Mullingar runners enjoy success at Trim 10 Mile

A group of 28 from Mullingar Harriers toed the line with nearly 1,700 others on a damp, mild but gusty day on Sunday morning for the Trim 10 Mile Road Race.

A nine-week training block had everyone in peak shape and ready for the challenge. Just before the start, the wind started to pick up, making even the warm-ups tricky. The Trim course is an honest one with its fair share of uphill and downhill sections.

Fortunately the gusts didn’t affect the first half much but once the runners turned at the midpoint, they headed straight into the wind, which proved difficult, especially on the uphill sections.

Turning into cross winds after seven miles meant some time was clawed back, though the final half mile was straight into a tough headwind again, but with the finish in sight, everyone just knuckled down and dug deep to the finish line, where all the Harriers had smiles crossing the line, and more than 20 of them recorded best times for 10 miles.

Andy Boyhan led the Mullingar group home finishing well up in 59 minutes 43 seconds, delighted to join the sub-60 minute group, followed in by Eddie Newman (60:25) to win his master age category, Enda O’Carolan (61:00) and Evan McCormack (61:38) completing the four-man team that finished a creditable sixth club. In the women’s race, Niamh McEntegart was first to finish for Mullingar in an excellent 65 minutes 52 seconds, and with great support from Joan Flynn (68:18), Criona Reid (68:57) placing second in her master age category and Aeilish McGovern (1:11:29), the women finished first club.

Also competing and happy with their performances were Alan Crowley (63:49), Enda Seery (65:24), James Cribbin (65:55), Tommy Byrne (67:35), Darren Carroll (68:38), Declan Claffey (1:11:43), Aisling Corcoran (1:11:48), Therese Glynn (1:12:27), Paul Ginnell (1:13:49), Mark Dunne (1:14:05), John McNamara (1:14:22), Kieran Daly (1:16:11), Marie Louise Johnston (1:17:39), John Keane (1:18:02), Emer O’Hanlon (1:20:35), Aisling Farrell (1:22:16), Shaun Mills (1:23:09), Terri Greene (1:24:19), Catherine Gavin (1:29:41) and Michael Greene (1:47:08).

National Indoor Silver for Aidan O’Donoghue

The National Indoor Combined Events were held at the NIA Abbotstown last Sunday week (28 Jan). Competition was for Juvenile, U20, Senior and Master, and Aidan O’Donoghue competed in the latter category. Races were competitive and four national records were set by master athletes on the day. The master men competed over five events, 60m hurdles, long jump, high jump, shot and 1,000m. Aidan was the sole competitor for Mullingar Harriers on the day and was delighted to set a personal best in the 60m hurdles and to clear 1.42m in the high jump on his way to a silver medal.

Raheny 5 mile

The 40th edition of the Raheny 5 Mile was last Sunday week (28 Jan) and it was quite a sight to see 4,300 runners packed together behind the start line, filled with a mixture of excitement and nerves. Going out hard with the leading group was Andrew Nevin and after a great race, he finished well up in an excellent 26 minutes 21 seconds. Following him in was Eddie Newman (29:23), good enough to win his master age category, then Kieran Nolan (29:50), Joan Flynn (31:24), third in her master age category, James Cribbin (31:44), Mary Stuart (33:11), second in her master age category, and Murty Hanly (33:26).

North Leinster Schools Cross Country

A large number of juvenile athletes began their season at the North Leinster Schools Cross Country in the Phoenix Park last Friday week (26 Jan) and, as expected, by day’s end a great number of them had booked their places in the Leinster finals in Santry in early February.

Daniel Horohoe raced to an excellent sixth place in the minor boys 1,600m and led a Coláiste Mhuire team who included Oisin Clarke and Oisin Kilmurray to second team and a place in the finals. Evan Nohilly (St Finian’s College) also competed but finished out of the automatic qualification places.

Among the big entry in the Junior girls 2,000m were Blathnaid Peters, Lisa O’Brien, Emma Lagan and Meadhbh Armstrong (St Finian’s College) and Beibhinn O’Reilly, Aoibhinn Smith and Sorcha McNamee (Loreto Mullingar), but despite racing well, they finished out of the medals. In the junior boys 2,200m Daniel Glennon (St Finian’s College) finished strong in a great 10nth place to earn an automatic place in the finals, but despite great support from Aaron Conroy and Andrew Lillis, the team finished out of the medals. It was a similar fate for the Coláiste Mhuire team who included Greg McDonnell, Morgan Isdell, Cian Hyland and Cormac McGrath, though top marks for effort.

St Finian’s College had two girls in action in the intermediate 1,600m and with a great 14th place finish, Ailbhe O’Farrell booked her place in the finals, but not so for Evie Kilmurray, though she ran a good race against tough opposition. It was fifth for Oisin Kehoe (St Finian’s College) in the intermediate boys 3,800m race and with terrific team support and packing from Matthew Molloy (seventh), Donagh Carey (13th), John Glennon and Txema Lozano, St Finian’s College were second team. Jamie Wallace (ninth) and Luke Greene (15th) booked their places in the finals but despite great support from Conor Walsh, Conor Geoghegan, Niall Brady and Daniel Hickey, the Coláiste Mhuire team were unlucky to finish just out of the medals in fourth place, so only Jamie and Luke advance to the finals.

In the senior girls 2,200m the Loreto Mullingar team of Grace Byrne (second), Louise Callaghan (fifth), Jessica Cunningham (ninth), Shauna Callaghan and Siofra O’Halloran dominated to win by a big margin, which is little surprise given the talents of these girls. It was the same showcasing of talent by the Coláiste Mhuire team in the senior boys 4,200m, led home with a brilliant 1, 2 from John Ryan and Conor Sherwin, closely followed by Ross Killalea (fifth) and Pablo Lozano (10th) to easily finish first team.

National Masters and Juvenile B Cross Country

Good luck to everyone competing at the National Masters and Juvenile B Cross Country in Dundalk IT this coming Sunday. Mullingar will have master men and women teams and some strong teams in the B cross country too and we wish them all the very best of luck.

Renewal of membership

Membership fees for 2024 are now due and thanks to everyone that has paid already. You can pay online though the club website or any evening at training if more convenient. It’s important to renew, so you are insured to train at the Club and of course to enter the many indoor and road events coming up.

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