U23 and Junior National Indoors
The National Junior and U23 Indoor Championships were held in Athlone IT last weekend with great success for Galway athletes across a host of events. Craughwell AC secure a superb seven medals, led off by an exceptional performance by Patrick Noonan in the U23 1500m to win his first National Title, with Galway City Harriers Aaron Brennan making it a Galway 1-2 winning silver behind Noonan. Star of the jumps was Craughwell's Evan Hallinan with the unique achievement of winning three National individual medals on the same day. His first came in the U20 Men’s Triple Jump at 10am where he took the bronze medal with a best of 13.02m. Hallinan was back in action in the U20 Men’s High Jump where he leaped an impressive 1.90m to win the silver medal on countback. Less than two hours later, Hallinan lined up for his final event of the day with the U20 Men’s Long Jump and put on another top-drawer performance with a best of 6.47m on his 5th jump to take the silver medal.
Jade Moorhead (pictured above with her brother Kyle) was also in super form in the U20 Women’s High Jump of 1.60m to take the bronze medal on countback – a fantastic achievement to add to the National U20 Scottish title she won recently Laura Cunningham was in fantastic form in the U23 Women’s Triple Jump –leaping 10.33 meters on her 6th and final attempt to take the silver medal. Kyle Moorhead took a fine bronze in the 800m, to cap a great day for the Craughwell club.
Galway City Harriers secured five medals- with a gold and three silvers individually and a team relay bronze. Richard Kamson secured top billing for the city club as he won a brilliant gold for Triple Jump with a leap of 12.99m which was enough to comfortably take the title. Star sprinter Robert McDonnell competed over 60m, and finished second behind national record holder, Israel Olatunde in 6.81 seconds, while Emma Moore showed she is returning to her best with a fine silver in the Junior Women's 800m. GCH Junior Women's 4x200m team claimed a brilliant bronze in the relay via Ciara Dolan, Aisling Healy, Roisin Dalton and Lianna Colleran in a fast time of 1:49.73.
South Galway AC athlete David Mannion was another medallist, as he claimed a superb silver clocking 49.88 second in the Junior Men’s 400m
Irish Schools Cross Country
All roads led to County Antrim on Saturday for one of the biggest days on the Irish Athletics Calendar – the Irish Secondary Schools Cross Country Finals at the beautiful facilities of Mallusk. A large contingent of Galway athletes competed, with several top ten performances.
Declan O’Connell, representing Clarin College stole the headlines, winning his first Irish cap by finishing in 7th place in the Junior Boy’s 3500m. O Connell will now travel to Wales with the Irish Schools squad. Craughwell athlete Stephen Ruane cracked the top 6 over the Minor Boys 2500m with a gutsy display
The Presentation College Athenry team placed sixth overall, and consisted entirely of Craughwell AC Athletes. The squad were led home by Oisín Davis in 8th position, followed home by Ross McGuinness who held a very solid pace to finish in 35th, Anthony Boyle was next in 54th place, and Luke Forde was the anchor man that secured the sixth spot for the team
Craughwell 10 Mile and 10km
The Craughwell 10 Mile and 10km Races take place Sunday 20th March next, hosted by Craughwell AC. This year there will be some on the day entries at Race headquarters at St. Michael’s Hall Craughwell.
