Connacht Indoor Championships.
The Connacht Indoor Track and Field Championships were held at the Athlone IT Arena last weekend, over two days of exciting competition. A huge entry of over900 athletes competed in a packed programme of events.
At Senior level the Ladies 1500m was one of the races of the weekend. Aisling Joyce of NUIG and Claremorris eventually took the honours after a great battle with Kathryn Casserly of GCH. Joyce clocked a solid 4.43 to Casserly’s 4.47 in an encouraging early season run for both. The Men’s 3000m was won by JP Carty of Sligo AC, and there were good runs by Stephen Casserly of Castlegar and Brian Bruton of GCH. Carty also took the 1500m title in 4.14, with Peter O Sullivan of Craughwell AC second senior in 4.22. Eoin Lyons of GCH ran 2.05 to win the Senior Men’s800m.
Nicole King of GCH cruised to victory in the Senior Ladies 200m, as did Majella Loftus in the Senior 60m sprint. Mary Barrett of Loughrea won the Senior ladies hurdles and the Shot Putt . Craughwell AC ladies took Senior ladies relay gold
Tuam AC new signing Shane O'Rourke had a great first outing for Tuam AC, leaping a fantastic 6.06 metres to take gold in the Senior Long jump and also secured medals in the 60m hurdles and 60m sprint. Also In the field, Paul Armstrong of Craughwell took the Senior Men’s High Jump title. Cliff Jennings of GCH won the Pole Vault title, and Brendan Staunton was a clear winner in the Senior Men’s Shot. Henrique Nkolovata of GCH was second in the long jump and won the Triple Jump title.
At Juvenile level, Galway clubs had great successes across the board, with many winners and medallists over the two day programme.
GCH had a hugely successful day at the Connacht Indoor Championships in Athlone at the weekend, and Jack Dempsey and Seren O’Toole were the stars of the Games each winning triple Gold medals in their age groups. Dempsey won the U19 Boys 60m, 200m and helped team mates Sean Kilmartin, Kacper Pontiatowski, and Darren Costello to Gold in the U19 4 X 200m relay. O’Toole won the 200m, 60m hurdles and the long jump at U16 level.
Emma Moore won double Gold in the 800m and 60m at U14 level and helped team mates Gillian McGrath, Aoife Waldron and Nicole Quirke to silver in the Girls U14 relay. Ava McKeon also won double gold winning both the 60m hurdles, 600m and then went on to claim silver in the 60m and anchored her relay team to bronze in the U13 Girls relay. Robert McDonnell won the U16 Boys 200m, Lydia Doyle won the U18 Girls 60m hurdles and was 2nd in both the 200m and 60m sprint. Darren Costello won the 60m sprint. Rachel Hughes won the U17 Girls 800m and Mary Duggan took the U17 Girls Shot Putt. Aaron Brennan won the U17 Boys 1500m with an impressive 4.20 clocking. Eoghan Jennings claimed the U16 Boys pole vault title and his brother Darragh Jennings won the U14 Boys 800m and was 3rd in the Shot Putt.
Craughwell AC fielded huge numbers across both days and saw multiple victories for their relay teams - their U12, U15 and U18 Girls Relay squads, and U15 and U19 Boys teams all won gold. Individually, Evan Moran took an amazing triple gold medal haul -claiming the 600m title and a sprint double winning both the 60m and 60 m hurdles at U12 Boys. Ben Gerrard also took a fantastic triple win, with an easy win over the U19 Boys 800m distance, and also claimed victory in the Long Jump and High Jump. Anna Molloy won the U14 Girls 1k walk, and Jack Kinane took Boys gold at U14. Conor Hoade claimed U14 Boys hurdles victory in the field, Evan Hallinan won the U13 Boys High jump as did clubmate Ellie Cronin at U15 level.
Laura Cunningham won an incredible three field golds for Craughwell, with a great display of jumping- winning the U18 Girls Long Jump, High Jump and Triple Jump titles. Jerry Keary at U18 Boys won High Jump gold leaping a huge 1.90m. Rian Kearney won the U14 Boys Long Jump for the Craughwell club. In the Shot putt, Niamh Duffy won the U12 Girls event, as did Chloe Casey at U16 Girls level.
South Galway AC twins David and Stephen Mannion helped their club to five golds in the U13 Boys section- with Stephen winning the 600m and Long jump events, and David taking the 60m and hurdles, and both helped their relay squad to gold. Ellen Bermingham also South Galway AC won the U12 Girls High jump
Corrib AC saw Tiernan Conneely won the U 15 Boys High Jump and Shot putt, with clubmate Cian Davis King in second in the Shot, while Maeve Ford took Silver in the Walk and 3rd in the Shot.
Aoibheann Farrell took U15 gold for Loughrea AC in the hurdles, and Caitlin Griffin won the U13 Girls Shot putt while Brendan Lynch won U19 hurdles gold as well as the Triple jump title. Athenry AC had Brandon Lee winning U17 Boys hurdles gold and saw Ryan McNelis took U18 victory also in the sprint hurdles. Leonore Church won the U13 Girls High Jump, and Liam Shaw won the U13 Boys Shot, also for Athenry
Tuam’s Jack Mannion won the U15 Long Jump and the club had good runs via silver for sprinter Ross Cosgrove and also silver for their U12Boys relay team. Ballinasloe and District AC’s Aoibheann Fitzpatrick won the U12 Girls 600m, and their relay teams also secured a number of medals.
Kilconieron 5 Mile Charity Road Race 2017
Andrew Nevin of Mullingar Harriers took the honours at the ninth edition of the Kilconieron 5-mile road race held last Sunday in wintry conditions. Nevin clocked 28.05 for victory, ahead of Fergal Walsh of Athenry AC in second in 28.14, and Gary Scully of Nenagh Olympic third. First lady home was Tammie Corrigan of Athenry AC in 34.59, with Aisling McDonnell second and Katie Gorman of Craughwell AC third
Fixtures
Intervarsities Cross Country
NUIG will send strong Men’s and Women’s teams to the Intervarsities Cross country championships at the permanent National cross country course in Abbotstown, Dublin, next Saturday. Men’s captain Andrew O'Donnghaile will be targeting a top ten finish at least in the 8km race, as will Damien Landers while Niamh Hennelly will also be expected to feature prominently in the ladies event over 5km.
Kinvara 10k/Half Marathon
This weekend sees the seventh edition of the very popular Kinvara Rock and Road 10k and Half Marathon events, which will be held on Saturday 4th March next in the picturesque South Galway town and surrounds. The 10k starts at 12 noon with the half marathon beginning at 12.10 pm.
National Masters Indoors
Many of Galway’s top Masters conclude their Indoor season this weekend with the hotly contested National championships which will take place in the Athlone IT Arena on Sunday next. Kathryn Casserly and Brian O Connor of GCH will be both be aiming to medal over 3000 metres, as will Eamon Hornibrook and Jim Phelan over 1500. The likes of Mary Barrett of Loughrea AC and Martin McEvilly of GCH will aim to secure multiple medals in their categories
