Galway Athletics Report 26/02/18
Connacht Indoor Championships
The 2018 Connacht Indoor Track and Field Championships were held in the Athlone IT Arena last weekend over two days, with huge numbers in attendance both days. There was great success for Galway clubs and athletes on both days of competition.
Saturday’s action included the U12 and U13 age group events, and one of the highlights saw Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC winning double gold in the U12 Boys 60 m sprint and 60m hurdles. Darragh Kearney of GCH pipped Evan Moran of Craughwell at U 13 level in the 60m, and later won the Shot Putt throwing a huge 10.80 metres.
Danielle Moynihan of Tuam AC was another double gold winner, as she won the U12 Girls 60m and later soared to victory in the U12 High Jump. Craughwell’s Chloe Allen took gold in the U13 Girls 60m hurdles, while her clubmate Evan Moran won the boys equivalent. Allen also did the double later on, claiming Long Jump gold with a leap of 4.08 m. Tara Keane of Craughwell AC took victory in the U13 Girls Long Jump.
Niamh Duffy of Craughwell AC took the honours in the Girls U13 Shot Putt, while Jack O Shaughnessy of Caltra AC won gold in the U 12 BoysShot. In the High Jump there were gold medal wins for Isabella Fitzgerald of Craughwell in the U13 Girls competition, and by her clubmate Darragh Kelly at U12 Boys level.
In the distance events, Saoirse Coleman took gold for East Galway in the U13 Girls 600m, while Cian McNelis of Athenry AC stormed home to win in the U13 Boys equivalent
The relays saw great excitement with gold for South Galway AC in the U 12 Girls 4*100m relay. Loughrea AC just pipped GCH to gold in the U12 Boys event in an exciting finish. The U18 Boys race saw Ballinasloe win easily.
GCH (pictured above) had a great championship, as they took six relay titles - at U14 Girls, U15 Boys, and doubles at U17 and U19 level in both Boys and Girls relays. Craughwell AC took the honours in the U16 Boys, while South Galway won the U14 Boys title.
Sunday’s action saw the older age group competing from U14 upwards, with further Galway success across the huge event programme. On the track, Fauve Aylmer of Craughwell AC won gold in the U14 Girls 800m ahead of GCH duo Ava McKeon and Leana Nic Dhonncha. David Mannion of South Galway AC took gold in the U14 boys 800m with brother Stephen Mannion third home, and he also claimed victory in the sprint hurdles. Ava McKeon won the U14 Hurdles title for GCH.
Emma Moore of GCH produced the performance of the championship in winning theU15 Girls 800 metres in an amazing time of 2.13, an indoor best time for the age group. Darragh Jennings of GCH won the U15 Boys 800 title with lots to spare.
Sean Cotter of Craughwell AC produced a superb performance in winning the U16 Boys 800m and 1500m double within a matter of hours, with a great front running display. Eimear Rowe of GCH took victory in the U16 Girls 800m race.
Jack Maher, who is Clifden based and running with Westport won the 1500m men’s race outright and the U19 title in the process.
Robert McDonnell of GCH won double gold in the U17 Boys 60m sprint and 200m events, with clubmate Darren Costello also winning thesame double at U19 level.
Seren O Toole ran a cracking 200 metres to take U17 gold, while Aoibhe Deeley of Athenry AC won the U17 Girls 60m hurdles.Aoife Sheehy of GCH showed her class in winning the U19 Girls 400m, while clubmate Diego Brule of GCH won gold with a lifetime best in the U19 400m race.
At senior level Jack Miskella of Craughwell AC took gold in the Senior Men’s 800m in 2.01, while Linda Porter also of Craughwell AC made a welcome return to action in winning the Senior Ladies event. Sinead Treacy of Craughwell took gold in the Senior Ladies 400m and silver in the 200m. Mary Barrett of Loughrea AC took gold in the Ladies 60m hurdles as well as victory in the Shot Putt, while Brendan Lynch of Loughrea claimed gold in the senior hurdles
Seamus Leddy of GCH returned to action after a long and arduous injury layoff, with victory in the 1500m Walk.Miriam Dunleavy of Castlegar AC took gold in the Ladies 3000m, with Sean McDermott of Castlegar running strongly to win silver, and Brian O Connor of GCH claiming bronze in the Men’s race
In the field, Brendan Staunton of GCH won the Shot Putt from clubmate Michael Breathnach. Paul McNally of GCH won the U18 Boys Shot, with clubmate Darragh Jennings winning at U15 level, while Liam Shaw of Athenry AC won the U14 gold. In the ladies, Chloe Casey of Craughwell AC won the U17 Girls event, while Caitlin Griffin took U14 victory for Loughrea.
Craughwell AC dominated in the High Jump with senior wins for Katie O Donoghue, and U19 victory for Laura Cunningham, and the club claimed U14 golds via Jade Moorhead and Evan Hallinan, wins at U15 for Lukas Schukat and Saoirse Pierce, and U16 gold in the girls via Ellie Cronin
In the Long Jump, Stephen Mannion of South Galway added the U14 Boystitle to his medal haul; Lorraine Delaney of Craughwell AC won the U19 Girls Long Jump, while Daniel Callanan Forde took gold in the U19 Boys event. Luke Dahler and Rebecca Lynch made it a GCH double at U15 level.Katie O Donoghue won her second gold in the Senior Long Jump, while Shane O Rourke of Tuam AC took the honours in the Senior Men’s event.
In the Triple Jump, Loughrea AC secured triple gold, with wins for Daniel Callanan Forder at U19 level, Conor Leahy in the U18 event, and Brendan Lynch at senior level. Laura Cunningham of Craughwell AC won the U19 Girls title. Justin Lane of TuamAC won the Pole Vault to cap a superb event for Galway clubs.
Kilconieron 5 Mile
Owen Byrne of GCH made a welcome return to road racing with victory at the 10th edition of the Kilconieron 5 Mile Charity Run last Sunday, Byrne clocked 28.42 to win narrowly from Damien Larkin of Craughwell and Paul Keane of GCH in third. First lady home was Olympian Breege Connolly in 29.18, with Shauna Bocquet first wheelchair athlete home.
Sean Breathnach Irish selection
Sean Breathnach, of Galway City Harriers has been selected on the Irish team for the European Winter Throws competition in Leiria, Portugal on 11th/12th March. This follows his National title victory in the Shot Putt last weekend at the National Indoors.
Fixtures
The Kinvara Rock and Road Half Marathon and 10K Road Race takes place on Saturday 3rd March next in Kinvara, Co. Galway. This will be the 8th running of the event and 2018 sees the addition of a marathon distance for the first time. The Full marathon starts at 10 am, the 10k at 12 noon and the half marathon is off at 12.10pm.
