Galway 5km Series
Rob Lennon, Castlegar AC, Winner of the Claregalway leg of the Galway 5k series last Tuesday. Pic: John O'Connor
The fourth race of the 2018 Galway 5km Series took place in Claregalway last Tuesday, with yet another different winner. Rob Lennon of Castlegar AC cruised home to victory in 16.40, ahead of Michael Kerrin of GCH who clocked 16.58 and Dominic Sharkey who placed third in 17.19. Regina Casey of GCH took her third win of the series in 17.49, with Sinead Brody also of GCH second in 18.30, and Aine O Farrell of Athenry AC placing third in 19.12. Athenry are this week’s hosts, on 22nd May, with GCH hosting the final leg in Kilcornan on Tuesday 29thMay.
Galway Track and Field Senior and Masters Championships
The 2018 Galway Track and Field Senior Championships kick off this Thursday, 24th May at 7pm the Dangan track, NUI Galway. The first day’s schedule features the 100m, 400m, 1500m, 100m and 110m Hurdles, Shot Putt, Javelin and Long Jump events. Entries are in advance to club secretaries with some limited entries on the night from 6pm.
Day two on May 31st will see the following events;200m, 800m, 3000m (Women) / 5000m Men, 400m hurdles, Discus, Weight throw, High Jump, Triple Jump and relays.
Connacht Schools Track and Field
The Connacht Schools Track and Field championships were held Thursday last in Athlone IT, with some impressive performances from Galway athletes. One of the highlights came via Emma Moore of Presentation Athenry, who won the Junior Girls 800m in a new record of 2.13.9, breaking Claire Rockall’s record from 2005. Other Galway victories in the Junior events came from Conor Hoade, also Pres Athenry, over the sprint Hurdles, St Enda’s Uyi Agbonayinma, who won a superb double, claiming both 200m and 800m titles.
In the Junior Field events, Lauren McNally of St Brigid’s Loughrea won the Javelin title, Aibhidh Ni Mhaile of SC Carraroe took gold in the Girls Discus, Ava Finn won the High Jump, and Aoibhinn Farrell of Mercy Woodford jumped to Triple Jump gold, while in the Junior Boys events, Luke Dahler of St Endas won Long Jump gold, Adrian Marnali of St Mary’s College took the Triple Jump title, while Conor McKenna of St Mary’s College threw well to win the Hammer gold.
At Minor level, Ava McKeon of AM Ballinasloe won Minor Girls 75m hurdles and the 200m, while in the Boys events, Darragh Jennings of Carraroe took the Minor Boys 800m, Callum Healy from Presentation Athenry won the Minor Boys hurdles, and St Mary’s Joshua Osifo claimed the 100m Minor Boys sprint title. In the field events, Jade Moorehead and Lukas Schukat, both of Presentation College Athenry, took gold in the High Jump., and Schukat also claimed victory in the Long Jump.
At Intermediate level, Chloe Casey of St Raphael’s Loughrea was in superb form, winning double gold in the Discus and Shot Putt, while Leanagh Gilligan, St Brigid’s Loughrea, won the Triple Jump. On the track, Seren O'Toole of Ballinrobe and GCH stormed to Hurdles gold, Eimear Rowe of Mercy Tuam won the 800m girls event and Emma Boyle of Pres Athenry claimed the 3000m title. In the Boys events, Robert O Domhnaill of Colaiste Na Coiribe won the 200m and 400m double with a fast 22.68 and 50.75 respectively. Eoghan Jennings of Carraroe won the 400m Hurdles, while his teammate Eoin De Buitlear won the Hammer. Anton Tarlov of St Brigid’s Loughrea won the Triple Jump.
In the Senior events, Brendan Lynch of St Brigid’s College Loughrea won a double in the Senior Boys, taking gold in both the 400m Hurdles and the Triple Jump, while in the High Jump Jerry Keary of St Raphael’s Loughrea won the Senior Boys title leaping 1.95m, just short of the Connacht record of 1.96m.
Jack Dempsey of HRC Mountbellew won both Senior Boys sprint titles over 100m and 200m
In the Senior Girls events, Aoife Sheehy of Dunmore CS won both hurdles crowns, over 100m and 400m Hurdles, while Laura Nally of Calascantius College Oranmore took the Senior Girls 400m. Aine O'Farrell ran a solid 10.49 to take gold in the Senior girls 3000m. In the field, Laura Cunningham of Pres Athenry won double gold in the High Jump and Triple Jump, Siana Lawless of St Brigid’s Loughrea won the Long Jump and Emily Gann of Ballinasloe took the honours in the Javelin
Thomas McStay of Colaiste Baile Chlair stormed home to take the Senior Boys 1500m, while in the most exciting race of the day the Senior 800m, three of Galway’s best young middle-distance runners broke 2 minutes over 800m, in Thomas McStay 1.58, Jack Maher and Eanna Folan both with 1.59, while Aaron Brennan ran 2 minutes dead in a very competitive race won by Sligo's Leo Doherty in 1.55.
Next up for Galway’s athletes who qualified are the Irish Schools Championships which will be held Saturday 2nd June in Tullamore.
MayFly 10k
The Mayfly 10k was held in Oughterard Sunday last, with Daire Comer of Tuam AC first home in 37.12, ahead of local athlete Donal Kelly in second, and Frank King of Castlegar AC in third, Eilis ni Dhúill of GCH was first lady home in 43.11, closely followed by Carmel Coyne and Emer O'Connell in second and third respectively.
European Masters Road Race Championships
Ian Egan of Tuam AC travelled to Alicante in Spain last weekend, competing for the Irish Masters team, and helped the Irish cross-country squad to fourth placed team overall.
Universities Match v Scotland
Six NUI Galway athletes travel to Scotland with the Irish Universities squad for this weekend’s Celtic Games match versus Scotland. Talon Thompson and Finley Daly will compete on the 3000m steeplechase team, with Bridget McDyer featuring in the Shot Putt, Aisling Forkan going over 400m, Aengus Meldon in the 800m and Sarah Quinn in the 100m hurdles.
