Galway
Clinic Streets of Galway 8k
The 34th edition of the famous Streets
of Galway 8k race was held through Galway City last Saturday night. The race attracted
a huge crowd of top Irish athletes, club runners, as well as thousands of new
and regular local and visiting runners, despite the inclement weather
At the front of proceedings one of the
most exciting races in years developed from early on with a lead group of four
athletes breaking away – Damien Lenders of Ennis Track, Alan O’Shea of Bantry,
Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham and Kenny Rodgers of St John’s in Clare.
The quartet set a hot pace, crossing
halfway in 12 minutes flat, and remained together until just after, with O’Shea
dropping back at Devon Park. International marathon runner Hehir then took over
the lead through Salthill and tried hard to drop the other two with Rodgers
falling off the pace at 6k, leaving just Hehir and Landers to battle it out.
The last kilometre saw a great duel between the two Irish internationals, with
Landers eventually getting a few yards lead on his rival to take an epic
victory in a time of 24.07, after one of the most competitive races in years.
Hehir was five seconds back in second, with Rodgers making a Clare clean sweep
in coming home third.
The ladies section saw a superb display
of front running from Irish cross country international Ann Marie McGlynn of
Letterkenny AC who led from the gun to take the honours in 26.41.
McGlynn dethroned the reigning champion
Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane AC who nonetheless ran a strong race to place
second in 28.11 with Regina Casey of local club GCH finishing up in a great
third place.
Almost 2,600 finished the race despite
some heavy rain, and credit is due to organisers Galway City Harriers, Galway
Clinic and the local authorities for putting on a great event in the city at
the height of the busy Galway season
European
Team Championships
Nicole Walsh of Galway City Harriers
competed for Ireland at the European Team Track and Field Championships held in
Norway last weekend. Talented sprinter Walsh ran on the Irish 4x400m relay
squad and helped them to fourth place overall in the race on her senior debut
for her country.
National
Masters track and field
This weekend sees the finals of the
National Masters Track and field championships taking place in Tullamore
stadium, on Sunday next from 11am. Many of Galway’s top masters athletes will
compete including Ian Egan and Sean
McDermott of Castlegar, Mary Barrett of Loughrea, and Sinead Foran and Niamh
Hennelly of GCH .
