Despite a nervous start Lauren O’Keeffe of Donore Harriers performed with distinction in the Girls Hammer event at the European Youth Olympics at Tbilisi in the Republic of Georgia last Thursday. Lauren had a foul on her first attempt and then recorded a wonderful series of throws of 54.84m, 57.35m, 56.06m and 56.75m – with her 57.35m throw being a personal best and good enough for 7^th position. 15 years old Lauren, who is coached by Gerry Ronan, is a student at Loreta Balbriggan and is in her second season at Donore Harriers. The club’s Juvenile Team Manager Leonie Newman said of Lauren’s result: “What a fantastic performance … and no better place to get a personal best than in an international event representing your country”   

In the Rock & Roll Half-Marathon held along a route that included the city centre quays, Kilmainham and the Phoenix Park last Sunday morning the Donore Harriers contingent was led home by Ken Nugent, who placed 23^rd in a fine time of 1.13.11. This result confirms a return to form for Nugent who has been hampered by injury over the last 18 months.

With the early morning rain giving way to a fresh morning breeze the conditions were ideal for running. Garvan Smith (45^thin 1.18.15), Phil Hennessy (49^th in 1.19.08) and Sean Fox (50^th in 1.19.28) packed well to win national bronze team medals in the Men’s over 35 category. Their combined time of 3h.37m.02s was over a half-minute quicker than 4^th placed North Sligo AC. Raheny Shamrocks AC won the category in 3h.50m.42s. The women’s over 35 team fared one better winning the silver team prize – as Alma Hanevy (277^th in 1.31.58), Breda Mahony (288^th in 1.32.14) and Elaine Verdon (952^nd in (1.46.19) achieved a combined time of 4h.50m.59s. Westport AC won with 4.45.51 with Raheny Shamrocks 3^rd in 4.51.28. One of the club’s most dedicated athletes Elaine Verdon was rewarded with her first national medal. Barry Potts, 325^thoverall in 1.33.7, won the Masters Men over 65 category, whilst the aforementioned Phil Hennessy was second individual in the M45 class.     

The Donore Harriers women’s team contested their first ever final of the National Track & Field League Division One at Tullamore on Sunday. Whilst a very young team came last of 8 teams the fact that so many junior and juvenile athletes comprised the team augurs well for future seasons. Notable performances came from Roisin Rynn-Cahill, who placed 3^rd in the 400m Hurdles in 73.55 and 5^th in the High Jump with a best of 1.35m; Lauren Kennedy (18.05) 3^rd in the 100m Hurdles; Aoife Lynch (26.33) 5^th in the 200m; and the mother and daughter pair of Orlaith and Clodagh Read who competed in the throwing events. Orlaith took 6^th in both the Javelin and Shot Putt with throws of 17.45m and 7.64m, whilst Clodagh gained two 7^th places in the Discus and Hammer with 19.46m and 32.72m. Senior athlete Karla Doran (5.00.84) placed 5^th in a competitive 1,500m, with F40 athlete Barbara Cleary (10.08.39) settling for 4^th in the 3,00m. Lucy McCann, an under 17s athlete, made her league debut and despite finishing 8^th in the 800m recorded a new best time of 2.33.17.

The final team result saw Tipperary County (116.5 points) in 1^st place ahead of Finn Valley AC (99). Donore Harriers had to settle for 8^th on 58 points – and a promise to return next year being older and stronger for the event.     

Donadea 5km (24/7/15): 3^rd Sean Fox M40 (17.11), 5^th Fred Kiernan M40 (17.21)

Dublin Open Graded Meeting No. 8 at Tallaght (29/7/15): Women’s 200m B – 1^st Aoife Lynch JNR (27.38); Men’s 200m B1 – 6^th Conor Fox JNR (24.52); Men’s 800m B2 – 9^th Luke Boland (2.07.64); Men’s 800m C1 – 2^nd Killian O’Hora (2.08.77); Men’s Discus – 1^st Oran O’Brien JNR (29.53)

Westport 5km Parkrun (1/8/15): 12^th / 1^st woman Nicola Dowdall F40 (22.21)

Naas 5km Parkrun (1/8/15): 4^th Ian Redican M40 (20.09)

Rock & Roll Half-Marathon at Dublin (2/8/15): 23^rd Ken Nugent (1.13.11), 45^th Garvan Smith M40 (1.18.15), 49^th / 2^ndM45 Phil Hennessy (1.19.08), 50^th Sean Fox M40 (1.19.28), 86^th Eoin Hannon (1.23.30), 114^th Paul Cummins (1.25.00), 127^th Alan Farrell M40 (1.26.05), 236^th Colin Morrissey (1.30.01), 237^th Niall P. O’Reilly (1.30.02), 277^th Alma Hanevy F35 (1.31.58), 288^th Breda Mahony F35 (1.32.14 PB), 325^th / 1^st M65 Barry Potts (1.33.27), 952^nd Elaine Verdon F35 (1.46.19), 1596^th Laura Murray (1.54.59 PB), 2467^th Dana Mackey F45 (2.04.35), 2765^th Kim Strickland (2.08.13)  

National o/35 Team (incorporated): MEN 1^st Raheny Shamrocks (3.50.42); 2^nd Mayo AC (3.53.37), 3^rd Donore Harriers <Smith, Hennessy, Fox> (3.37.02); 4^th North Sligo AC (3.37.36) 44 teams: WOMEN 1^st Westport AC (4.45.51), 2^ndDonore Harriers <Hanevy, Mahony, Verdon> (4.50.59), 3^rd Raheny Shamrocks (4.51.28) 41 teams.

Women’s National Track & League Final at Tullamore (2/8/15): 100m – 8^th Lynda Ngankam (13.29); 200m – 5^th Aoife Lynch JNR (26.33); 400m – 7^th Caoimhe Mackey JNR (66.66); 800m – 8^th Lucy McCann JNR (2.33.17 PB); 100mH – 3^rdLauren Kenndy JNR (18.05); 400mH – 3^rd Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR (73.55); 1,500m – 5^th Karla Doran (5.00.84); 3,000m – 4^th Barbara Cleary F40 (10.08.39); High Jump – 5^th Roisin Rynn-Cahill JNR (1.35m); Long Jump – 5^th Ailise Keating JNR (3.78m); Triple Jump – 3^rd Lynda Ngankam (10.75m); Discus – 7^th Clodagh Read JNR (19.46m); Hammer – 7^th Clodagh Read JNR (32.72m); Javelin – 6^th Orlaith Read F40 (17.45m); Shot Putt – 6^th Orlaith Read F40 (7.64m); 4 x 100m – 5^thDonore Harriers (53.17); 4 x 400m – 7^th Donore Harriers (4.32.27)

Team: 1^st Tipperary County (116.5 points); 2^nd Finn Valley (99); 3^rd Kerry Athletics (89); 4^th Antrim Combined (85.5); 5^thSli Culann AC (67); 6^th Lagan Valley (67), 7^th Tullamore Harriers (66); 8^th Donore Harriers (58)

DLR Bay 10km at Dun Laoighaire (3/8/15): 9^th Patrick Moriarty (36.06)

European Youth Olympics at Tbilisi, Rep. of Georgia (30/7/15): Girls Hammer Final – 7^th Lauren O’Keeffe (57.35m PB)

Griffeen 5km Parkrun (25/7/15): 9^th / 1^st woman Lucy McCann u/17 (19.48 PB)

Waterstown 5km Parkrun (1/8/15): 5^th Noah Synnott u/13 (21.01)