Sun shines for Athletics Westmeath Cross Country

Mullingar Harriers club notes

We had to cancel the schools cross country mid-week because of the heavy rain and high winds but in stark contrast, the weather in Belvedere last Sunday for day one of the Athletics Westmeath Cross Country Championships was absolutely beautiful – dry and sunny, ideal for runners and spectators.

Competition was for girls and boys under 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 and 18 years of age and for women and men under 20 and novice, senior and masters. There were more juveniles than last year, and though the number of adults was down a little, there was still a good number competing, including some from Athlone AC and guest runners from Trim AC and Longford AC.

There was great competition in each race and performances were encouraging in the older age groups in particular, where the focus was on places on club and county teams at the Leinster Cross Country Championships.

The boys and girls that ran in the non-championship U8 and U10 races really enjoyed themselves and were delighted with their medals, one for everyone that finished. Moving to the championships proper, the course in Belvedere is a great test of cross country endurance and those that train there regularly will have no problem with any course at the Leinsters.

There were some good individual performances but championship cross country is also about team running, so everyone, particularly newcomers, was being closely watched by club coaches.

All the underage races were keenly contested and the last race of the day was a combined race for girls and boys U18 and 20 years, and for novice, senior and master women and men.

All the women ran 4,000m, the older master men also ran 4,000m, the senior men ran 8,000m and the rest of the men ran 6,000m. Everyone started together and ran over the same course, but with different numbers of laps. It was some spectacle to see more than 40 runners racing out from the start and making their way around the rolling hills of Belvedere.

The club’s masters group were well represented and it was great to see a number of the most recent new members compete in cross country for the first time after just a few training sessions over the last few Saturdays.

The training continues each Saturday now so further opportunities will become available as the cross country season gets into full swing in the coming weeks.

Day two this coming Sunday morning in Belvedere is for boys and girls U9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years. The first race is at 11am so the younger runners should be in Belvedere before 10.30am to get ready and know where they have to run.

The Athletics Westmeath Cross Country is an open competition and you don’t have to be a member of a club to take part, so everyone is welcome to compete.

The Leinster Championships take place over two days, with two weeks between each, so juvenile athletes can run in their own age group and can move up an age group to make up teams. Therefore, we expect all juveniles to compete on both days of the Westmeath Championships unless ill or injured or they might be disappointed if not selected.

The results of both days and application in training will be used to select teams to represent the club and Westmeath in the Leinster championships. The results of the men and women races last Sunday will also be used to select club and county teams for the Leinster championships.

Thanks to all who helped to record the results, marshal and steward on the course, to the many parents who came and supported the competitors, and to the management and staff of Belvedere for the use of the excellent grounds, and especially to the athletes who provided great competition.

Results from day one:

U8 girls 500m – 1. Emily Coyne, 2. Zoe O’Donoghue, 3. Cara Hickey, 4. Sarah Cummins, 5. Mia Barry, 6. Evelyn Reihill, 7. Emma Dunleavy, 8. Adel Bertolo, 9. Eleanor Hughes, 10. Lila Morgan, 11. Eva Casey, 12. Cliodhna Fitzpatrick, 13. Sophie Whitelaw, 14. Annabelle Casey, 15. Roseanne Meehan, 16. Ella McDonnell, 17. Keila Smith, 18. Aoife Gavigan, 19. Evie Boyhan, 20. Claire McManus.

U8 boys 500m – 1. Shay Gavigan, 2. Rian O’Donoghue, 3. Conor Kiernan, 4. Donncha Galvin, 5. Robert Bohan, 6. Eoin Fulham, 7. Tiernan Martyn, 8. Ryan Corroon, 9. Matteo Fitzpatrick, 10. Eanna O’Carroll, 11. Rowan Buckley, 12. Joe Hickey.

U10 girls 1,000m – 1. Muireann Feery, 2. Helen McGrath, 3. Roisin Keane, 4. Maisie Walsh, 5. Ellen Cummins, 6. Lauryn Smith, 7. Heather Kelly, 8. Rose Harte, 9. Ava Meehan, 10. Emily Casey, 11. Lucy O’Connor, 12. Rachel Robinson, 13. Kate Horohoe, 14. Nicole Reynolds, 15. Niamh Murtagh, 16. Edith Hughes, 17. Ciara O’Carolan, 18. Emma McManus (Athlone), 19. May McManus, 20. Rosie O’Brien.

U10 boys 1,000m – 1. Mel Bohan, 2. Ruadhan Murphy, 3. Noah Morgan, 4. Michael Kiernan, 5. John Geelon, 6. Rory McDonagh, 7. Andrew Bradley, 8. Jacob Buckley, 9. Emmet Walsh, 10. Jack Corroon, 11. Fionn O’Donoghue, 12. Tomas Galvin, 13. Senan Clinton, 14. Daniel Brady, 15. Hugo Glynn, 16. Leon Rogers, 17. Ciaran Killian, 18. Tiernan Smith, 19. Luca Glynn, 20. Callum Downes.

U12 girls 2,000m – 1. Chloe Bell (MHAC), 2. Clodagh Keane (MHAC), 3. Amelie Kelly (MHAC), 4. Katie Bohan (MHAC), 5. Liadan Gavin (MHAC), 6. Ellen Gallagher (MHAC), 7. Amelie Downes (MHAC), 8. Kate O’Donoghue, 9. Aoife Gouldsbury (MHAC), 10. Lily McDonald (MHAC), 11. Landryne Yonta (MHAC) U10, 12. Elise Buckley (MHAC), 13. Maria Gouldsbury (MHAC), 14. Melody Kelly (MHAC), 15. Eve Nugent (MHAC), 16. Hannah O’Brien (MHAC), 17. Robyn Kelly (MHAC).

U12 boys 2,000m – 1. Daniel Cummins (MHAC), 2. Gareth Glennon (MHAC), 3. Harry Flanagan (MHAC), 4. Adam O’Donoghue (MHAC), 5. Alex Sochanski (MHAC), 6. Cillian McManus (Athlone), 7. Ciaran Reid Toolan (Athlone), 8. Aaron Robinson (MHAC), 9. Oisin Killian (Athlone), 10. James Casey (MHAC), 11. Cillian Martyn (MHAC), 12. Josh Boyhan (MHAC), 13. Fintan Harte (MHAC).

U14 girls 3,000m – 1. Lily Walsh (MHAC), 2. Shaynah Mitchell (MHAC), 3. Lucy Kilmurray (MHAC), 4. Emily Tully (MHAC), 5. Chloe Duggan (MHAC), 6. Aobh Smith (MHAC), 7. Aoibhe Martyn (MHAC), 8. Lisa O’Brien (MHAC), 9. Alice Geelon (MHAC), 10. Claire Murtagh (MHAC).

U14 boys 3,000m – 1. Cillian Galvin (MHAC), 2. Antonio Bertolo (MHAC), 3. Greg McDonnell (MHAC), 4. Oisin Clarke (MHAC), 5. Daniel Horohoe (MHAC), 6. Cormac McGrath (MHAC), 7. Louis Kiernan (MHAC), 8. Zack O’Leary (MHAC), 9. Hakeen Yonta (MHAC), 10. Joel Kelly (MHAC).

U16 girls 4,000m – 1. Eleanor Kiernan (MHAC), 2. Lydia McDonnell (MHAC), 3. Blathnaid Peters (MHAC), 4. Emma Lagan (MHAC), 5. Muireann Reihill (MHAC), 6. Siofra O’Reilly (MHAC).

U16 boys 4,000m – 1. Matthew Molloy (MHAC), 2. Oisin Kehoe (MHAC), 3. Conor Walsh (MHAC), 4. Daniel Glennon (MHAC), 5. Luke Greene (MHAC), 6. Txema Lozano (MHAC), 7. Conor Mulvany (MHAC), 8. Julian Turner (Athlone).

U18 girls 4,000m – 1. Aimee Wallace (MHAC), 2. Grace Byrne (MHAC), 3. Ailbhe O’Farrell (MHAC), 4. Jessica Cunningham (MHAC).

U18 boys 6,000m – 1. Conor Sherwin (MHAC), 2. Pablo Lozano (MHAC), 3. Donagh Carey (MHAC), 4. Jamie Wallace (MHAC).

U20 women 4,000m – 1. Aisling Lane (MHAC).

U20 men 6,000m – 1. Diarmuid Fagan (MHAC), 2. Ross Killalea (MHAC), 3. John Ryan (MHAC).

Senior Women 4,000m – 1. Susan Glennon (MHAC). Novice Women 4,000m – 1. Helena Kenny (MHAC). Master Women 4,000m – (o/35) Fiona Gettings (Longford AC, guest runner), Edel Gaffney (Trim AC, guest runner), 1. Aine O’Reilly (MHAC), 2. Ciara Dillon (MHAC), 3. Linda Cunningham (MHAC), 4. Eva McMorrow (MHAC).

Master Women 4,000m – (o/50) 1. Anna Marie O’Dowd (Athlone AC), 2. Caroline Mullen (MHAC), 3. Nuala Moran (MHAC), 4. Terri Greene (MHAC), 5. Vera McCool (MHAC).

Master Women 4,000m – (o/65) 1. Brigid McCabe (MHAC). Master Men 4,000m – (o/65) 1. Pat Muldoon (MHAC), 2. Nicky McCabe (MHAC), 3. Paddy Boyhan (MHAC).

Senior Men 8,000m – 1. Vinny Connolly (MHAC), 2. Kevin Moore (MHAC), 3. James Keegan (MHAC), 4. Gerard Gavin (MHAC).

Novice Men 6,000m – 1. Andy Boyhan, 2. Kedagh Geoghegan, 3. Kris Foster, 4. Michael Negara.

Master Men 6,000m – (o/35) 1. Alan Crowley (MHAC), 2. Eoin Clarke (MHAC), 3. Patrick Muldoon (MHAC), 4. Ciaran McManus (Athlone), 5. Enda Seery (MHAC), 6. Colm Walsh (MHAC), 7. Philip Burke (MHAC), 8. Kevin O’Brien (MHAC).

Master Men 6,000m – (o/50) 1. Eddie Newman (MHAC), 2. Paddy Daly (MHAC), 3. Liam McGlynn (MHAC), 4. James Carton (MHAC), 5. Paul McCool (MHAC).

European Masters Medals for McMullin

The European Masters T&F Championships were held in Pescara, Italy last week and among the large Irish team were Sean McMullin and Aidan O’Donoghue.

Sean was entered in three events over the week, so it was a punishing schedule, but he has trained hard and was able to draw on his considerable experience of competing at this level. He started his campaign last Saturday week with the 5,000m race walk on the track, and held off a late challenge, to take bronze.

Sean was back in action on Tuesday morning in the 10k road walk. Starting at 7am, the temperature was already 22degC and rose to 24degC by the end, so tough conditions for all the competitors. The race was on a 1k looped course on a tree-lined avenue, giving some shade from the sun. Sean raced well and sat in between two Italian competitors.

As the laps unfolded, he consolidated his position, always looking comfortable and was delighted to finish second and win his second medal, a silver.

The toughest race was last, the 20k race walk last Saturday morning and Sean dug deep and, with a polished performance, came home in second place to round off his championships with another silver, his third medal from three races.

Aidan competed in the decathlon last Friday and Saturday week. On Friday temperatures were in the low 30degC, but he was happy with his performances on day one, and recorded a personal best in the 100m, good results in the long jump and shot, was happy with his high jump, clearing 1.40m, despite the heat and tiredness.

In the final event on day one, the 400m, he admits to going out too hard and paid for it on the home straight but clung on to finish day one tired but happy.

Saturday was a little cooler, but still in the high 20degC. Aidan had a good run in the 100m hurdles, admits to being below par in the discus, but was delighted with his pole vault, breaking his personal best twice.

He set another personal best in the javelin and when the 1,500m came around, was near exhausted after two long days of competition in the heat, but settled in well and soaked up the atmosphere and was delighted to finish his first European masters decathlon. No medal, but a massive and enjoyable experience.

New date for Schools Cross Country

Because of the yellow weather warnings for rain and wind last Wednesday, we had to postpone the Westmeath Schools Cross Country, but we have confirmed a new date for the popular fixture has been fixed – Wednesday October 18.

Athlone Half Marathon

Athlone AC explored a new venture by holding a marathon, half marathon and 10k last Sunday week (September 24) that started and finished on the track at the TUS Athlone Campus and continued on a flat course including part of the greenway.

Several Mullingar Harriers athletes took in the half marathon as part of their training for the Dublin Marathon at the end of October.

In a field of just under 200 athletes, Kieran Nolan was first home for Mullingar, finishing third in his master category with a time of 1 hour 20 minutes 42 seconds. Mary Stuart had an excellent run to finish third woman overall, first in her master category. Mary’s time of 1:31:24 is a little outside of her best, but she was focused on getting the distance in at her marathon pace.

Martin Fitzpatrick is preparing for the New York marathon and was pleased with a time of 1:34:03. Therese Glynn and Paul Byrne finished together with identical times of 1:43:25 and while John McNamara ran with them for the first 16k, he found the final 5k demanding and eased back to finish in 1:47:23.

In the 10k race, Enda Seery was pleased with his second place overall finish in a time of 39:41.

Fit 4 Life returns

A new 10-week Fit 4 Life programme started at the club grounds this week. If you missed the first night, don’t worry, there is still the opportunity to join next week. We go again with week two next Monday at 7pm with trained coaches to help people of all abilities to develop their running skills and technique.

Check the club website at www.mullingarharriers.com or the Facebook page for all the latest news.