Galway Athletics Report

All
Ireland Schools Cross Country

The All Ireland
Schools Cross Country championships were held in the beautiful setting of Clongowes
College in Kildare, on a flat and fast course. Many of Ireland’s most talented
young athletes were racing, with some superb performances seen across the competitive
eight race programme.

Sean Cotter of Calasanctius College in Oranmore
had the run of the day from a Galway perspective, taking a superb seventh place
in the Inter Boys race, thereby securing himself a place on the Irish Schools
Cross Country team for the upcoming SIAB Schools international in Dublin.

At Senior level, Aaron Brennan of Claregalway, was best for Galway in 26th place at Senior Boys level, with Patrick Noonan a fighting 34th spot. Ailbhe Miskella, competing in the Senior Girls for Presentation Athenry had a strong run to finish 21st overall behind the incredible Sarah Healy. Her sister Emily was another who impressed, with a great 18thplace finish in the Inter Girls race, again for Pres Athenry.

Also In the Inter Boys there were solid runs for Oisin Davis for Pres Athenry, and Barry Murphy for St Enda’s, and the Presentation Athenry team placed 6thoverall, with Carraroe in eleventh led home by Eoghan Jennings. Daragh Jennings, competing in the Junior Boys was an excellent 13^th place for Carraroe, and William McDonnell of St Josephs Galway was 29th. St Mary’s College placed tenth in the Junior Boys, led home by Luke Flaherty.

Leah Toher of
Presentation College Headford secured 15th place in the Junior Girls with an
excellent run. An Spideal and Carraroe also fielded teams at Minor and Junior level,
with An Spideal 11th in the Minor Boys, and 12th in the Junior Boys, and
Carraroe 10th in the Junior Girls race.

National
Masters Indoors Championships

The National Masters Indoors Championships
were held last Sunday 10^th March in Athlone IT, with close to fifty
Galway athletes competing. Galway’s top master’s athletes did not disappoint,
as they garnered a huge medal haul across the huge programme of events.

Mary Barrett of Loughrea A.C won an
incredible four golds at Over 60 level, claiming gold in both jumps, firstly the
High jump with a clearance of 1.15m and then setting a championship best performance
of 3.21m to win the long jump, before winning both the Shot Putt and Weight for
Distance throws.

The evergreen Martin McEvilly of GCH was
also on top form, as he claimed triple Gold at O70 level in the 800m, 1500m, and
3000m races, in an amazing display of stamina.

Majella Loftus of GCH continued her good
run, as she struck gold in the Ladies 60m sprint and won silver in the 200m,
before leading GCH ladies to relay bronze.

Niamh Hennelly of Galway City Harriers stormed to gold in the 1500m and took home bronze in the Ladies 800m at O35 level, while clubmate Sinéad Foran won silver in 1500m and bronze at 800m in the O40 section. Jean O Connor also of GCH, took silver in the O35 800m behind Hennelly.

Jim Phelan of GCH surged to victory in
the 400m, running a personal best of 55.21 in winning the O45 category. Also,
in the O45 section Mark Davis of Craughwell stormed home on the final lap to
get up for the bronze medal in the 3000m with a fast time of 9.30

Ronnie Warde of Castlegar AC won sprint
gold in the 60m with a flying 7.30 timing to retain his title.

John Whiriskey of South Galway won
silver in the Men's 800m in the O40 section with a strong run of 2.06

In the field, Brendan Staunton, Sean Breathnach and Linas Mitkas won triple Shot Putt gold for Galway City Harriers in the Over 35, 40 and 45 categories respectively. Breathnach was the top thrower on the day with a best throw of 16.74 metres, and later added Gold in the Senior Weight for distance event held alongside the Masters. Staunton and Mitkas also picked up silver medals in their categories.

Richard O’Hanlon of GCH won Shot Putt
silver and sprint bronze in the 60m, at 060 level.

Tommy Farragher of Corofin AC won Silver
in the Shot Putt and Weight throw in the 065 competition, with clubmate
Margaret Higgins winning Gold in the 60m, and also took Weight throw and Shot Putt
silver. Mairead Welby of Corrib Ac made a strong debut winning Shot and Wight
for distance silver in the ladies O55 section

Road
races

Jane Ann Meehan of GCH placed third in
the Bohermeen half marathon held in Meath Sunday last in windy conditions.
Meehan clocked 1 hour 22 minutes, a solid run as she continues her marathon
build up. Regina Casey also of GCH took an easy win in Mayo at the Carra
Classic over 8km running 29.26.

Galway
5km Series

The 2019 Galway 5km series will open for entries online on Active. com at 8pm on Friday 22^nd March next. There will be 700 online entries available for general sale and the price will remain at €30 for entry. The series will kick off in on April 30^th in Caltra at 7.45pm, and as usual will be held over six consecutive Tuesdays with the grand finale in Kilcornan, Clarenbridge on June 4th