The front running of Donore Harriers pair Louis O’Loughlin and Fathi Aden in the Boys 800m under 15s category was one of the highlights of Day 1 of the National Juvenile Track & Field championships at Tullamore last Saturday (4/7/15). Both boys won their respective heats with Louis recording a time of 2.11.39 and Fathi 2.12.55. In the final the tactic was for Fathi to take up the pace so as to burn out the opposition and set the race up for his team-mate. With 200 metres to go Fathi Aden led with Louis and Ben Jones of Greystones AC in close pursuit. The remainder of the field were out the back door, being some 20 metres further back. In the final 100 metres Louis (2.04.92) again displayed his finishing kick to win his first national title in the black and white of Donore Harriers. Fathi (2.09.90) faded and had to give way to Ben Jones (2.07.2), settling for a bronze medal. Louis and Fathi both recorded personal best times.

Donore’s other medal winners were Jack Rudden-Kelly (15.34) who placed 2^nd in the u/17 Boys 100m Hurdles – and newcomer Keri Noonan who won the bronze medal in the u/14 Girls Hammer with her sixth and final throw of 29.10 metres.

Other notable performances came from 4^th placed Beth Kirwan (33.94m) who was just 13cm short of a medal in the u/15 Girls Hammer; Suzanne Masterson (8.28.73) who came 5^th in the 2,000m Steeplechase beating her previous best time by 8 seconds; an improving Robyn O’Keeffe (21.28m) who placed 8^th in the u/16 Girls Discus; and Lucy McCann (2.29.26) who broke the 2.30 barrier for the first time when placing 12^th in the u/17 Girls final. Whilst Conor O’Ceallaigh may not have reached the final of the Boys u/14s 800m, his personal best time of 2.21.63 when placing 7^th in the semi-final augurs well for his future in athletics.

In the 6^th Dublin Open Graded Track & Field meeting of the summer at Tallaght (1/7/15) Eamonn Fahey (49.04) showed good form ahead of the national league and championship races by winning the 400m ‘A’ race. Track captain David Campbell (53.02) won the 400m ‘B’ race ahead of club colleague and junior category athlete Conor Fox (54.59). Other junior athletes showed good form as Karen Hughes (66.41) and Caoimhe Mackey (66.46) placed 3^rd and 4^th in the women’s 400m ‘B’ race; Stephen Gavin (9.23.01) knocked almost 12 seconds off his previous best time in the 3,000m ‘A’ race placing 11^th; and Oran O’Brien (10.88m & 33.71m) placed 3^rd in the Shot Putt and 2^nd in the Discus.

In the National u/23 Track & Field championships at Tullamore on Sunday (5/7/15) Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.03.72) and Sam Allen (4.22.33) placed 6^th and 11^th respectively in a competitive 1,500 metres race.   

In the latest Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League race at Trooperstown last Wednesday Niall Lynch (42.46) came 2^nd, with Graham Hopkins 5^th in 44.09. The race was run over a distance of 9 kilometres with a total climb of 430 metres. Lynch leads the competition with just two races remaining in the series. 

In the Ironman European Triathlon Championship at Frankfurt (5/7/15) Andy Kinane came an excellent 230^th overall with a total time of 10.26.01 and Niall J. O’Reilly placed 809^th in a field of 2,200 plus competitors with a total time of 11.51.03.

In the South O’Hanlon 5km road race near Navan (1/7/15) Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (19.05) placed 36^th overall and 4^thwoman home, with Jim McNamara (23.31) in 93^rd spot claiming 2^nd prize for the over 65s.

There were Saturday morning (4/7/15) Parkrun 5km series wins for Ken Nugent (17.00) at Tymon Park; Gavin Byrne (18.02) at Waterstown; and Barbara Murray (19.51) at St. Anne’s Park.

In the Achill Half-Marathon on Sunday (5/7/15) Alma Hanevy (1.30.51) had a fine run, placing 42^nd overall and 4^th in the over 35 class just 3 seconds short of 3^rd place.                                                                                        

Dublin Open Graded Meeting No. 6 at Tallaght Track (1/7/15): 400m ‘A’ – 1^st Eamonn Fahey (49.04); 400m ‘B1’ – 1^stDavid Campbell (53.02), 2^nd Conor Fox JNR (54.59), 4^th Killian O’Hora (54.81); 400m ‘C1’ – 6^th Sean O’Broin M45 (58.41); Women’s 400m ‘B2’ – 3^rd Karen Hughes JNR (66.41), 4^th Caoimhe Mackey JNR (66.46); 3,000m ‘A’ -11^th Stephen Gavin JNR (9.23.01 PB): 3,000m ‘C1’ – 1^st Paul Cummins (9.49.53); Women’s 3,000m ‘A’ – 11^th Ide Nic Domhnaill (10.50.43); Men’s Shot Putt – 3^rd Oran O’Brien JNR (10.88m); Men’s Discus – 2^nd Oran O’Brien JNR (33.71m)   

South O’Hanlon 5km Road Race at Senchelstown, Navan (1/7/15): 36^th / 4^th woman Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill (19.05), 93^rd/ 2^nd M65 Jim McNamara (23.31)

IMRA Leinster League at Trooperstown Hill 9.00km with climb of 430 metres (1/7/15): 2^nd Niall Lynch M40 (42.46), 5^th Graham Hopkins M40 (44.09) 

Achill Half-Marathon (4/7/15): 42^nd / 4^th F35 Alma Hanevy (1.30.51)

Clontarf Half-Marathon (4/7/15): Nicola Dowdall (1.48.54), Laura Murray (1.55.54 PB)

Clontarf 5 Mile (4/7/15): Bob Blake (32.09), Julia Hackett (36.55)

Clarisford 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 16^th / 4^th woman – Angela O’Dea (24.29)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 3^rd George Brady M35 (18.32)

St. Anne’s 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 11^th / 1^st woman Barbara Murray F40 (19.51)

Tymon 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 1^st Kenneth Nugent (17.00)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (4/7/15): 1^st Gavin Byrne (18.02), 3^rd Colin Morrissey M35 (19.54)

National Junior & u/23 Track & Field Championships at Tullamore (5/7/15): u/23 1,500m – 6^th Daragh Fitzgibbon (4.03.72), 11^th Sam Allen (4.22.33)

Ironman European Triathlon Championship at Frankfurt (5/7/15): 230^th Andy Kinane = Swim (1.06.42), Bike (5.25.47), Run (3.40.55), Overall (10.26.01: 809^th Niall J. O’Reilly = Swim (1.29.27), Bike (6.05.42), Run (4.04.22), Overall (11.51.03)