HIGHLIGHTS: Sorcha Loughnane 7^th overall and 2^nd Irish team member home in the ANGLO CELTIC PLATE INTERNATIONAL 100km at Mondello Park. Aoife Lynch 6^th in the CAS INTERNATIONAL MEETING in Luxembourg. Michael McCarthy bronze in Masters Pentathlon at Tullamore. Barbara Murray and Andrew Kinane well placed in the TERMONFECKIN 10-mile. Kane Collins 6^th in the BWEENG 5km. David McConn 1^st in ORMEAU PARKRUN.

 

REPORT: Sorcha Loughnane wore her first Irish singlet with distinction and tenacity as she braved the ultra-distance of 100km around Mondella Park on Saturday (21.08.2021). Competing in the ANGLO-CELTIC INTERNATIONAL PLATE race, the second year Donore Harriers athlete took on 56 laps of the famous motor racing circuit in all kinds of weather, including thunder and heavy rain.

Loughnane briefly moved to 4^th position on lap 9, otherwise she settled into 6^th place and covered most of the first 30 laps in times between 8.30 and 9 minutes. She conceded one position to Karla Borland of Northern Ireland on lap 20 but then moved ahead of Andrea Rowlands of Wales on lap 24. The Donore athlete then moved ahead of Morgan Windram-Geddes of Scotland on lap 42, only to be overtaken by Nikki Gibson of Scotland on lap 45 and then by Deirdre Martin on lap 46 from Carrick-on-Shannon AC who both showed more experience in pace judgement.

Most of Loughnane’s lap times from lap 34 onwards were outside 10 minutes, with the heavy rain and fatigue being telling factors. Nonetheless it was a superb performance, particularly as she was the 2^nd Irishwoman on the scorecard – helping Ireland (25.49.18) to team victory ahead of Scotland (26.09.20) and Northern Ireland (26.22.02). The Irish team was spearheaded by race winner and 2012 Olympic marathon runner Catriona Jennings (7.43.01) of Letterkenny AC. Loughnane came 3^rd individual in the W40 category.

Michael McCarthy (snr) took home a bronze medal from Saturday’s NATIONAL COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS at Tullamore (21.08.2021). Competing in the Masters 35-49 pentathlon, McCarthy won his first and last events – the 110m Hurdles in 20.16 and the 1,500m in 5.03.23. He came 2^nd in the Long Jump (5.28m), 4^th in the Shot Putt (6.12m) and 3^rd in the High Jump (1.50m). This gave him a total of 2,023 points, just 200 points behind winner Ross Miotti (2,222) of Monaghan Phoenix AC.

Donore Harriers had only a small team compete in the NATIONAL JUVENILE (YOUNGER AGES) CHAMPIONSHIPS also at Tullamore on Saturday (21.08.2021). Zion Osawe took a heavy fall in Heat 1 of the Under 13 Girls 60m Hurdles, thus struggled home 8^th in 20.45 and failed to progress. She also competed in the 80m sprint, placing 5^th in Heat 2 in 11.59.

Dylan O’Connor also had an eventful morning with 3 false starts in Heat 1 of the Under 12 Boys 60m sprint. He came 7^th in 8.95.

In the Under 10 Girls Team Long Jump Zara Kellegher and Anna Whelan paired up but failed to impact the podium places.

Donore’s top-class sprinter Aoife Lynch was back in action on Sunday (22.08.2021) competing in the CAS INTERNATIONAL MEETING at Schifflange, Luxembourg. Competing in her favoured 100m, Lynch came 3^rd in Heat 2 in a time of 12.04 to progress. Lynch then came 6^th in a highly competitive final in a time of 11.97. The sprint was won by Lorene Bazelo (11.27) of Portugal, with Jennifer Montag (11.58) of Germany and Shian Hyde of Jamaica (11.69) next.

In the BWEENG 5km ROAD RACE in Co. Cork on Sunday morning (22.08.2021) Kane Collins (15.23) ran a solid race to place 6^th from a field of 136 finishers. Organised by the Bweeng Trail Blazers, the race was held on country roads south-west of Mallow. This year’s race was won by Tim O’Donoghue (14.29) of East Cork AC, with his club-mate Paul Hartnett (14.48) in 2^nd. Collins now has his sight set on gaining a PB in the Charleville International Half-Marathon on the 26^th of September.

Andrew Kinane (59.06) was 8^th finisher in the TERMONFECKIN 10-mile ROAD RACE near Drogheda on Sunday (22.08.2021), whilst Barbara Murray (1.07.43) came 50^th and 4^th woman among the 203 competitors.

David McConn M35 won the ORMEAU 5km PARKRUN in Belfast on Saturday morning (21.08.2021) in a time of 17.01.

USA SCHOLARSHIPS – The club bade farewell to two of its more high-profile distance athletes in the past week. Abdel Laadjel left to be a freshman at Providence University in Rhode Island on Thursday. Eric Keogh departs tomorrow (23.08.2021) to continue his studies at the University of North Carolina in Charlotte. We wish these two very fine athletes the best of luck in their ‘New World’ experiences.

—————————————————-

DONADEA 50km & 100km, inc, IRISH CHAMPIONSHIPS & ANGLO CELTIC INTERNATIONAL PLATE 100km at Mondella Park, Co. Kildare (21.08.2021)

Women’s 100km: 7^th overall & 3^rd W40 Sorcha Loughnane W40 (8.52.01)

51 starters.

NATIONAL JUVENILE (YOUNGER AGES) CHAMPIONSHIPS at Tullamore (21-08.08.2021)

Under 12 Boys 60m Heat 1: 7^th Dylan O’Connor (8.95)

Under 13 Girls 60mH Heat 1: 8^th Zion Osawe (20.45)

Under 13 Girls 80m Heat 2: 5^th Zion Osawe (11.59)

Under 10 Girls Team Long Jump Final: Zara Kellegher & Anna Whelan did not place.

NATIONAL COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS at Tullamore (21.08.2021)

Masters Men 35-49 Pentathlon: 3^rd Michael McCarthy Snr (2023 points) – 1^st 110mH = 20.61 (318); 2^nd Long Jump = 5.28m (469); 4^th Shot Putt = 6.12m (269); 3^rd High Jump = 1.50m (411); 1^st 1,500m = 5.03.23 (556)

BWEENG 5km ROAD RACE in Co. Cork (22.08.2021)

6^th Kane Collins (15.23)

136 finishers

TERMONFECKIN 10 Mile ROAD RACE at Newtownstalaban, Drogheda (22.08.2021)

8^th Andrew Kinane (59.06)

50^th overall & 4^th woman Barbara Murray (1.07.43)

203 finishers

CAS INTERNATIONAL MEETING at Schifflange, Luxembourg (22.08.2021)

Women’s 100m Final: 6^th Aoife Lynch (11.97): qualified 3^rd in Heat 2 (12.04)

PARKRUN

Ormeau, Belfast – 1^st David McConn M35 (17.01)