Club's younger athletes compete with distinction

Mullingar Harriers Athletics Club -- Last Friday evening (21st May), a very large squad of 51 young Westmeath athletes, many from Mullingar Harriers, gathered in Tullamore for the Annual Inter-County track and field competition between Laois, Offaly and Westmeath.For many, this was their first track competition and their first time to compete on a tartan track, which added to the huge enjoyment of the evening.The competition was for boys and girls from under 9 years to under 14 years. While 51 athletes is an impressive number, we have to ask where the rest of our young athletes were. This was an ideal competition for our younger athletes and newcomers and given the amount of time and energy put into looking after them every Tuesday and Thursday during the year, we expected to see a lot more of them take part. We have to ask why they bother joining the Club and then not compete.Among those who did compete was a group from Wilson's Hospital School and as usual Community Games in Kinnegad and Ballymore were very well represented. A special thanks to Caitriona Fidgeon, Catherine Harris, Brid Leydon, Tony Ennis, Noreen Cuffe and Andy MacEoin and many more for giving a helping hand on the night and to the many parents who provided transport and vocal support.We had athletes in every age group and in every event from sprint, middle distance, long jump, ball throw and shot putt. Among the medal winners were Shauna Leydon, Nicola Groenewald, Amy Maxwell, Adeola Ojomo-Amaka, Meabh McNulty, Niamh Quinn, Niamh Fogarty, Caoimhe Kelly, Aline Cloeyssons, Aisling Moody, Eoin Quinn, Owen McCabe, Daniel Ennis, John Whitelaw, Andrew Daly, Conor McHugh, Patrick Leydon, Declan Brady, Mervyn Harris, Eoin Sheridan, Oisin Quinn and Diego Montis. In fact, many of them won more than one medal.Also competing well for Westmeath and reaching finals were Dorothy Bane, Peter Bane, Eanna Burke, Rhona Cuffe, Katie Daly, Aoife Darby, Rachel Darby, Shannon Delaney, Niall Derham, Kelly Ennis, Claire Fagan, Eduardo Feu, Jennifer Fidgeon, Daria Fidgeon, Conor Fogarty, Orla Fogarty, Alanna Foran, Elysia Greene, Hilary Harris, Sam Maxwell, Anthony Moran, Ciara Murphy, Sinead Murtagh, Emily McCabe, Ronan McHugh, Orla O'Rourke, Faye Walsh, Holly Walsh and Laura Whitelaw. Many thanks to each and every one of them for turning up and competing so well.Schools track and fieldCongratulations to all our Club members who have qualified for the All-Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Saturday 5th June. In total, we will have 11 Club athletes competing for their Schools and Colleges, the highest number ever from the Club. The Leinster Finals last Wednesday and Saturday saw some amazing performances, especially from Shane Fitzsimons (St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge) who ran a brilliant 1,500m on Saturday to win in a time of 3 minutes 58.5 seconds, which knocked four seconds off the record that has stood for 32 years.Also qualifying from Leinster were Jake Byrne (St. Joseph's) and Vinny Connolly (Killucan) in the 5,000m senior, Ciara Fogarty (Loreto Mullingar) with a new personal best throw in the intermediate shot putt, Lorraine Daly (Mercy Kilbeggan) 1,500m intermediate, Ciara Hewson (Maynooth PPS) 1,500m junior, Linda Conroy (Mercy Kilbeggan) 800m junior, Edel Glennon (St. Finian's, Mullingar) 1,200m junior race walk, Padraig Moran (St. Mary's CBS, Mullingar) 1,500m junior, while qualifying from Connaught last Wednesday were Robert Yorke (St. Mel's, Longford) 800m senior and Thomas Fagan (Moate CC) 1,500m senior. These are the young athletes who are always prepared to train hard and put in the work during the wet and cold winter nights.We must record too the performances of Liam O'Reilly and Jack Reid (St. Joseph's) who took 800m minor bronze and 1,100m minor silver respectively at the Leinster Finals. There is no All-Ireland for minor but no doubt they'll be looking to qualify next year when they're in the junior grade.Mullingar Road Leagueto finish this weekTaking full advantage of the beautiful summer weather last Wednesday (19th May), over 422 runners, joggers and walkers took part in the third round of our Annual Road League. Over 600 competitors have registered so far, the majority locals, making this the most successful and best supported athletics event in the County, which is a just reward for the hardworking group of people who have given freely of their time to make the League a success. No doubt the late Pat Finnerty, whom the League commemorates, would have been very proud.Ger Heery (St. Brigid's AC) skipped round 2 but made a winning return for round 3 and if he runs the final night, will be difficult to beat for the overall men's prize. Peter Mooney (Na Fianna AC), Declan Fahy (Tullamore), Paul Gleeson (South O'Hanlon), Tom McGrath (Mullingar) and Martin Lyons (Mullingar) completed the top six and will be looking to run well this Wednesday and challenge for prizes. Mary Scully (Mullingar) was again the dominant force in the women's race, followed in by Michelle O'Halloran, Sinead Roche, Maura Dervin, Paula Murray, Vera McCool and Siobhan Moore, making it an all-Mullingar top 6 finish.In the junior men's race, Gavin Doran (Midland Tri) led home, with Ryan Blundell (Mullingar) and Glen Gaffney (Mullingar) running well, while in the junior women's race, Shauna Moore (Dunshaughlin) with three out of three wins, looks to have overall first prize wrapped up though Lorraine Daly and Rebecca Kelly (Mullingar) still competed with enthusiasm.The final night is this Wednesday (26th May) and it promises to be a real thriller with plenty of prizes to be won in the various categories, which will be presented afterwards in the Reception Centre at Belvedere. For those looking to keep running, don't forget the Rathowen 5km Road Race the following Wednesday evening (2nd June).June Committee MeetingThe June meeting of the committee will be held next Tuesday 1st June in the Club house at 8.30pm after training. As this will be the eve of the Rathowen Road race, a full attendance is required to make the necessary last minute arrangements.Finally, the Executive and members of the Club wish to extend sincere sympathy to Louis Kenny on the recent death of his wife, Marcie, in the USA and to the Waldron family on the recent death of Ann Waldron. May they rest in peace.FixturesThis coming week-end, we'll have athletes in action at the Leinster u/9 to 11 Pairs Competition and the u/12 T&F Championships in Tullamore on Saturday, and at the Leinster Junior T&F Championships in Greystones on Sunday.21st: Inter-County T&F Match (Offaly v Laois v Westmeath) u/9 to u/14, Tullamore Harriers Stadium26th May: Mullingar Road League, Round 4, Belvedere29th: Leinster u/9, 10, 11 Pairs & u/12 T&F, Tullamore29th: Donore Harriers AC "Summer 5km Road Race plus 3km Sprint Challenge", Phoenix Park30th: Leinster Junior & u/23 T&F, Tullamore2nd June: Rathowen 5km Road Race2nd: Dublin Graded T&F, Irishtown Stadium5th: All-Ireland Schools T&F, Tullamore6th: Leinster Senior & Master T&F, Tullamore7th: Women's Mini Marathon, Dublin12th: Bohermeen AC "Patrick Bell" 5km Road Race12th: Leinster Team Event (u/9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15), Greystones13th: Westmeath Community Games County Finals (Track Events)14th: Westmeath Community Games County Finals (Field Events)Training continues each Tuesday and Thursday from the Clubhouse in Grange at 7pm and at Belvedere on Sunday mornings at 11am. For results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures check the Club's website at www.mullingarharriers.com.