Week ending Saturday 5th July
European Standard for Aimee Wallace
At the Irish Milers Club Meeting in Santry last Saturday afternoon, Aimee Wallace completed the 1,500m A race in a time of 4:21.44, which is inside the B standard for the European u/20 T&F. Aimee was always in the lead pack, running a tactically astute race and produced an excellent last lap securing a personal best time and the qualification standard. As well as a European standard, this time is also Mullingar Harriers club record, eclipsing the previous by over two seconds. Aimee is a scholarship athlete at Dublin City University and is the first female athlete in the club’s history to secure a qualification standard for the European u/20 T&F. Aimee has been a juvenile and schools National champion in the past and is continuing to progress as an u/20 and Collegiate athlete.
Eoin Quinn finished second in the men 800m A race in a season’s best time of 1: 50.67. Eoin finished strongly to move from sixth place to second over the final 200m, so can expect further improvement over the coming weeks [JR].
National Juvenile titles for Daniel & Jamie
The first two days of this year’s National Juvenile T&F Championships were held in Tullamore last week-end where conditions couldn’t have been more different on both days. While Saturday was very mild, it was wet and miserable for most of the day with a very steady drizzle that soaked everyone through. It only picked up in the late afternoon, for the walks, so the walkers could enjoy dry sunny conditions. In contrast, Sunday was cloudy but dry and warm from early morning, getting warmer and more humid as the sun broke through over the day, great for the sprinters but tough for the middle distance athletes.
First in action on Saturday was Donnacha Doyle in the u/14 boys high jump and maybe it was the miserable conditions and the wet high jump runway that officials were pushed to keep the pools of water swept clear, but Donnacha just couldn’t find his customary rhythm, absolutely key in a technical field event, and conceded after that it just wasn’t his day, but the experience of competing in a National final will stand to him in future competitions.
On the track, we started with Conor Walsh in the u/17 boys 3,000m where the medals were decided on the fastest times over two races. Conor was drawn in the faster race and put in an excellent effort in a tight race, just dropping off the back of the leading pack but worked hard to finish an excellent eighth place overall, a great result in a National final. Luke Greene struggled to find his form in the u/18 boys 3,000m and he just never got into his running, pushing hard in the faster A race but finishing out of the medals. There was no such problem for Jamie Wallace in the u/19 boys 3,000m where he produced a superb 57 second last lap to win. In a tactical race, Jamie remained patient over the opening laps, just keeping himself in contention. As the race unfolded in the final kilometre, Jamie ran with confidence and unleashed a great turn of pace to move clear of the field over the final lap. Despite having many National medals, Jamie has never previously won a National title, so this was definitely a day to remember for him. Finishing behind him in an excellent ninth place was Donagh Carey in 9:26.96. This was just outside his personal best but given the tactical nature of the race it was a strong performance.
Kyle Faherty drew a tough inside lane in his heat of the u/19 boys 400m but ran a very aggressive race from the gun to place second in his heat and advance to the final. Drawing a more favourable middle lane in the final, Kyle again quickly got into his running and with a fantastic effort, running even quicker than in the heat, a true sign of a Championship performer, he finished very strong, out of the medals in fourth place but he can be very proud of his performance.
Moving to the short sprints, Joel Kelly also showed true Championship attitude in his heat of the u/15 boys 100m where he ran a quicker than in Leinster, which was enough to advance to the final. Unfortunately, a less than ideal start in the final hampered him but when he recovered and found his rhythm he finished very strong and fast, out of the medals. This was Joel’s first National Championships, so to make the final was a great achievement and a huge learning experience.
Back to the field events again, Seth Walsh competed in the u/15 boys javelin where he was only about half a metre off his Leinster performance, but that was enough for him to just miss a place in the final eight, but he still gave a spirited performance in difficult conditions.
We ended the day with another gold for Mullingar when Daniel Glennon went out with intent from the very start of the u/17 boys 3,000m walk and never let up the effort, pushing on and slowly opening an unassailable gap to win comfortably and take the National title. It’s been quite a week for Daniel, earning International selection for the SIAB Schools T&F and winning a National title.
Sunday started with the sprint hurdles where Morgan Isdell lined up in the u/16 boys 100m hurdles heats, a new event for Morgan, so he was delighted to be competing at his first National finals, but it proved a step too far this time and despite running quicker than in Leinster it wasn’t enough to qualify from the very competitive heats.
Disaster struck for our Leinster Champion, Chloe Bell, when she developed a stitch during her heat of the u/14 girls 800m that completely ruined her race and she didn’t advance to the final, but will learn from the experience. Oisin Clarke ran strong from the start of the u/15 boys 800m and moved into fourth place by the bell. Surging forward on the back straight moved him into third place, holding his place into the finish straight but unfortunately he was run down in the closing stages and just squeezed out of a medal in a close finish, very disappointed to finish in fourth place. Hopes were high of another medal in the u/19 boys 800m where Conor Liston was in a strong position at the bell but at 500m it was evident that something was wrong as Conor began to drift back and coming up to 600m he pulled up sharply with a hamstring injury. This is a terrible blow for Conor and we wish him well in his recovery.
The last race of the day with a Mullingar interest was the u/19 girls 3,000m steeplechase where Ailbhe O’Farrell looked good in the early stages, negotiating the barriers with ease and staying right in the mix for a medal but with two laps to go she suddenly pulled up. She doesn’t really know what happened but she said after that she just felt drained and ran out steam and simply unable to go on. It might have the oppressive heat and humidity, but it was a disappointing end to what has been a great season for Ailbhe this year. We ended the week-end with two gold medals, two fourth places, but well done to everyone that competed, some in their first National T&F [JR/TW/GD].
Individual and team honours in National 5 Mile
The Irish Runner 5 mile, incorporating the National 5 mile Championships, took place last Sunday morning in the Phoenix Park. The race attracted a large number of nearly 1,900 finishers, with clubs from all over Ireland vying for individual and team National medals. There was a large entry from Mullingar Harriers this year, with plans to take home some of those medals. Vinny Connolly had the honour of leading them home in 25:02, fifth place. Next home were Kevin Moore (26:39) and Andy Nevin (26:47), with Ian McCormack and James Keegan battling all the way to the finish line, both recording 26:57. Running well were James Cribbin (30:54) and Eddie Newman (31:13), with Eddie winning the National bronze medal in his master category. Sharon O’Dowd led the women team home in a fast 32:47, delighted to win a National bronze medal in her master category. Mary Stuart (32:59) won the National silver medal in her master category, Criona Reid (33:52) won bronze in hers, Aine O’Reilly (34:38) also won bronze in her master category, as did Maura Dervin (34:59) bronze in hers. Also running strongly were Liam McGlynn (35:39), Linda Cunningham (36:17), Emer O’Hanlon (36:21), Patrick Muldoon (36:38) and Marie Louise Johnston (36:39). Brigid McCabe (41:38) won another National medal in her master category, a bronze, with Nicky McCabe (43:08) and Lisa McEntee (52:50) completing the Mullingar group.
In the team competition, in a very competitive field, the men team of Vinny, Kevin, Andy and Ian placed third Senior Club, the master women team of Sharon, Aine and Linda were second Club and the master women team of Mary, Criona and Maura took gold for first Club, a perfect finish to a very successful day for Mullingar Harriers at National level [LC].
Elsewhere on the road
The annual St. Coca’s AC Kilcock 5k last Friday attracted just over 600 runners, including two from Mullingar, on a very warm and humid evening. After several near misses, Kris Foster was delighted to finally come home under 16 minutes for the first time, running 15:55. Orlaith Flanagan continued her very strong season with another fine run finishing in 19:12.
The 10th anniversary Roscommon 10 Mile, hosted by Roscommon Harriers AC, was held last Saturday morning in humid conditions with intermittent showers helping to cool down the runners. Six members of Mullingar Harriers took part, led home by Susan Glennon in 1:04:39, followed home by Mick Fagan (1:07:26), Andrew Glennon (1:09:05), Darren Carroll (1:12:28) just ahead of Jacintha Reilly (1:12:29), and Padraig Beglin (1:12:53).
The Michael Manning Memorial 10k in Dunshaughlin is noted as one of the fastest courses in the country and always attracts a huge entry. This year was no exception when on a very warm and sunny evening last Saturday week (21 June), over 960 took part, and Mullingar Harriers were represented by 27 runners. Led home by Dan Morris finishing well up in seventeenth place in 32:58, he was followed home by James Keegan (34:07), Kris Foster (34:29), Enda Seery (38:18), James Cribben (38:56), Darren Carroll (38:58), Eddie Newman (39:44) third in his master category, Evan McCormack (41:30), Dara O’Shea (41:33), Declan Claffey (41:43), Thomas Gilligan (41:46), Aideen Tansey (42:06), Aeilish McGovern (42:52), Criona Reid (43:11) second in her master category, Aisling Corcoran (44:12) third in her master category, Aine O’Reilly (44:21), Barry White (44:29), Joe Curley (44:30), Robin Jackson (45:04), Paul Ginell (45:49), John McNamara (45:54), Emer O’Hanlon (46:07) third in her master category, Marie Louise Johnson (46:42), Gemma Kelly (49:21), Brendan Rice (52:20), Eamon O’Reilly (55:47) and Frank Lynam (56:21). Individual category prizes aside, with three men and three women to score in the Peugeot Race Series, the Mullingar team of Dan, Aideen, Aeilish, James, Criona and Kris finished second Club [MO’S].
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