sports drink, four safety pins for your race number and check that you have at least 9mm spikes in your running shoes. Athletics Louth is the host for the Championships and before the main events, there will be 1,000m races for girls and boys u/10 for any younger siblings attending; there is no need to pre-register for the races, just turn up on the line ready to run. The girls race will be at 11.10am, followed by the boys race at 11.20am. The first Championship race proper, the girls u/12, will start promptly at 11.30am, followed by the rest of the underage races in quick succession and the programme will conclude with the novice races.
There will be a very large attendance from all across Leinster and you are advised to allow extra time for traffic delays entering the venue in order to arrive early and get to know the course. We’d advise aiming to get to Bellurgan Park by 10.30am at the latest.
Fit4Life continues
The new Fit4Life programme at the Club grounds continues each Monday evenings at 7pm at the Club grounds. Don’t worry if you missed the first few nights, you can still sign up next Monday evening. Fit4Life is an Athletics Ireland programme for all runners, whether a complete beginner or a regular jogger or runner. The programme helps participants to achieve improved levels of fitness within the Club structure in a fun and sociable environment. Fit4Life is for all abilities and participants will be grouped by ability for training sessions, allowing runners and walkers to train at an appropriate level. There is progression from walking to jogging to running and no previous experience is needed. Check the Club’s website www.mullingarharriers.com or e-mail info@mullingarharriers.com for further details.
Sympathies
Finally, the Executive and members of Mullingar Harriers wish to express sincere sympathy to Caroline Mullen and her family on the recent death of Frank O’Hara, Caroline’s father and the grandfather to Cormac, Lorcan and Conleth. May he rest in peace.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
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