Week ending Saturday 28th June
Daniel Glennon earns his first International Selection
It was very sunny and very hot with temperatures in the mid-20degC in SETU Carlow last Saturday afternoon for the Tailteann Inter-Provincial T&F but it wasn’t just the weather that was hot, we had two Mullingar athletes in red hot form too competing with the Leinster Schools team. This competition is the trial for the Irish Schools team to compete in the SIAB Schools International T&F, which will be held in Derby, England in July. The top 2 in each event would be selected, so with so much at stake, the standard of competition was understandably very high.
First on the track was Daniel Glennon (St. Finian’s College) in the Intermediate 3,000m walk. Starting fast, the field quickly reduced to three serious contenders, including Daniel. The fast pace was maintained throughout the race, with repeated surges as each of the athletes sought to get the lead over each other. Eventually, Daniel got a little clear space between himself and the third placed walker with two laps to go, as the eventual winner also managed to obtain a definite lead. Over the final two laps each gave it their all and order remained close but the same all the way to the finish line, with Daniel finishing in second place. This result means that Daniel has earned selection on the Irish Schools team, a tremendous reward for his hard work and determination over many months. Congratulations to Daniel, his school, family and of course Mullingar Harriers on this achievement.
The pace of the Intermediate 3,000m went out faster than at the All-Ireland Schools but Conor Walsh (Colaiste Mhuire) was motivated by the fact he was making his first appearance with the Leinster Schools team and by the teams scoring element of the competition. He positioned himself well, running with his Leinster teammates, and as the race progressed he continued to fight for position. He eventually finished seventh, the second Leinster boy, with a new personal best of 9:08, ahead of several athletes he had finished behind at the All-Ireland Schools and his improved performance should give him confidence heading into the National Juvenile T&F this coming weekend where he’ll race 3,000m again [ML/CW].
Mullingar girls on the National stage
The weather was mild but very mixed in Tullamore last Sunday for the National Children’s Games and u/12 T&F Championships but the five girls from Mullingar that competed were very lucky to only have to run in intermittent light rain or drizzle and they avoided the very heavy thundery showers that came later in the afternoon, long after they were finished.
First in action was Lucy O’Connor in the u/12 girls 60m heats where she ran extremely well and despite running nearly as fast as in the Leinsters, unfortunately it wasn’t enough to advance from the extremely competitive heats, but Lucy will have gained great experience from competing in her first National T&F finals.
Running as a “pair” in the u/9 girls 60m, with the medals decided on their combined times, Alana Spain and Tara Coyne ran quicker than in the Leinsters, especially Alana, and when their times were added, the girls finished an excellent fourth place, not far off the medals. Also running as a “pair” in the u/10 girls 60m and running a lot quicker too than in the Leinsters, Cara Hickey and Mia Barry looked very strong and when their times were added, the girls also finished just out of the medals in fourth place, missing bronze by just over one tenth of a second. Brilliant sprinting by all four girls.
Returning for the u/9 girls 300m, our “pair” of Tara Coyne and Alana Spain ran quicker again than in Leinster, this time especially Tara, but when their times were added, the girls finished just out of the medals in fourth place, missing bronze by just eight hundredths of a second in a very tight competition but top marks for effort. We finally got in the medals in the u/10 girls 500m when Mia Barry and Cara Hickey put in terrific performances in their races, again running quicker than in Leinster, and when their times were added they were delighted to finish in second place and win the National silver medals.
Very well done to all five Mullingar girls for competing with such great enthusiasm and skill on the National stage and we’re sure to see these girls excel in future competitions [GD].
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