Week ending Saturday 6th September
International Athletes present summer league prizes
Over the summer months a league format of races was held for our juvenile members, which proved to be very popular. The competition had two categories with a 1,000m race for under 9s, 10s and 11s, and a 1,500m race for under 12s, 13, 14s and 15s. Racing once in each of May, June, July and August, over 160 young athletes took part in what was a competitive yet fun event giving our youngest members the opportunity to learn about race tactics and about their own abilities.
In the 1,000m race the competitors were divided into five teams of about twenty runners and in the 1,500m event four teams of fifteen members competed. Team scores for each round were based on the accumulation of the first ten scorers on each team, with individuals also vying for prizes.
Although the racers were rewarded with treats at the end of each race, there was a far bigger treat in store at last Tuesday’s prize presentation when five of the club’s senior athletes, all of whom are International athletes having represented Ireland on multiple occasions, were on-hand to meet their younger clubmates and award the winners with their medals. Cormac Dalton, Aisling Lane, Oisin Lane, Jack O’Leary and Aimee Wallace, wearing their Team Ireland gear, were happy to mingle with the juveniles, answer questions and stand in for selfies adding to the atmosphere on the evening.
In the 1,000m race for under 9 to under 11, the top three girls were Emily Rose Coyne, Cara Hickey and Maisie Walsh. The boy’s race had four on the podium with Shay Gavigan a clear winner, Rian Healy in second place and Austin Keaveney and Jack Corroon sharing third. The longer 1,500m race for the older juveniles saw Lily Walsh win the girl’s competition with Siobha Leonard second and Amelie G Kelly third. A very close boy’s competition resulted in Antonio Bertolo, Daniel Cummins and Cillian Gavin all sharing top spot, followed by John McManus in second and Mel Bohan in third.
With the competition held on the grass track over a relatively long distance, the event served as great preparation for the upcoming cross country season with all members proving to themselves that they are ready and able for the bigger races ahead [CW].
BNM Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon
The Bord Na Mona Tullamore Half Marathon, incorporating the National and Leinster championships took place last Saturday morning. Starting outside the Harriers Stadium it took in a scenic route through Mucklagh, Killurin and Cloonagh before finishing with a lap of the stadium track. The course was generally flat with some gently rolling hills along the way. Conditions however, proved challenging with widespread heavy showers and a cross wind making for a difficult race for all contestants.
1,189 finishers included 43 from Mullingar Harriers. It was another very successful championship for the club with team and individual medals making their way home after an eventful day’s racing. The results below are provisional, and any updates will be included in next week’s notes.
Individual National masters medals went to Mary Stuart (1:30:03) Gold in her category, Jacintha Reilly (1:31:32) Gold in her category, Maura Dervin (1:37:01) Silver in her category, Dan Morris (1:12:42) first Mullingar athlete home and bronze in his category, Eddie Newman (1:26:37) bronze in his category, and Aisling Corcoran (1:32:00) bronze in her category. In the Leinster championship, Mary Stuart won gold in her master category as did Jacintha Reilly, while Maura Dervin took silver in her category, as did Dan Morris in his, Eddie Newman also took silver in his, Aisling Corcoran won silver in her category, followed home closely by Criona Reid (1:32:20) who won bronze, and Emer O’Hanlon (1:40:16) also won bronze.
In the team event, at National level, there were two gold medal performances with both the master women over 35 and over 50 club teams winning their categories. A special word for our over 50 club team of Maura Dervin, Emer O’Hanlon and Marie Louise Johnston (1:42:29) who have now captured the National club team gold medals in 2025 for 5k, 5 miles, 10 miles and half marathon. The over 35 club team comprised Aisling Corcoran, Criona Reid and Aeilish McGovern (1:34:59).
Our senior women club team took National silver with Susan Glennon leading them home in 1:25:03, followed by Mary Stuart and Jacintha Reilly. The senior men club team secured National bronze with Dan Morris, Kris Foster (1:14:36) and Ian McCormack (1:16:08).
In the Leinster Team events, there was gold for both the master women over 35 and over 50 club teams. The over 35 club team comprised Aisling Corcoran, Criona Reid and Aeilish McGovern, with the over 50 club team made up of Maura Dervin, Emer O’Hanlon and Marie Louise Johnston. Silver went to the senior women club team of Susan Glennon, Mary Stuart and Jacintha Reilly. The senior men club team of Dan Morris, Kris Foster and Ian McCormack took Leinster bronze.
Results for our other participants were Paul O’Reilly (1:18:53), Alan Crowley (1:19:39), Enda O’Carolan (1:20:02), Eoin Clarke (1:20:15), Paulius Patackas (1:22:09), James Cribbin (1:26:19), Darren Carroll (1:28:58). Thomas Gilligan ran 1:33:17, Jason McKevitt 1:33:18, Aideen Tansey 1:34:16, Declan Claffey 1:36:04, Orla McLaughlin 1:36:05, Joe Curley 1:36:07, John Long 1:36:11 and Conor Corcoran 1:36:51. Zane Smukste ran 1:37:14, Aine O’Reilly ran 1:38:20, Laura Fitzpatrick 1:39:41 and Tom Byrne 1:39:44. Orla Gillespie came in with a time of 1:40:07, Mark Geoghegan 1:40:57, Linda Cunningham 1:41:24, John McNamara 1:43:15, Gemma Kelly ran 1:43:39, Caroline Mullen 1:46:14, Brendan Rice 1:49:53, Matt Creagh 1:52:19, Martin Mullen 1:53:11, Ray Smyth 1:58:54 and Anna Redmond 1:58:56.
In the open team races held in conjunction with the championships with four to score on a team, there was further success for Mullingar. Our women club team of Susan Glennon, Mary Stuart, Jacintha Reilly and Aisling Corcoran took the silver medals There was a dramatic close call in the men club team race. Gold went to Tullamore Harriers with a combined time of 4 hours 57.23 seconds. The Mullingar team of Dan Morris, Kris Foster, Ian McCormack and Paul O’Reilly were just 5 seconds behind with a combined time of 5 hours 2.24 seconds. Indeed, they held off the third placed team Raheny Shamrocks by a mere 1.13 seconds, demonstrating the value and competitiveness of team racing [MOS/GD].
50th anniversary book launch
The 50th anniversary book launch is nearing, with 24 September now a matter of weeks away. There has been a strong take up on pre-orders for the book online through our website. Don’t forget to put in your order and we look forward to seeing current and former members gather for a memorable evening at Bloomfield House Hotel later this month.
Check the Club’s website at www.mullingarharriers.com or its Facebook page for all the latest news.
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