Sun shines for conclusion of Athletics Westmeath Cross Country

Early morning mist gave way to bright warm sunshine in Belvedere on Sunday for day two of the Athletics Westmeath Cross Country Championships. Weather and underfoot conditions were perfect for running, much to the delight of officials, spectators and the girls and boys under 9, 11, 13, 15 and 17 years that competed, the older ones vying for places on club and county teams in the upcoming Leinster championships. As always, Belvedere was an excellent cross country venue, testing everyone who ran.

There were plenty of newcomers and the big number of girls and boys that ran in the non-championship U9 races really enjoyed themselves and were delighted with their medals. Moving to the championships proper, the race distances were no problem for those who 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.

Many of the juveniles who took part on day one the previous week were in action again, either running in their own age 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, everyone 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, and to the management and staff of Belvedere for the use of the excellent 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 groups and can move up age groups to make up teams. The results of both days and application in training will be used to select teams to represent Mullingar and Westmeath in the Leinster championships.

Results of day two:

U9 girls 500m – 1 Mia Barry, 2 Cara Hickey, 3 Zoe O’Donoghue, 4 Sarah Cummins, 5 Meabh Doyle, 6 Tara Coyne, 7 Adele Bertolo, 8. Hannah Lennon (Athlone), 9 Ella McManus, 10 Grace Cummins, 11 Kate Clarke (Athlone), 12 Sophie Whitelaw, 13 Lila Morgan, 14 Cliodhna Fitzpatrick, 15 Ava Wright, 16 Eva Casey (Athlone), 17 Sarah Patrick, 18. Nancy Cuddy (Athlone), 19 Ali Hennessy, 20. Evie Hassett, 21 Marie Harte, 22 Eva Fitzpatrick, 23 Emily Lynch (Athlone). U9 boys 500m – 1 Shay Gavigan, 2 Donnacha Galvin (Athlone), 3 Rian Healy, 4 Senan Whelehan, 5 Benjamin Bagnell, 6 Tiernan O’Farrell, 7 Luke Cosgrove, 8. Austin Keaveney, 9 Robert Bohan, 10 Stan Lynch, 11 Kealan Morahan, 12 Jamie Fallon (Athlone), 13 Matteo Fitzpatrick, 14 Luke McDonnell, 15 Ryan Corroon, 16 Tiamore Cosack (Athlone), 17 Shay Smith, 18. Cian Clifford, 19 Darragh Byrne, 20. Tiernan Martyn, 21 Austin Hegarty, 22 Joe Hickey, 23 Aaron Morahan. U11 girls 1,500m – 1 Lauryn Smith (MHAC), 2 Helen McGrath (MHAC), 3 Lila Lennon Currill (MHAC), 4 Roisin Keane (MHAC), 5 Maisie Walsh (MHAC), 6 Ava Meehan (MAHC), 7 Aine O’Farrell (MHAC), 8. Ellen Cummins (MHAC), 9 Caitlin McCormack, 10 Rose Harte (MHAC), 11 Heather Kelly (MHAC), 12 Aoibheann Lynam (Athlone), 13 Caoimhe Kearney (MHAC), 14 Tara McLoughlin (Athlone), 15 Kate Horohoe (MHAC), 16 Laura Buckley, 17 Cecilie Leonard, 18. Chloe Lohan (Athlone), 19 Eanin Staunton (MHAC), 20. Elsie Hegarty (MHAC), 21 Alva Barry. U11 boys 1,500m – 1 Mel Bohan (MHAC), 2 Donagh Bourke (MHAC), 3 Ollie Wright (MHAC), 4 Cillian Hardiman, 5 Noah Morgan (MHAC), 6 Ethan Byrne (MHAC), 7 Emmet Walsh (MHAC), 8. Huw Keaveney (MHAC), 9 Matthew Kellaghan (MHAC), 10 Rory McDonnell (MHAC), 11 Senan Clinton (MHAC), 12 Fionn O’Donoghue (MHAC), 13 Finn Barry, 14 Luke Wallace (MHAC), 15 Jamie Hoey (MHAC), 16 Conor Nolan (MHAC). U13 girls 2,500m – 1 Chloe Bell (MHAC), 2 Amelie Kelly (MHAC), 3 Siomha Leonard, 4 Caoimhe Lynam, 5 Clodagh Keane (MHAC), 6 Grace Farry (MHAC), 7 Alice Hyland (MHAC), 8. Aoife Dunne (MHAC), 9 Liadan Gavin (MHAC), 10 Mina Sheridan (MHAC).

U13 boys 2,500m – 1 Daniel Cummins (MHAC), 2 Gareth Glennon (MHAC), 3 Harry Flanagan (MHAC), 4 Kacper Wzaitek.

U15 girls 3,500m – 1 Lily Walsh (MHAC), 2 Isla Brennan (MHAC), 3 Chloe Duggan (MHAC), 4 Emily Tully (MHAC), 5 Alice Geelon (MHAC). U15 boys 3,500m – 1 Antonio Bertolo (MHAC), 2 Oisin Clarke (MHAC), 3 Daniel Horohoe (MHAC), 4 Cormac McGrath (MHAC), 5 Louis Kiernan (MHAC), 6 Aonghus O’Reilly (MHAC). U17 girls 4,000m – 1 Eleanor Kiernan (MHAC), 2 Tianna O’Leary (MHAC), 3 Isabel Tynan Daly (MHAC), 4 Blathnaid Peters (MHAC), 5 Emma Lagan (MHAC), 6 Yves McCague (MHAC). U17 boys 5,000m – 1 Matthew Molloy (MHAC), 2 Oisin Kehoe (MHAC), 3 Conor Walsh (MHAC), 4 Luke Greene (MHAC), 5 Cian Hyland (MHAC).

Dates for diary

The dates and venues for the Leinster cross country have been finalised. The Leinster Novice and Juvenile Even Ages are on Sunday 20 October in Dunboyne, (note change of day from Saturday to Sunday); the Leinster Senior, U23 and Juvenile Uneven Ages are on Saturday 2 November in Tinahely, Wicklow; and the Leinster Juvenile B and mixed cross country relays are between the national finals, on Saturday 2d November in Stradbally.

Claire and Ciara excel in Galway

On a windy Saturday morning, the annual Run Galway Bay took place in Salthill. Mullingar Harriers had a small but strong representation in both the 10km and half marathon. Claire Fagan ran a superb race in challenging conditions to finish fourth overall of 1,500+ finishers in the 10k in 35:17 to win the women 10k, clear of the second place woman by over a minute. Just over 1,400 toed the line for the half marathon, where Ciara Foy, a member of the club for just a month, recorded a personal best of 1:25:05 to finish 15th overall, the first woman and nearly two minutes clear of the second place woman.

Fastlane Three Quarter Marathon

The Fastlane Three Quarter Marathon, along the Grand Canal and around the newly surfaced perimeter of Grange Castle Business Park in Dublin, took place in overcast but dry conditions last Saturday morning. The course had a country feel on the edge of the city; it had an elevation gain of 27m over its 10km loops, so flat and fast was the order of the day. Two Mullingar Harriers preparing for the Dublin Marathon took part. Griffin Kearney ran an excellent time of 2:14:42 and was happy with his training and progress towards the big day in Dublin. Paul Byrne was pleased with his efforts and came home in 2:53:43 in a field of 506 runners.

There was also a half marathon in conjunction with the three quarter race and Murty Hanly was happy with his performance, coming home in 1:34:56 in a field of 620.

Fit 4 Life closed

The current Fit 4 Life programme that started three weeks ago has proved so popular that it has reached capacity and unfortunately we cannot accept any new members.

Check the club’s website at mullingarharriers.com or Facebook page for more news.