Galway Indoor Track and Field Championships
The 2018 Galway Indoor Championships were held in the superb surroundings of Athlone IT Arena last Saturday and Sunday. A record entry of almost 1,000 athletes from all Galway clubs competed at both juvenile and adult level over the new two-day format, and a huge crowd of parents and supporters were in attendance for a great day’s action.
At senior level, Stephen Casserly of Castlegar AC won an enthralling Men’s 3000m in 9.50, kicking away on the last lap from Brian O’Connor of GCH, and Patrick Noonan of Craughwell AC, who placed second and third respectively. The talented Niamh Hennelly of GCH had a fabulous run to clock an excellent 10.52 for a clear victory in the ladies’ race, with Aine O’Farrell of Athenry in second and Tara Whyte of GCH third home. Veronica Burke of Ballinasloe and District took the Senior ladies walk with ease.
Over 800m, Ben Garrard of Craughwell ran 2.00 to claim the Men’s title after a fantastic race with Gavin Cooney also Craughwell, and their clubmate Sinead Gaffney won the Ladies 800m gold. In the sprints, Conor Duggan of Craughwell AC made a welcome return to action winning the Senior 60m, while Aoife Sheehy of GCH and Brendan Lynch of Loughrea won the sprint hurdles. Sinead Treacy won double gold in the ladies 60m sprint and 200m, the latter after the race of the day with Nicole King of GCH with just one-thousandth of a second separating the pair. Majella Loftus won gold in the masters 60 and 200m events, while Robert Meagher of GCH took the Men’s 200m title.
At Juvenile level, GCH had impressive wins on the track including a phenomenal triple victory for Ava McKeon. McKeon won three individual golds on Sunday – claiming the U14 Girls 60m sprint, the 60m hurdles, and the U14 Girls 800m in an amazing display. Seren O’Toole won double gold in both the u 16/17 Girls 60m sprint and 200 metres, while Robert McDonnell won the U16/17 Boys double over 60m and 200m also. Conor Hoade took gold in the U15 Boys hurdles, while Luke Dahler won the U 15 Boys 60m. Emma Moore ran a fantastic 2.19 in the U15 Girls 800m to take gold while Eimear Rowe won the U16/17 Girls event.
Craughwell AC winners on the track included Lauren Morgan in the U10 Girls 60m, Alan Hallinan in the U9 Boys 200m, while siblings Keelan Moorehead won the U11 Boys 600nm and Kyle Moorehead won the U16/17 Boys 800m. Evan Moran won the U13 Boys hurdles while Saoirse Moore won the U15 girls hurdles, and Niamh Duffy won the U13 Girls 60m. In the field Craughwell winners included Emma O'Donovan in the U11 Girls Long Jump, Lauren Morgan took a second gold in the U10 Long Jump, Ella Farrelly also won two titles, with gold in both the U12 Girls Long jump and High Jump. Ben Moran won the U11 Boys Long Jump, while Darragh Kelly claimed gold in the U12 Boys High Jump In the throws, Shannon Quinn won gold in the U12 girls Shot Putt
Loughrea AC winners included Darragh Fahy with double gold in the U12 Boys 60m and Long Jump, Hazel Fahy ran a very fast time in the U10 Girls 400m, Shane Earls claimed the U10 Boys 400m while there was gold for Samuel Ukaga in the U16/17 Boys hurdles.
Athenry AC juveniles were also multiple title winners, as Cian McNelis won two golds, in the U13 Boys 60m and in the 600m with a great front running display, while Conor Curran won the Shot at U12 level and Aoibhe Deeley won the U16/17 Girls hurdles.
Ballinasloe and District AC gold medallists were Sinead Greene in the U11 Girls 60m, and Caoimhe Kilkenny in the U13 Girls 600m, while East Galway AC had a gold medal winner in Enda Keane in the U 12 Boys 600m and Saoirse Coleman in the U13 Girls hurdles.
South Galway AC had winners via David Mannion who took double gold in the U14 Boys hurdles and 60m sprint, while brother Stephen won the 800m distance event. Sinead Mongan was the U12 Girls 60m hurdles champion, Aisling Geaney won the U11 Girls 600m, Aisling Finn won the U 15 Girls 60m, Michael Leahy won the U 15 Boys 800m while in the field, Katelyn Kelly won the U9 Girls Long Jump to complete a great event for the club.
Tuam AC fielded a huge contingent of athletes and had a superb all-round championship, claiming a huge haul of medals across the board. Eimear Fallon won double gold in in the U9 Girls 60m and 200m as did Tom Henry in the U10 Boys 60m and U10 Long Jump. In the U12 Boys 60m Hurdles Cian Rafferty took the honours, Odhran Kelly was winner in the U9 Boys 60m, JJ Ofioh looked impressive winning the U11 Boys 60m, while Aine McGuire took gold the U12 Girls 60m and Danielle Moynihan won the U12 Girls 600m. In the field, Tuam had a win from Thomas Riordan in the U9 Boys Long Jump.
In the field events, Brendan Staunton of GCH and Katie O’Donoghue of Craughwell AC claimed the Senior Shot putt titles. At Juvenile level, Darragh Kearney of Craughwell (U13), Liam Shaw of Athenry at U14, and Darragh Jennings of GCH at U15 were victors in the boys, while Niamh Duffy of Craughwell at U13, Caitlin Griffin of Loughrea (U14), Ella Rafferty (Tuam AC) at U15 and at U16/17 Chloe Casey of Craughwell were victorious in the girl’s events
Brendan Lynch took the Triple Jump Men’s title, with Laura Cunningham of Craughwell landing the Ladies crown. Shane O’Rourke of Tuam AC took both the Senior Men’s High jump, and the Long Jump while Katie O’Donoghue of Craughwell won the ladies High Jump and clubmate Siona Lawless the Long Jump. At Juvenile level in High Jump Ellie Cronin (Craughwell) and Jack Mannion of Tuam took the U16/17 titles, Grace Bermingham of South Galway won the U13 Girls, with Cormac McFadden of Craughwell winning the U13 Boys. Jade Moorehead of Craughwell took the U14 Girls, Evan Hallinan of Craughwell won the Boys U14 title, while clubmates Lukas Schukat and Saoirse Moore of Craughwell were victorious at U15 level.
In the Long Jump there were wins for Siobhan Carr and Conor Gilligan of Craughwell at U13, Evan Hallinan and Katie Scully also Craughwell in the U14, At U15 Roisin Dalton and Conor Hoade of GCH were winners, while at U16/17 Loughrea did the double via Aoibhinn Farrell and Sam Ukaga.
There were also series of very exciting relays on the programme, which saw multiple wins for Tuam AC, Craughwell, and GCH,as well wins for South Galway AC.
Tuam AC 8k
The 16th edition of the Tuam AC 8k road race will take place Sunday 21st January next at 2.30 pm, with entry available online now on Athletics Ireland's Primo system, and on the day at Race HQ
National Track and Field Indoor League
GCH and Craughwell AC both fielded teams in the first round of the National Indoor league which took place in the National Indoor Arena in Dublin last weekend
GCH Men’s team lies in fourth place after the first round, with 21.5 points. Competing on the day were Michael Breathnach, Eoghan Jennings, James Frizzell, and Henrique Nvokolata
Craughwell ladies had an excellent start to the League with a fourth-place finish, with Sinead Treacy, Eva Kelly, Sinead Gaffney and Sarah Finnegan all scoring heavily for the experienced squad.
GCH Ladies had a strong outing, placing fifth overall, with a young squad comprising Seren O’Toole, Laura Nally, Aoife Sheehy and Lydia Doyle
