National
Masters Track and Field championships
The National Masters
Track and Field championships were held last Sunday in Tullamore, and Galway
athletes enjoyed great success.
Sean
Breathnach of GCH yet again took top billing as he claimed an incredible four
National gold medals in the Javelin, Shot Putt, Discus and Weight for distance
events, and also won silver in the Hammer event. It was a good day also for fellow
GCH thrower Linas Mitkas who took National gold at O45 level in the Shot Putt, Discus,
and Weight for distance and Hammer events. Brendan Staunton took National gold in the O35Discus event and claimed silver in the 035 Shot Putt, Hammer
and Weight for distance events. On the track, Jim Phelan claimed gold in the O45 400m race.
GCH ladies excelled, as
Majella Loftus won two sprint medals, winning silver in the 100m and bronze in
the 200m, while in the distance events, Sinead Foran won bronze over 1500m at
O40 level and Majella Ni Chriochain won bronze over 3000m. GCH Ladies relay
squads won gold medals in the 4x400m relay, and silver in the 4x100m relay,
with the team including Majella Loftus, Sonya King, Jean O Connor, Kathryn Casserly,
Karen Quirke and Sinead Foran. GCH men’s relay squad claimed silver in the 4x400
Men’s event, just ahead of Castlegar AC who won bronze.
Mark Davis of
Craughwell AC continued his great season, winning silver at O45 level in the 5000m, clocking 16.17.Sprinters Ronnie Warde and John Walkin also of Craughwell AC
both won silverware with some top class performances over 100m.
In the field, Mairead
Welby of Corrib AC won three National medals including gold in the Shot Putt,
Discus silver and Weight for Distance bronze. Olivier Griseti won bronze in the
Shot Putt for Castlegar AC. Justin Lane of Tuam AC and club colleague Leonie
Hegarty both picked up medals in the throws.
National
Half Marathon
Ciaran Faherty of GCH
impressed at the recent National Half Marathon held in Dublin, placing 10th
overall in a time of 70 minutes 8 seconds. Faherty will look to improve his
marathon best time at the upcoming Berlin Marathon. Martin Keane of Athenry AC
also performed well, winning another National medal, in taking silver at O75
level
Claregalway
10k
This weekend sees the 32nd
running of the Claregalway 10k, which will be held on Saturday next at 6pm. The
race is organised by local club Clare River Harriers and always attracts a
strong field. Race headquarters is at Claregalway Community Centre, with
registration available on Active.com or limited entries on the day.
