Week ending Saturday 23rd May
Masters medal successes at National 5k
The 2026 Athletics Ireland Race Series began last Saturday morning with the National 5k Championship in the Phoenix Park. In ideal cool and dry conditions in a very competitive field, 10 athletes from Mullingar Harriers competed alongside over 2,000 finishers. Eddie Newman had the honour of leading the Mullingar squad home in a time of 18:50, fourth in his master category narrowly missing a medal. Sharon O’Dowd was next in, leading the women’s team home in a swift 19:22, winning the National bronze medal in her master category. Joan Flynn was close behind her in 19:47 and also won the National bronze medal in her master category, with Ann Hall (20:10) close behind her in fourth place in the same master category, just missing a medal. Criona Reid (20:30) battled hard throughout and finished inside the top 5 in her master category. Also running well were Mary Stuart (21:11), taking the National silver medal in her master category, Linda Cunningham (21:50) and Eva Ross (23:14). Brigid McCabe finished in 25:09, winning the National silver medal in her master category, with Nicky McCabe (26:19) completing the group with a fine fourth place in his master category. In the team results, the master women o/35 team of Sharon, Joan and Ann finished third Club, and the master women o/50 team of Criona, Mary and Brigid won the silver medals for second Club [LC].
Westmeath Community Games
To avoid a clash with the Westmeath v Dublin Leinster football final in Croke Park last Sunday afternoon, the start time of the Westmeath Community Games T&F Finals was pulled back from its normal lunchtime start to a much earlier 9am start. Given the clash with the match, numbers taking part were a bit down, but the competition was as good as ever. By using the grass infield for the short sprints and hurdles, and the outer circular track for the 200m and middle distance races, at the same time, the programme ran very quickly.
Thanks to the Trojan work of a few volunteers, everything was in tip top shape for the Games and with great work by all the volunteers and officials, the final race was finished by 10.30am, giving plenty of time for everyone to get to Dublin or get home and watch the match.
Congratulations to all the athletes who have qualified for the National or Regional Finals. In order that they are as well prepared as possible to represent Westmeath, they and their coaches and team managers are very welcome to train at the Club on Tuesdays and Thursdays between now and the finals, which is particularly important for the technical events like sprints, hurdles, relays and field events [GD].
Ashling Murphy 4 Mile
Offaly Athletics hosted the fifth staging of the Ashling Murphy 4 Mile race on a cool breezy morning last Sunday. Just over 700 runners and nearly 100 walkers took to the roads around the town. The opening 600m was a steady rise bringing runners past O’Connor Park GAA Ground. The course levelled off and took a left into the Sragh Industrial Estate, reaching 1 mile. It was flat running through the Business Park, on to the 2 mile mark, and beyond with a little downhill bringing the runners to the 3 mile mark. A stiff climb past the railway station tested everyone before turning back towards the town centre and a welcome downhill finish.
Mullingar Harriers was well represented by 8 runners, led home by Mark Darby in an excellent fourth place in 20:36 after a great battle among the leading group upfront. Next in from Mullingar was Eddie Lynch in 24:19, delighted to win first prize in his master category, followed by Orlaith Flanagan (25:09), Jason McKevitt (25:56), Richard Carey (27:24), Philip Burke (28:44), Zane Smukste (29:38) and the Mullingar group was completed by Jennifer Bourke (37:51) making her debut in the Mullingar colours [GS].
Coralstown NS 5k
The Coralstown NS 5k takes place next Wednesday evening (27 May) and given its proximity, we expect that a good number from Mullingar Harriers will make the short trip to Coralstown to support this local race, which takes place on a lovely scenic route including quiet country roads and stretches of the Royal Canal towpath.
Leinster T&F outdoor season approaches
The dates for the Leinster T&F are on the Club and the Athletics Leinster websites. Important Juvenile fixtures and dates include the Children’s Games (u/9, u/10 and u/11) and u/12 and u/13 T&F (31 May) in Tullamore; sprint relays (6 June) in SETU Carlow; Combined Events (7 June) in SETU Carlow; and the u/14 to u/19 T&F (13 and 14 June) in Tullamore. Except for relays, everyone enters themselves in their individual events on-line and the link to entries is on the Athletics Leinster website homepage and there’s also a link on the Heja groups. Watch for the final closing dates for entries, usually ten days before the event.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
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