Lots of Leinster medals and records for young Harriers

CLUB NOTES

The Leinster Juvenile T&F took place in Tullamore last Saturday and Sunday, where conditions were cool but dry, perfect for competition. Mullingar athletes had great success over the two days, winning 8 gold, 3 silver, and 3 bronze medals.

Two of them set new championship records, one finished in fourth place, and others recorded personal bests. Most importantly, everyone competed to the best of their abilities and can take satisfaction from that. Pride of place goes to Lily Walsh and Conor Sherwin, who recorded double successes, each winning two Leinster titles.

First on the track on Saturday morning were the walks. Given Mullingar’s enviable reputation in the event, it was no surprise that our three athletes excelled. It was gold for John Glennon (U18 boys 3,000m walk), gold for Daniel Glennon (U16 boys 3,000m walk), and in his first competitive championship in the walk, it was gold for Gareth Glennon (U13 boys 1,200m walk) in an extremely close finish. Gareth won in 6:06.46, setting a new Championship Record as this is a new event this year.

Aoibhe Martyn won her heat of the U14 girls 80m, and even though she ran quicker in the final, she finished out of the medals but was happy to have reached the Leinster final. Cian Hyland, Andrew Lillis, and Aaron Conroy contested the U16 boys 100m but didn’t advance from the very competitive heats. Finn Roddy had no problem in the U17 boys 100m heats, cruising to second place to qualify automatically for the final. Unfortunately, a poor start in the final cost him dearly, and he finished out of the medal places.

In the field events, the Mullingar athletes competed with enthusiasm, but there were no medals for Chloe Bell (U13 long jump), Aaron Conroy and Cian Hyland (U16 long jump), or Cadhla Guilfoyle (U13 javelin).

Lily Walsh ran with real intent from the start of the U14 girls 1,500m and pulled well clear to win in a fantastic 4:47.45, a new championship record by over 3 seconds. Antonio Bertolo fell about 200m into the U14 boys 1,500m but quickly got back on his feet, worked his way back into the race, and was delighted to finish in third place despite the fall. Oisin Clarke also gave a spirited performance, finishing strongly but out of the medal places.

Lisa O’Brien ran well in the U15 girls 1,500m but finished out of the medals. Scott Cogan was right up with the leaders in the early laps of the U15 boys 1,500m but had to pull out due to injury. We wish him well in his recovery. Conor Walsh raced hard in the U16 boys 1,500m but had to settle for a place out of the medals. Jessica Cunningham worked hard throughout the U19 girls 1,500m and was rewarded with a well-deserved silver medal.

The early laps of the U19 boys 1,500m were slow and bunched, but Conor Sherwin and Pablo Lozano kept out of trouble. With 200m to go, Conor surged to the front, followed closely by Pablo. Sprinting hard up the home straight, they held their positions, with Conor crossing the line first and Pablo on his heels in second.

Cian Hyland and Aaron Conroy returned to the track for the U16 boys 400m but didn’t advance from the tough heats. In the U18 boys 400m, Kyle Faherty was right up with the leaders for most of the race, but coming into the home straight, the leaders pulled clear, and he finished out of the medals. Aonghus O’Reilly had a straight final in the U14 boys 300m, competing well but finishing out of the medals.

The final race with a Mullingar interest was the U18 girls 2,000m steeplechase, where Ailbhe O’Farrell put in a great shift, negotiating the tough barriers and water jumps, to finish strong in third place and win the Leinster bronze medal.

In a busy weekend, Lily Walsh returned to action on Sunday morning, winning her heat of the U14 girls 800m to qualify for the final. In the final later in the day, Lily tracked the early leader all the way, looked very strong and smooth, and with 120m to go, made her move and charged to the front. She held her form, crossing the line in 2:19.38, a personal best by 3 seconds, delighted to win her second Leinster title.

There were four heats of the U14 girls 200m, so competition was fierce. Clodagh Doran ran well but didn’t advance from her heat to join Aoibhe Martyn, who was second in her heat and qualified for the final, where she competed well but finished out of the medal places.

However, she should be satisfied with reaching another Leinster sprint final, which is good progress. Finn Roddy qualified from his heat of the U17 boys 200m but was drawn in the inside lane for the final, which is tight and difficult. Despite battling well, he finished out of the medals.

Clodagh Doran was busy in the field events, finishing out of the medals in the U14 girls long jump but happy to jump a personal best of 3.37m. She also competed in the U14 girls shot, finishing out of the medals but thoroughly enjoying the competition.

We finished the day with the 3,000m, which proved a rich vein for medals. Conor Walsh put in a great effort in the U16 boys 3,000m, finishing just out of the medals in fourth place but still qualifying for the All-Irelands finals. In the U17 boys 3,000m, Matthew Molloy worked very hard, building up an unassailable lead to win the Leinster title, followed by the fast-finishing Oisin Kehoe, who took third place and the bronze medal.

Despite running the 1,500m the day before, Conor Sherwin and Pablo Lozano lined up for the U19 boys 3,000m with medals on their minds. The first half of the race was slow and cagey, but as the pace increased, Conor and Pablo were right up with the leaders.

When Conor made his final push for home on the final bend, he hit the front and sprinted clear to win, with Pablo finishing in second place to take the silver medal, rounding off a strong Championship for Mullingar.

Victory for Susan Glennon in Trim

The Braveheart 5k organised by Trim AC took place on a very warm evening last Friday in the Porchfields in Trim. This race is noted for its scenic route along the banks of the River Boyne, allowing the over 500 runners to take in the sights of one of the finest collections of medieval monuments in Ireland.

We had three athletes taking the challenging off-road terrain in their stride. First home for Mullingar was Susan Glennon, determined to take the win, which she did in style, crossing the finish line in a fantastic 19 minutes 21 seconds. Next home was Linda Cunningham in 22:24, and Michelle O'Halloran completed the group in 23:47, delighted to be awarded a prize for second place in her master category.

Mullingar Team Success at Daingean 5k

Round 6 of the Offaly 5k Series, the Daingean 5k, was held last Friday evening. A very large field of 364 athletes competed in the event. Organised and excellently staged by the local Naomh Mhuire AC, it attracted a huge contingent from the other Offaly clubs, who have been magnificent in their respective towns and villages, putting on a well-stewarded event. Mullingar Harriers were very well represented with 23 taking part.

On a perfect evening for running, with bright sunshine and a stiff breeze, the looped course ran parallel to the canal, intersected the main street, and moved through a series of country roads to the finish just off the main street.

Kevin Moore was always mixing it with the leaders before having to settle for a close fourth place in a season’s best of 15 minutes 52 seconds. With support from Eoin Clarke (17:34), Evan McCormack (18:07), and Eddie Newman (18:09), winning his master category comfortably, the team placed third club.

Our women went even better by capturing the first club place, thanks to Glenda Shaw running 18 minutes 30 seconds to finish third woman and first in her master category, Joan Flynn (18:54) third in her master category, Ann Hall (19:01) fourth in her master category, and Mary Stuart (19:53) winning her master category, combining to comfortably head the women’s team placings.

Others to complete the 5k were Dara O’Shea (19:16), Mark Geoghegan (19:30), Padraig Beglin (19:52), Orlaith Flanagan (20:24), Conleth Mullen (22:33) second U20 man, Gemma Kelly (22:29), Michael O’Sullivan (23:23), Brigid McCabe (23:29) second in her master category, Claire Lennon (23:39), Catherine Gavin (23:41), Joel Kelly (24:07) second U15 boy, Martin Mullen (24:14), Michael Purdue (24:19), Ray Smyth (24:24) and Kelly Dunne (24:54) [MO’S].