Week ending Saturday 24th November

Intervarsity success for Cormac Dalton, Jamie Battle and Colin Smith

It was cool, windy but dry in NUI Maynooth last Saturday morning, which were ideal conditions for the Irish University Road Relays. Each college can enter multiple teams and the women competed in a four leg relay over 1-2-2-1 miles, while the men competed in a five leg relay over 1-2-3-2-1 miles.

In the women’s race, Claire Fagan ran the anchor one mile leg for the DCU “B” team and despite a swift 5:30, the third fastest of the day, and a furious sprint to the finish line, the team finished in fourth place, missing bronze by just one second. Not having a fourth runner on her team didn’t stop Sarah Glennon making her Intervarsity debut for DCU where she ran a strong third leg and no doubt, she’s looking forward to future outings in the DCU colours.

Taking the baton for the DCU “B” team in second place, Cormac Dalton really showed his class on the long three mile leg and his excellent 15:15 reinforced the team’s standing in second place, which they held to the finish and Cormac won a silver medal. An excellent mile in 5:11 on the lead leg by Colin Smith put the DCU “C” team right in the mix at the handover to Jamie Battle. Running 9:42 on the two mile leg, one of the quickest of the day brought the team into third place, which they held to the finish to give Colin and Jamie their first Intervarsity medals and with the DCU “A” team winning it gave DCU a unique 1-2-3 in the men’s team race.

Also competing was Michael Moran running two miles for another DCU team, and Ciaran Nolan also running two miles, though only as a training run, as NUIG didn’t have a full team.

Master medal for Eileen Kenny

Eileen Kenny lined out with the Irish team in Swansea, Wales last Saturday morning for the British and Irish Masters International Cross Country against some of the best master athletes from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Eileen fully justified her selection for the second year in a row with an excellent seventh place finish in her master category, the second finisher for Ireland, providing a valuable contribution to the score that saw Ireland finish third team behind England and Scotland and earning a bronze team medal. It was double celebration for Eileen, as her daughter Michelle Kenny (Leevale AC) took silver with the Irish team in her master category, to make it a very memorable day for the Kenny family.

Mullingar’s attention turns to All-Ireland Cross Country Finals

This coming Sunday, the Club will travel in force to the AAI National Senior, Junior and Juvenile Even Ages Cross Country Finals on the purpose built cross country course at the National Sports Campus in Abbotstown, Dublin. Having qualified from the Leinster Cross Country in Navan back in October Mullingar will have over sixty athletes competing on Club and County teams in the underage races. We’ll also have teams in the Junior men and women races and a number of athletes in the Senior races, which are important trials for the European Cross Country in The Netherlands in December. In addition to representing Mullingar and Westmeath, thirteen of our Juvenile athletes will also be on Leinster teams, a big number from one Club. Everyone has been training very hard in recent weeks at the Club and in Belvedere, and should reap their rewards on Sunday when we expect many of them to return with National medals. The teams for Abbotstown are on the notice board in the Clubhouse and on the Club’s Facebook page.

In recognition of some traffic problems last year at the same venue, Athletics Ireland have put together an improved traffic management plan this year. The entrance to the Campus will be by a different gate to last year and exit will be near the Aquatic Centre, so everyone needs to follow the direction signs and pay attention to the stewards. The first race, the girls u/12, will be at 11.30am and the crowds at an All-Ireland are much larger than at Leinster, so leave in plenty of time, allow extra time for traffic and parking delays entering the venue and head straight for the Club banners near the finish area to collect your race number. It will take longer to collect and sort race numbers, so we need to be at the course by 10.30am at the latest. As it is in Dublin, we know that most will make their own travel arrangements, but if anyone needs a lift please let Club officials know at training this week. Also, if for any reason you can’t compete, please let Club officials know as soon as possible.

You must wear your Club vest in a Championship. Please bring water or sports drink and a light snack, wet gear and a change of clothes, suitably long spikes, and of course four safety pins for your race number. Spectators are strongly advised to bring waterproof footwear and to dress appropriately for the weather.

For the latest results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com.

PRO