Week ending Saturday 28th May
Club’s youngest athletes enjoy competing in Tullamore
There are limited opportunities for our younger members to take part in competition but last Friday evening nearly sixty boys and girls from Mullingar Harriers aged 8 to 13 years competed at the Midland Inter-County Juvenile T&F Match between Laois, Offaly and Westmeath in Tullamore Harriers Stadium. The weather was mild and a bit windy and it stayed mostly dry, but even the odd short shower didn’t dampen the enthusiasm of our youngsters that competed alongside a few athletes from Athlone AC. For most of the Mullingar boys and girls, this was their first time to compete in Tullamore, where we hope many will return in June to compete in the Leinster Juvenile T&F.
This has always been a very popular event and we were delighted to see it return after an absence of two years due to Covid. The young Mullingar athletes certainly enjoyed it and lots of them visited the medal podium during the evening, some more than once. This was a little step up from the event we held at our own track a few weeks ago confined to our own members, but the emphasis was still very much on fun and participation and just having a go at different events, and less on competition. We don’t have all the results yet, so we’ll hold over the details until next week. Thanks to the Offaly County Board and to Tullamore Harriers AC for organising and hosting the event, and to the parents and coaches that attended to ensure our youngsters could take part and enjoy themselves.
Leinster and Connacht Schools T&F Finals
A number of the Club’s underage athletes competed for their Schools and Colleges at the Leinster Schools T&F Finals in Santry last Wednesday and Saturday and at the Connacht Schools T&F Finals in Athlone last Thursday. This was the final step to the All-Ireland Schools T&F Finals in June. Every event was a straight final, only the top two in the sprints and top three in the longer track races (top four in the mile) would advance to the All-Ireland Finals, so the competition was fierce.
Ten of the Club’s athletes earned qualification, a bit down on previous years but still a good showing from the Club. At the Connacht finals, Aisling Lane (Mercy Ballymahon) was simply in a different class in the Inter 2,000m walk and qualified with ease for the All-Ireland finals. At the Leinster finals, equally unchallenged in the race walks was John Glennon (St. Finian’s) Junior 1,200m walk, Andrew Glennon (St. Finian’s) Inter 2,000m walk and Matthew Glennon (St. Finian’s) Senior 3,000m walk who simply stormed to very easy wins to put the three Glennon boys in the All-Ireland finals. Other qualifiers were Jamie Wallace (Colaiste Mhuire) Junior 1,500m, Grace Byrne (Loreto Mullingar) u/16 mile, Conor Sherwin (Colaiste Mhuire) u/16 mile, Ross Killalea (Colaiste Mhuire) Inter 3,000m, Diarmuid Fagan (Colaiste Mhuire) Senior 5,000m and Colin Smith (Colaiste Mhuire) Senior 800m.
Kyle Faherty (Colaiste Mhuire) was unlucky and just missed out when he finished third in his Junior 100m (he also finished fourth in the Junior 200m). Fourth place too and missing a place was Caoimhe Kilmurray (Loreto) Inter 3,000m and Ross Killalea (Colaiste Mhuire) Inter 1,500m.
Also competing but missing qualification was Donagh Carey (St. Finian’s) Junior 1,500m, Conor Liston (Colaiste Mhuire) u/16 mile, Aimee Wallace (St. Finian’s) Inter 800m, Grace Byrne (Loreto) Inter 3,000m, Lorcan Mullen (Cistercian Roscrea) Senior 5,000m and Matthew Glennon (St. Finian’s) Senior 5,000m.
Aisling Murphy 4 Mile
The inaugural Aisling Murphy 4 mile race took place in Tullamore last Sunday morning, hosted by the Tullamore Harriers AC. The race was organised as a celebration of Aisling’s life and although it was an event tinged with much sadness, Tullamore town centre had a carnival type atmosphere from early morning. There was huge support from all the midland clubs and indeed from athletes around the country who travelled to run in this special event to bring a total of over 530 to the start line.
The race started and finished in the centre of the town, and local musicians were playing along various sections of the route. Four Mullingar ladies raced, with Sinéad Whitelaw leading them home in second place with a time of 23 minutes 36 seconds. Sinead was followed closely behind by Joan Flynn (24:29) who won her master age category, Aisling Corcoran (25:55) and Laura Geoghegan (28:42).
The winner of the ladies race, Lizzie Lee (Leevale AC) was presented with the Aisling Murphy Perpetual Trophy. The winner of the men’s race was Peter Somba (Dunboyne AC).
Na Fianna AC 5k
Cancelled for the last two years due to Covid, the Na Fianna AC 5k, made a very welcome return last Tuesday evening. Nearly 800 runners converged on the village of Johnstownbridge, Enfield to run in this popular race that commemorates the memories of Bob Heffernan and Mary Hanley, Club stalwarts that were members of Na Fianna AC from the start. The Enfield course is flat and has a reputation for being fast, ideal for runners looking to test themselves and hoping to run personal best times. Mullingar Harriers athletes was out in force, with twenty two members competing, on what was a brilliant evening for running.
This was race three of the 2022 Kia race series and again it attracted the top athletes with the winner coming home in an impressive time of 14 minutes. Not far behind the winner was one of our own who is flying ever since his return to training, Vinny Connolly, in a very impressive 14:56, a personal best. Next home was Timmy Murphy (15:35) in his first 5k in a while as he has been concentrating on longer distances. Timmy was followed home by John Whitelaw who ran a strong time of 15:40 to follow up his strong run in Kilkenny in race 2 of this series, and following John was the ever-consistent James Keegan (15:41) to secure third Club for the Mullingar men. Andrew Nevin (16:08) was very happy with his run, then came Ian Mc Cormack (16:34), Kedagh Geoghegan (16:38), followed by his training partner Alan Crowley who ran a strong time of 16:45, followed very closely by Evan McCormack (16:53). Eoin Clarke came very close to breaking 17 minutes, finishing in 17:01, ahead of Eddie Newman (17:12), second in his master category and very satisfied with his time as it was his second 5k race in 2 days. Next home was Sinead Whitelaw placing twelfth woman in the women’s race with an excellent 17 minutes 40 seconds, followed by Aine O’Reilly (17:49) second in her master category, Enda O’Carolan in a strong 17:57 and it was good to see Enda back racing as he had been injured for a couple of months. Next and having a good battle was Stephen Naughton (18:31), Michelle Bohan (18:34) a personal best, and Enda Seery (18:38) very happy with his time. Then came Amy Mahony (18:59) a personal best, Glenda Shaw (19:52) a personal best, Ann Hall (20:15), Emer O’Hanlon (21:26) and John Bannon (21:36) completed the group. The Mullingar women finished fourth Club, but when the best three men and women from each Club was calculated, the Mullingar men and women finished third Club.
Mullingar Harriers was very well represented in what was a very competitive race and some excellent performances and times were recorded. Well done to all club members involved.
Sympathies
Finally, the Executive and members of Mullingar Harriers wish to express sincere sympathy to Donagh and Sadhbh Carey and the Carey and McDermott families on the death last week of their grandfather, Camillus McDermott. 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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