The club made a major impact at the County Senior and Masters Indoor Track & Field Championships returning home with 20 individual and 4 sets of team relay medals following the day’s competition. The club was by far the largest group in attendance and showed their potential with appearances in the sprints, middle distance, relay and field events and such was their competitive instinct that all 20 athletes returned home with either a gold, silver or bronze medal. A truly remarkable performance from the most junior to the most senior in the squad.
Five of our junior athletes were eligible to compete in the senior championships and all five gave a great display with Brian O’Callaghan and Jack Hickey earning individual gold and bronze in their respective events. Brian competed in the 60mts and High Jump and it was in the High Jump where he gained individual honours with a personal best leap of 1.45mts.to win the gold medal and be crowned County Senior Champion. In addition he finished 6th in the 60mts in a time of 8.48secs. Jack competed in the 60mts and 400mts and it was in the 400mts where he attained his honours with a very gutsy display to clinch the bronze medal on the line in a time of 55.36. Earlier he had finished 7th in the 60mts with a time of 8.54secs. Spearheading the club challenge in the 60mts was Michael O’Mahony who came through for 5th place in 8.47secs while Liam Kelly finished 8th in 8.77secs. Liam also occupied 5th place in the 400mts clocking 60.31 following a mighty battle Paddy Cummins of Moycarkey-Coolcroo who was also given the same time. Two of our younger athletes, Nathan Bowe and Dylan McLoughlin competed in the 800mts and following two excellent runs finished 5th and 6th respectively timed at 2.13.63 and 2.15.17.
In the Masters events Patrick Bowe ran a great 1,500mts in the O/45 category to finish in a time of 5.11.06 which saw him claim the gold medal while Paddy Doyle competed in the O/50 shot to claim the silver medal with a throw of 8.35mts. Ray Power came home with two individual medals following a second place in the O/55 400mts in a time of 1.12.99 and a third place in the 60mts in 10.18secs.
To cap a great day for the men they finished first and second in the senior relay with the team of Nathan, Dylan, Jack and Liam crossing the line first in 1.47.67 with the quartet of Brian, Michael, Ray and Patrick coming through for second in a time of 2.03.04.
Our senior and masters ladies also had a great day of competition. Aisling Maher led the way with two silver medals in the senior 60mts and 400mts clocked at 9.92secs and 1.14.00 respectively with Sharon Cantwell winning silver in the 1,500mts in 6.28.03 and finishing third in the 400mts in 1.22.24. In the O/35 category Kate Harrison won double silver with second place in both the 60mts and 300mts stopping the clock at 9.59secs and 51.59 respectively. Ber Spillane was hot on the heels of Kate finishing 3rd in both the 60mts and 300mts in times of 9.64secs and 52.08 while Edel Delaney came through for 4th in both events in times of 10.69secs and 57.53.
In the O/40 category Naomi Morrissey in her first outing for the club won the gold medal in the Shot with a throw of 6.77mts. At O/45 level Sinead Tynan and Brigid Gleeson claimed gold in the 60mts and 600mts respectively. Sinead was timed at 10.75secs while Brigid finished in 2.04.46. Winning a silver medal in the 600mts was Sinead McLoughlin with a time of 2.22.30. Gold medals came the way of Liz Power and Eibhlis Purcell in the O/50 category with Liz winning the 60mts in 11.41secs and Eibhlis the Shot in 6.86mts.
When it came to the relays the senior team finished first with Sharon, Aisling, Brigid and Liz timed at 2.21.77 while the Masters team finished 2nd in their event with Kate, Sinead T, Edel and Ber clocking 2.18.0 for the 4 x 200mts.
Congratulations and well done to all 20 athletes on their performances. A good day was had by all and it was great to see everyone supporting each other in the various events. Out thanks also to all who turned up to support the athletes, which is always appreciated.
