Cian McManus (Athlone AC) drives up the hill, followed by Mullingar’s Conor Gavin, Cillian Gavin, Adam O’Donoghue and Cian Gavin, in the U11 boys race.

Hot competition at Athletics Westmeath Cross Country

Published: Wed 11 Oct 2023, 6:30 PM

Day two of the Athletics Westmeath Cross Country Championships at Belvedere on Sunday enjoyed unseasonably warm conditions for the time of year as temperatures reached the high teens. Competition was for girls and boys U9, 11, 13, 15 and 17. Belvedere proved itself yet again as an excellent cross country venue and underfoot conditions were good for running.

There were a good number of newcomers and the boys and girls that ran in the non-championship U9 races enjoyed themselves and were delighted with their medals, one for everyone that finished. In the championships proper, the race distances were no problem for those that have been training regularly. The course in Belvedere is a great test of cross country endurance and those that train there regularly will have no problem with the courses chosen for the Leinsters. There were some good individual performances but championship cross country is also about team running, so everyone was being closely watched by club coaches, particularly the newcomers.

Marie Harte and Cait McDonnell sprint to the finish of the girls U9 race.

Many of the juveniles who took part on day one the previous week were back in action again, either running in their own age groups or moving up an age group, to get in some race experience. As on day one, the competitors on day two came from all across the county and included a number of welcome newcomers, and everyone was keen to perform well.

Thanks to all who helped with parking, recording the results, marshalling and stewarding on the course, to the many parents who came and supported the competitors, to the management and staff of Belvedere for the use of the grounds, and to the athletes who provided great competition.

The Leinster Championships take place over two days, with two weeks in between, so juvenile athletes can run in their own age group and can move up an age group to make up teams. The results of both days and application in training will be used to select teams to represent Mullingar and Westmeath.

Lily Walsh takes the final turn into the finish straight to win the U13 race.

Day two results

U9 girls 500m – 1. Emily Coyne, 2. Maisie Walsh, 3. Heather Kelly, 4. Holly Walshe, 5. Zoe O’Donoghue, 6. Cara Hickey, 7. Leah Flynn, 8. Jessica Wright, 9. Robyn Donovan, 10. Roisin Ruane, 11. Niamh Murtagh, 12. Rachel Robinson, 13. Maddie O’Brien, 14. Elsie Hegarty, 15. Cliodhna Fitzpatrick, 16. Saoirse McDermott, 17. Katie Archbold, 18. Kayla Smith, 19. Marie Harte, 20. Cait McDonnell.

U9 boys 500m – 1. Ruadhan Murphy, 2. Jack Corroon, 3. Rafe Murray, 4. Emmet Walsh, 5. Conor Malone, 6. Rian O’Donoghue, 7. Eddie Collins, 8. Senan Whelehan, 9. Leon Rogers, 10. Ciaran Killian, 11. Lorcan Conway, 12. Austin Keaveney, 13. Robert Bohan, 14. Ryan Corroon, 15. Matteo Fitzpatrick, 16. Kealen Pegley, 17. Tiernan Martyn, 18. Tymur Koshyk, 19. Luca Glynn, 20. Eoin Fulham, 21. Rowan Buckley, 22. Eanna O’Carrollan, 23. Joseph Clarke, 24. Aidan Buckley, 25. Kealen Fox, 26. Jamie Hoey, 27. Cody Cogan, 28. Niall Leavy, 29. Fionn O’Carrollan.

U11 girls 1,500m – 1. Aoife Dunne (MHAC), 2. Katie Bohan (MHAC), 3. Helen McGrath (MHAC), 4. Grace Farry (MHAC), 5. Rose Harte (MHAC), 6. Roisin Keane (MHAC), 7. Aoibheann Reid Toolan (Athlone), 8. Farah Fox (Athlone), 9. Abigail Nohily (MHAC), 10. Eve Nugent (MHAC), 11. Lily Archbold (MHAC), 12. Anna Malone (MAHC), 13. Nicole Reynolds, 14. Millie Gavin, 15. Eimear Nohilly (MHAC), 16. Ellie Swarbrigg.

U11 boys 1,500m – 1. Daniel Cummins (MHAC), 2. Mel Bohan (MHAC), 3. Cillian McManus (Athlone), 4. Conor Gavin (MHAC), 5. Cillian Gavin (MHAC), 6. Adam O’Donoghue (MHAC), 7. Cian Gavin (MHAC), 8. Aaron Robinson (MHAC), 9. Rory McDonnell (MHAC), 10. Jason Ruane, 11. Oisin Killian, 12. Josh Boyhan (MHAC), 13. Cillian Martyn (MHAC), 14. Andrew Bradley (MHAC), 15. Huw Keaveney (MHAC), 16. Alex McLaughlin (MHAC), 17. Fionn O’Donoghue (MHAC), 18. Will Leonard, 19. Hugo Glynn (MHAC), 20. Fintan Harte (MHAC), 21. Bobby Carroll (MHAC), 22. Donnacha McDermott (MHAC), 23. Senan Clinton (MHAC), 24. Jamie Carroll (MHAC), 25. Cormac Molloy, 26. Peter Fitzpatrick (MHAC), 27. Tiernan Smyth (MHAC), 28. Conor Gammell, 29. Geoffrey Rogers (MHAC), 30. Tim Belko.

Clodagh Keane, Liadan Gavin and Amelie Kelly competing in the U13 race.

U13 girls 2,500m – 1. Lily Walsh (MHAC), 2. Shaynah Mitchell (MHAC), 3. Lucy Kilmurray (MHAC), 4. Clodagh Keane (MHAC), 5. Liadan Gavin (MHAC), 6. Amelie Kelly (MHAC), 7. Ellen Gallagher (MHAC), 8. Claire Murtagh (MHAC), 9. Muireann Dunne (MHAC), 10. Isabelle Smyth.

U13 boys 2,500m – 1. Cillian Galvin (MHAC), 2. Antonio Bertolo (MHAC), 3. Gareth Glennon (MHAC), Conor Brennan (Longford AC – guest), 4. Louis Kiernan (MHAC), 5. Oisin Clarke (MHAC), 6. Harry Flanagan (MHAC), 7. Seamus Clarke (MHAC), 8. Andrew Feery (MHAC), 9. Mason Bennett (MHAC).

Eleanor Kiernan and Tianna O’Leary lead the U15 race, closely followed by Sophie Carey (Longford AC).

U15 girls 3,500m – 1. Tianna O’Leary (MHAC), 2. Eleanor Kiernan (MHAC), Sophie Carey (Longford AC – guest), 3. Isabel Tynan Daly (MHAC), 4. Blathnaid Peters (MHAC), 5. Lucy Hickey (MHAC), 6. Emma Lagan (MHAC), 7. Kate Thornton Sleator (MHAC), 8. Hui Fen Bartley (MHAC).

U15 boys 3,500m – 1. Conor Walsh (MHAC), 2. Scott Cogan (MHAC), 3. Conor Geoghegan (MHAC), 4. Daniel Glennon (MHAC), 5. Cormac McGrath (MHAC), 6. Cian Hyland (MHAC).

The Mullingar Harriers boys U17 squad (from left) Matthew Molloy, Jamie Wallace, Donagh Carey, Conor Liston, Luke Greene, Oisin Kehoe, John Glennon, Daniel Hickey, Txema Lozano.

U17 boys 5,000m – 1. Matthew Molloy (MHAC), 2. Jamie Wallace (MHAC), 3. Donagh Carey (MHAC), 4. Conor Liston (MHAC), 5. Luke Greene (MHAC), 6. Oisin Kehoe (MHAC), 7. John Glennon (MHAC), 8. Daniel Hickey (MHAC), 9. Txema Lozano (MHAC).

Jamie Wallace takes the early lead in the U17 race, followed by Donagh Carey, Matthew Molloy and Conor Liston.

Help needed for Westmeath schools cross country

The re-scheduled Westmeath Schools Cross Country is only a week away, and while we have the course built, we’ll need lots of help on the day. The programme commences at 11am for the secondary schools, followed at noon for the primary schools.

This is an eagerly awaited event for many school children in Westmeath and, as in previous years, we expect large numbers, especially in the primary schools races. It will get busy near start time, so we’re advising everyone attending to come early.

A big turnout is expected, so if any club members or friends can spare a few hours from 10am to help out, it would be greatly appreciated. Everything will done and dusted and the last race will be over by 2pm.

Silverware for masters teams in Offaly Series

Offaly Athletics ran a successful eight-race 5k series earlier this year. Announcing the results this week, Mullingar Harriers got notable mention with both our master women and men teams winning the trophies for the best non-Offaly club in the series. Run generally on Friday evenings, the 5k races attracted up to 200 athletes each night. A dedicated group of our masters was ever-present across the eight venues of Tullamore, Banagher, Clara, Ferbane, Ballyskenach, Daingean, Rhode and Birr and are now rewarded for their efforts with the perpetual trophies for the team event. The trophies will be presented in Tullamore on 11 November and it will be a special night to celebrate consistent team performances on the roads of Offaly over the summer.

Wheelworx Fastlane Three-quarter Marathon

In Clondalkin, Dublin last Sunday morning, Paul Byrne put the finishing touches to his long runs in advance of the Dublin Marathon at the end of the month. Paul was one of 489 runners in the three-quarter marathon (32k) on the pedestrianised Grand Canal Greenway in West Dublin. Maintaining a steady pace throughout the race, which is practically totally flat, Paul was pleased to complete the distance in 2 hours 46 minutes 35 seconds and says he’s on target for about a 3 hour 30 minute marathon in Dublin.

Tarmonbarry Half Marathon and 8k

As part of a series of races at Tarmonbarry, County Roscommon including a three-quarter marathon, half marathon and 8k last Sunday morning, Eddie Newman placed second of nearly 80 finishers of the half marathon in 1 hour 21 minutes 19 seconds. The shorter 8k race attracted nearly 190 entrants, including two club members, Ann Hall and Glenda Shaw. The race was run on an 8k circuit and first home in the women’s race was Glenda Shaw in 32 minutes even, followed by her training partner Ann Hall in 32:05.

Sympathy

The executive and members of Mullingar Harriers wish to express sincere sympathy to Morgan Isdell and the Isdell and Fay families on the recent death of Morgan’s grandfather, Oliver Fay. May he rest in peace.

Check the club website at mullingarharriers.com and Facebook page for updates.