National Junior Track and Field Championships
The first day of the National Junior Track and Field Championships were held on Saturday in Santry, Dublin, with many of Galway’s top up and coming athletes competing.
GCH won gold via a comprehensive win in the National Junior 400m by Robert McDonnell who clocked 48.66 for a clear victory in wet conditions. McDonnell is having a great season and recently performed well at the National Seniors.
Sarah Gilhooley of GCH also medalled, as she took silver in the 3000m steeplechase clocking 12.34.41 behind Cara McNally of Lusk.
There were good sprint performances from GCH stars, notably Andrew Egan who placed an excellent 6th place in the 200m final in 23.42, and also by Aisling Healy, Nicole Quirke, and Richard Kamsen over 200m, while Robert Urquhart and Paschal Walsh and Ella O Connor competed well over 400m.
Craughwell AC had strong representation in the Junior Men’s 1500 m event, with four finishing in the top ten. Kyle Moorhead ran a superb race to place fourth overall, Oisin Davis won his heat and placed 7th overall, just ahead of Paddy Noonanin 8th, and Sean Cotter was tenth overall, with Barry Murphy of GCH 11th in his heat.
Emily Miskella of Craughwell ran a personal best of 4.56 for third in her heat in the Junior Ladies 1500 m
Craughwell's Leanagh Gilligan and Alicia Larkin performed very well, leaping to 4.97 and 4.77 to finish 10th and 11th respectively in an exceptional field in the Long Jump, while clubmate Freya Bohan was fourth in her 200m heat.
National Masters Track and Field Championships
The National Masters Track and Field Championships was held Sunday last in Morton Stadium in Santry, Dublin, Saturday and Sunday last, with yet more Galway medal success
GCH enjoyed a hugely successful day at the National Masters, with the club and its athletes taking home four gold and three bronze medals.
Kathryn Casserly had a storming run in the 1500m taking Gold in the M40 category in 4.58.8. Linda Nally also put in a tremendous performance in the M45 80m hurdles to claim victory in 15.93 seconds. Richard O'Hanlon was winner of the M65 Shot Putt with a superb throw of 10.24m. Sean Breathnach was back in action after his recent success at the Senior Championships , winning the Weight for Distance M40 category with a throw of 8.39m.
Gerry Carty had an excellent run in the M50 5000m earning a bronze medal in a time of 17.10. Seamus Lynch successfully jumped to bronze with a leap of 1.40m in the M45 High Jump, and David Niland claimed a fine bronze in the M60 1500m.
Galway struck gold right across the day, as John Whiriskey of South Galway AC looked very strong as he won gold in the M40 800 m in a time of 2.09
Veteran Tommy Farragher continued his medal winning run with Gold in the Hammer at M70 level for Corofin AC, while Mary Barrett of Loughrea AC won the M60 Shot Putt to claim yet another National title
Craughwell AC Masters athletes also secured medals, asits sprint squadexcelled; David Mulligan took silver in M35 100m, John Walkin took silver inthe M40 200m, newcomer Brian Malone won bronze in his first 400m race in M40, while Ronnie Warde won bronze in 100m atM40 level.
Tuam AC welcomed a new All Ireland Champion in Leonie Hegarty (pictured centre above with Justin Lane and Ger Hartnett) who won gold in the Weight for Distance. Silver medals were also won by Tuam athletes Belinda McGreal in the M45 Hammer throw and Justin Lane also in the M45 age group in the Weight for Distance.
National Junior and Combined Events Championships
The second day of the National Junior Championships will take place on Sunday the 13th of September in Dublin, with the following events on the programme - 3000m, 800m, 400 Hurdles, 100 and 110 Hurdles, High Jump, Pole vault and Triple Jump.
The National Combined Events are also still scheduled for September 12th and 13th.
