World Racwalking Tour (incorp. National Champs 2023) – (17th Dec)

World and European Racewalk Standards for Oisin Lane

The World Athletics Tour arrived in Dublin on Sunday 17th December with racewalkers from 3 continents representing 18 different countries all aiming for World Ranking points. Prior to the race Oisin Lane ranked about twentieth on the Senior Men 20k entry list but he did not let this distract him as he stuck to his planned strategy of graduated progression over the duration of the event. A steady breeze with strong gusts prevailed in the scenic St. Anne’s Park in Raheny, so this proved a wise strategy, especially as it was his first race since winning a medal in the National Senior Championships five months ago. With an opening 5k of 21:13, followed by 21:10 to reach 10k in 42:23, Oisin then gradually increased the tempo over the next 5k, covering it in 21:03. He then drove hard for home covering the last 5k in 20:43 and a second 10k of 41:50, which was technically a personal best for 10k. His finishing time of 1 hour 24 minutes 13 seconds gave him a magnificent sixth place and comfortably qualified Oisin for the World Team Racewalking Championships to be held in Turkey at the end of April 2024. This result also earned him valuable Ranking Points for the T&F Majors next summer and also got him inside the AAI Qualifying Standard for the European Senior T&F Championships in Rome next June. Oisin can now work on continuing to build his winter base in anticipation of the taking on the World’s best in 2024.

Also, in the Senior Men 20k, Clubmate Matthew Glennon was delighted to get back racing having had some training setbacks in recent months and put in a solid effort to finish in 1 hour 32 minutes 27 seconds, and more importantly finish healthy and now ready to progress with some much-needed warm weather training in early January. Racewalking can sometimes be classed as a “family affair” and this was very evident in Raheny because while the Club’s senior walkers were facing the challenges of a 20k, their younger underage siblings were making it known that they are waiting to take them and the World on as Oisin’s sister Aisling Lane and Matthew’s younger brother Andrew Glennon each comfortably won their respective 10k u/20 races. As the competitions incorporated the u/20 National 10k Road Racewalking Championship, then Aisling (with a new PB of 52 minutes 52 seconds) and Andrew can be happy to finish the year with each being crowned National u/20 Road Racewalk Champions.

Mullingar Harriers was also well represented in the 10k Masters Championships by both Colm Walsh and Sean McMullin. Club coach Colm clearly demonstrated that his coaching strategies are a winner by taking first place in his age category. Not to be out-done, the greatly experienced Sean showed his experience by also finishing a comfortable first in his age category. The club was also ably represented in the Open Juvenile events held in conjunction with the big International by first young Daniel Glennon who had an emphatic win in the u/16 boys 3k in a really fast time of 14 minutes 40 seconds. Well done Daniel, this is a really excellent result. Then finally young Maisie Walsh made her debut in open racewalking competition in the u/10 girls 500m where she was a most impressive second. The family traditions definitely look set to keep continuing!