John Travers had to overcome a huge emotional hurt as he lined out for the final of the 1.500 metres at the World University Games in Gwangiu, South Korea last Friday (10/7/15). Having qualified for the final two days earlier by placing 2^nd in heat 3 in a fine time of 3.44.48 John had an outside chance of making the podium. Less than 48 hours to the final and the news from home was that his father Stephen had passed away following a long-term illness. John, who described his father as “a truly great friend and the most inspirational person in my life”, could not be faulted for sheer determination in the final.

The fast pace throughout the race did not suit John’s usual tactic of relying on his lightning finishing speed. The leaders passed the 800m mark in 1.58.16 with John in fourth place. However, a continued fast pace saw Travers slip to 9^th, before he rallied again in the closing stages to place 8^th in a fast time of 3.42.63. The race was won by Russian athlete Aleksei Kharitonov (3.39.13).

In the Irish Milers Club / GV Ryan track meeting at Santry on Saturday (11/7/15) Eamonn Fahey (48.78) placed 2^nd in the 400 metres, as he continues to progress in the event having moved up from the shorter sprint distances this season. In the 3,000m both Michael McMahon (8.55.46) and John Dunne (8.56.16) recorded personal bests as they placed 10^th and 11^th. In front of them Lee Van Haeften battled hard in blustery conditions to come home 4^th in 8.36.41. Eric Keogh (3.53.75) came 7^th in a competitive Ronnie Delany 1.500m race.        

With one race remaining in the Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League Donore’s Niall Lynch is guaranteed of a top 2 placing following his latest good result in the series. Lynch (53.17) placed 2^nd in the penultimate race over a 12 kilometres course, with a total climb of 490 metres, at Ballinastoe near Roundwood (8/7/15).

George Brady (3.06.17) continues to be a prolific marathon runner as he placed 5^th in the Marathon Des Escargot at Portarlington.

The women’s section also had some encouraging results in the last week. A much improved Karla Doran (25.32) recorded a fine win in the women’s category of the Dunleer 4 mile road race; Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (26.02) was 3^rd woman home in theDrumcollogher 4 mile road race in County Limerick; and an ever improving Ashling Swaine (19.08) recorded yet another personal best when she placed 4^th woman in the Kinnegad 5km road race, with Emer Rattigan (19.50) in 5^th place.    

Day 2 and 3 of the National Juvenile Track & Field Championships took place at Tullamore over the weekend of 11^thand 12^th July. Donore Harriers gained 3 more medals; two in an exciting under 15 Boys 1,500m race. Thus, Louis O’Loughlin and Fathi Aden were back in action following their 1^st and 3^rd placings in the 800 metres competition on the previous weekend.  The tempo of the 1,500 metres final was high from the start. Ben Jones of Greystones AC set the early pace, before first O’Loughlin and then Aden took turns at the front. With 400 metres remaining it was the two Donore lads at the front with Jones and Conor Maguire of Monaghan Phoenix in hot pursuit. The final 200 metres was frantic! O’Loughlin (4.17.95) used his superior kick finish to reach the line as the clear winner, but the other 3 athletes were involved in a photo finish. After a long wait the result matched that of the 800m, as Ben Jones (4.20.17) came 2^nd and Fathi Aden (4.20.44) got the verdict for 3^rd spot. A fast finishing Conor Maguire (4.20.45) missed out by just one-hundred of a second. Both Louis and Fathi knocked over 8 seconds of their previous best times.

Donore’s other medal winner was Ailbhe Healy who took bronze with a personal best of 2.75m in the under 18 Girls Pole Vault.

Stephen Gavin (9.20.0) also recorded a PB when 5^th in the under 19 Boys 1,500m. Adam Maher could not improve on his second round throw of 41.27m in the under 16 Boys Hammer and had to settle for 5^th place, whilst Oran O’Brien was also just out the medals in the Boys under 18 age group. Oran placed 4^th in the Shot Putt with a 3^rd round throw of 11.69m and 5^thin the Discus with 36.23m. Rebecca Power (27.00m) came 6^th in the under 16 Girls Javelin.

A number of track athletes displayed their emerging talent. Conor Fox reached the final of the under Boys 400m with a heat time of 55.12, but had to settle for 8^th overall in a time of 55.51. Ailise Keating (13.32) came 6^th in the final of the under 19 Girls 100m. Other results are listed below. It should be noted that the under 17 Girls 1,500m race was run in torrential rain. As the officials and spectators all found cover 17 rain soaked athletes, including Donore’s Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh and Ciara Murphy, took to the start line and ran the whole race in a downpour. Eliza placed 12^th and Ciara 15^th.  

World University Games at Gwangju, South Korea (10/7/15) – Men’s 1,500m Final – 8^th John Travers (IRL) 3.42.63;(8/7/15) – Men’s 1,500m Heat 3 – 2^nd John Travers (3.44.48)

Drumcollogher 4 mile road race, Limerick (6/7/15): 24^th / 3^rd woman Ide Nic Dhomhnaill (26.02)

Irish Mountain Running Association Leinster League at Ballinastoe, Roundwood -distance 12km, climb 490m (8/7/15):2^nd Niall Lynch M40 (53.17), 16^th Gavin Byrne (58.13), 139^th Sarah Ni Ruairc F35 (1.47.18)

Kinnegad 5km Road Race (9/7/15): 34^th / 4^th woman Ashling Swaine (19.08 PB); 50^th / 5^th woman Emer Rattigan (19.50); 77^th Des Gill M40 (21.04); 130^th Jim McNamara M60 (23.19)

Irish Milers Club / GV Ryan Meet at Santry (11/7/15): Men’s 400m ‘A’ – 2^nd Eamonn Fahey (48.78), 6^th David Campbell (52.71); Men’s 400m ‘B’ – 7^th Adam Halpin JNR (55.69); Ronnie Delany 1,500m – 7^th Eric Keogh (3.53.75); Men’s 1,500m ‘C’ – 6^th Luke Boland (4.21.93); Men’s 3,000m ‘A’ – 4^th Lee Van Haeften (8.36.41), 10^th Michael McMahon (8.55.46 PB), 11^th John Dunne M35 (8.56.16 PB); Men’s 3,000m ‘B’ – 7^th Sam Allen (9.29.56)   

Marathon Des Escargot, Portarlington (11/7/15): 5^th George Brady M35 (3.06.17)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (11/7/15): 6^th Derek O’Neill M45 (18.52)

Dunleer 4 mile road race (12/7/15): 35^th / 1^st woman Karla Doran (25.32)

LATE RESULT: BHAA / Irish Prison Service 5km at Phoenix Park (23/6/17): 44^th Alma Hanevy F35 (19.41), 45^th Noel Conway M40 (19.42), 46^th Ian Redican M40 (19.46), 50^th John Gleeson (20.01), 68^th Des Gill M45 (20.37), 111^th Terry Mee M70 (22.26), 208^th Ann Woodlock F75 (28.39)

National Juvenile Track & Field Championship Day 2 at Tullamore (11/7/15).

Bronze = u/18 Girls Pole Vault – 3rd Alibhe Healy (2.75m PB)
Other results: – u16 Girls 100m Heat 1 – 6th Suzi O’Farrell (13.09); u16 Girls Javelin – 6th Rebecca Power (27.00m); u17 Girls 100m Heat 1 – 7th Lauren Flaherty (13.51); u19 Girls 100m Final – 6th Ailise Keating (13.32); u16 Boys Hammer – 5th Adam Maher (41.27m); u16 Boys 3,000m – 10th Sekeriye Ahmed (10.24.67); u18 Boys Shot Putt – 4th Oran O’Brien (11.69m); u19 Boys 100m Heat 1 – 6th Sean Classman (11.74); u19 Boys 400m Heat 1 – 4th Conor Fox (55.12 Q): u19 Boys 400m Final – 8th Conor Fox (55.51); u19 Boys 3,000m – 5th Stephen Gavin (9.20.0 PB)

National Juvenile Track & Field Championships Day 3 at Tullamore (12/7/15).
Gold – u/15 Boys 1500m – 1st Louis O’Loughlin (4.17.95 PB)
Bronze – u/15 Boys 1500m – 3rd Fathi Aden (4.20.44 PB)
Other results – u/16 Girls 200m Heat 2 – 8^th Robyn O’Keeffe (28.48); u/17 Girls 300m Hurdles Heat 2 – 5th Roisin Rynn-Cahill (51.60); u/17 Girls 1500m Final – 12th Eliza Ni Thighearnaigh (5.21.93), 15th Ciara Murphy (5.35.17) run in torrential rain; u/18 Girls Triple Jump – 8th Leanne Brosnan (9.23m); u/18 Boys 1500m Heat 2 – 10th Michael Gibbs (4.32.63); u18 Boys Discus – 5th Oran O’Brien (36.23m)Discus – 5^th Oran O’Brien (36.23m); u/19 Boy 200m Heat 1 – 5^th Conor Fox (24.29)