Santry was a blaze of sunshine this weekend for the AAI Games on Saturday and Sunday. There was great news on Saturday morning when Alex Clarkin ran under the qualifying standard for the European Youth Olympics the standard with 14.18. Well done to Alex and coaches Paul and John.
In the combines Max Carey had to retire due to injury on day 1. Lara O’Byrne finished in 4th place only narrowly missing out on 3rd by 150 points . She continues to improve posting another 4 PBs yesterday, most notably taking 10 seconds off her 800 time from last week. In the high jump she jumped a 1.58 PB, 4.85 in the long jump and 15.06 in the hurdles. She finished the competition on 4262 points. Cara Brennan posted a new PB in the 100m with 13.11, Caoimhe Mackey won the 400m hurdles in 1.11. Our only competitor in the fields events on Sunday was Clodagh Read in the Women’s Senior hammer. Clodagh had a great throw to place 3rd with a new PB of 41.98.
Well done to Lauren O’Keeffe and coach Gerry Ronan who traveled to Germany for the German Junior Championships. Lauren finished in 2nd place with a throw of 54.76 in the hammer.
A big congratulations also to Sean Lawlor who was on the Irish junior relay team on Saturday and has qualified with the team for the world Juniors in Poland in July. Sean also ran a PB today in the 200m clocking 21.43 which is great progress after such a long, frustrating lay off.
Outside of Junior and Juvenile athletics many Irish athletes travelled abroad this weekend to compete. Another one of our former Juvenile’s who has transitioned through to senior level is Lynda Tcheudji. Lynda was a member of the Irish Universities team competing in Scotland in the Celtic Countries University meet and her first time wearing the Irish vest. Lynda was competing in the triple jump. (We will bring you an update on results soon along with further performances at the AAI games).
A large contingent of Irish athletes were in action at the BMC meet in Watford and particularly at the IFAM meet in Oordegem, Belgium. John Travers was chasing a qualifying time over 5,000m. John placed 26th in the race with a time of 13:59.58 outside of the European Championships qualifying time of 13:40.00. The race was won by Nftalem Awet Kibrab of Norway in 13:22.90 with Irish athletes David McCarthy 10th (13:42.24) and Kevin Batt 11th (13:42.82). The women’s 1500m was won by Ciara Mageean in an impressive 4:08.05.
There was a great win in the sunny South-East at the hot and hilly Strawberry half marathon in Wexford for Kim Hickey who was 1st lady in the race in 87.38, she narrowly beat second placed Annaleigh Hore.
Midweek saw the 3rd Dublin graded meet held in Irishtown, Stadium on Wednesday evening. There was a good Donore representation and in the 10000m Dublin championship, Rossa Hurley was 6th in 33.59 and George Brady was 9th and silver in masters in 35.42. Maura Kearns and Sinead Lambe dropped down a distance to the 400m with Maura finishing 4th in the 1st b race in 63.18 and Sinead 3rd in the next b race in 63.37. Adam Halpin had another fine run in the C 400 coming 2nd in 54.46 with Sean O’Broinn 6th in the same race with 57.84. David Campbell was 4th in the 2nd B race in 54.09. Next it was the 800m and in the 2nd B race it was a sisters 1-2 with Sorcha Ni Dhomhnaill winning in 2.22.66 and twin Ide 2nd in 2.23.10, Karla Doran didn’t have her best of days in 7th with 2.33.48 but will bounce back. Darragh Fitzgibbon was 6th in the 1st A race in 2:00.11 and veteran track runner Donal Iremonger came 5th in the C race in 2.11.66. Darragh is currently enjoying a trip to Iten in Kenya and will no doubt come back inspired.
The Annual ESB BHAA 5k took place on the beach at Sandymount strand, Tom Fagan finished in 18.35. Alma Hanevy finished 3rd lady in 19.29. Mary McDermott 22.28 and Tom Halton 25.04.
Also midweek, on the mountains, Niall Lynch came 6th in the IMRA league Scarr race and Roisin Harkin was 4th woman.
There was another win during the week for Amy Moriarty at the Community Response 10k in the Phoenix park in just under 42 minutes.
Elsewhere on the roads, the Patrick Bell 5k in Bohermeen had Terry Mee finishing as 1st m65 in 22.25 and Lee Chambers 23.46.