HIGHLIGHT: Impressive running by Gavin Curtin and debutant Kane Collins in the PopUp 5,000m track races at Leixlip. Louis O’Loughlin failed to hit the Euro Under 23 qualifying mark despite a winning run in the Athletics Ireland Micro-Meet at Cork.

REPORT: Finally, some athletics action on Irish soil! It’s been a long time since the Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield ten-mile handicap race on St. Stephen’s morning, so the return to competition certainly gives a much-needed impetus to our athletics community.

With the easing of covid-19 restrictions the POPUP TIMING SYESTEMS organised a series of 5,000m RACES at the La Cheile AC track in Leixlip on Saturday afternoon (15.05.2021), whilst Athletics Ireland organised a Micro Meet at the Munster Technological University track in Cork, also on Saturday..

First into action at Leixlip were Gavin Curtin and Kane Collins in the 3^rd of 8 races over 12 and-a-half laps. The weather conditions were less than ideal with outbreaks of rain and a strong wind.

At the one-kilometre point 18 years-old Curtin (3.00) held 2^nd with Collins (3.01), aged 23, in 3^rd. Richard Owen of Clonliffe Harriers led in 2.59.

The front 3 continued to widen the gap on the remaining 11 competitors as they consistently completed laps in around 75 seconds. The Clonliffe Harriers athlete mostly dictated the pace, with Collins and Curtin both having short periods at the front in mid-race.

Curtin fell back from Owen and Collins with 1,200m to go, but a fine 67-seconds last lap saw him close on winner Owen (15.20) and narrowly edge out his training buddy Collins for the runners-up spot in the sprint to the line. Both Donore Harriers athletes were timed at 15.21. Curtin knocked more than half-a-minute of his previous best time, whilst Collins – who previously ran for North Cork club – lowered his PB by about 15 seconds. Curtin and Collins were the 3^rd and 4^th fastest of the 84 male competitors across the 8-race series.

Paul Cummins competed in Race 5 and placed 8^th (of 13) in 17.38. It was a solid run by Cummins who gained two positions in mid-race.

In the ATHLETICS IRELAND MICRO-MEET on the MTU track in Cork, Louis O’Loughlin was the convincing winner in the men’s 800m. The Meet was used as trials for the forthcoming European Under 20 and Under 23 championships. Persistent showers meant that conditions were less than ideal, with a water laden track and strong crosswinds. Pacer Aaron Keane of Tullamore Harriers brought the race through the first 400m in around 53 seconds. Conor Duncan of Ratoath AC followed, with Aaron Shorten of St. Laurence O’Toole AC and Louis O’Loughlin next. Duncan then held the lead until around the 200m-to-go point when O’Loughlin picked up the pace to reach the finish line in 1.52.13. Duncan came 2^nd in 1.53.66 and Nathan Sheehy-Cremin of Emerald AC 3rd (1.54.40) in a field of 9 finishers.

A buoyant O’Loughlin said afterwards: “It was not ideal out there today, but I have to be positive. I was just glad to get a race done. Now for the IMC in Belfast in two weeks time”. O’Loughlin will need a post a sub 1.49 time at Belfast to be considered for the European Under 23 championships.

RESULTS IN BRIEF:

PopUp 5,000m Time Trials at Leixlip (15.05.2021)

Race 3 of 8: 2^nd Gavin Curtin JNR (15.21.35 pb); 3^rd Kane Collins (15.31.41 pb)

Race 5 of 8: 8^th Paul Cummins (17.38.37)

Athletics Ireland Micro-Meet at MTU, Cork (15.05.2021)

Men’s 800m: 1^st Louis O’Loughlin