HIGHLIGHTS: Emily Bolton and Liam Morris were victorious as SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY RACES returned. Jack Raftery 2nd in the IUAA INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS, with Caoimhe Mackey & Gavin Curtin recording PBs. John Travers 4th over 3,000m indoors in Luxembourg. Michael McCarthy triple jumped to gold and an Irish masters record in the NATIONAL INDOOR MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS, as DH athletes bagged 5 medals. Sorcha NicDhomhnaill 2nd woman home in the ‘over-the-distance’ RAHENY 5 MILE ROAD RACE. Abdel Laadjel knocked 7 seconds of his 3k indoor PB at the JOHN THOMAS TERRIER CLASSIC Stateside.

What a glorious sight as almost one-thousand young athletes competed in the EAST LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Phoenix Park on Wednesday last (26.01.2022). This was the first schools race since the All-Ireland school’s cross-country at Santry Demesne on the 7th of March 2020. The event was blessed with mild and dry conditions and good organisation. The top 15 individuals and 3 teams in each category progress to the Leinster Schools cross-country championships to take place at Santry Demesne on the 16th of February. And so, to the action! Amber Lynch representing Loreta Stephen’s Green came 15th in the Minor Girls race over 1.5km in a time of 6.32. She was the 3rd scorer on her school team that claimed the gold medals. Julie Cleary (10.41) and Honor Lynch (11.25) came 15th and 37th respectively in the 3km Intermediate Girls race. They were 2nd and 3rd scorers for Loreta Stephens Green team that came 5th of 31 teams. Emma Stacey (08.32), representing Muckross College, booked her passage to the next round with 7th place in the Senior Girls race over 2km.

The WEST LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS were held at the same 15-acres venue on the following day. The athletes were again met with clement weather and the buzz of camaraderie. Emily Bolton (5.54) was the commanding winner of the Junior Girls race over 2km. She led her Mount Sackville school team to silver. Her Donore Harriers training buddy Eva Crowe (06.05) took the runners-up spot for Edmund Rice College. Also among the 81 finishers were Aoife Nic Siacias (06.59) of Colaiste Chilliain in 15th and Ava Hoare (07.59) of Colaiste De Hide in 40th. In the Intermediate Girls race over 2.5km Laura Nunan (08.49) came 16th for Mount Sackville and Olivia Furlong (11.30) 62nd for Castleknock Community College.
Daniel Hughes (05.54) continues to make steady progress as was confirmed by his 6th place in the 2km Minor Boys race. He led his Belvedere College team to the gold medals. Liam Blair (06.00) came 11th in the colours of Confey College, with Eoin Mooney (06.32) placing 26th of 149 finishers. Mooney was the 2nd scorer on the Colaiste Chilliain team that took the bronze position on the podium.
Liam Morris (07.51) had plenty to celebrate after winning both individual and team gold in the Junior Boys race over 2.5km. His victory was key to Colaiste Chilliain’s success as they finished just 6 points ahead of St. Peter’s Dunboyne. Club member Aaron O’Callanain (10.21) came 76th of 107 finishers in the same race – also for Colaiste Chilliain of Clondalkin.
The national junior schools cross-country champion from 2020 Oliver Hopkins (13.15), representing St. Declan’s College, continues to regain his fitness and secured 2nd place in the Intermediate Boys race over 4km. He was followed home by Thomas Bolton (13.30) who spearheaded Belevere College to team gold. Alex Phelan (20.36) came 106th for Castleknock CC.
James Bolton (13.38) came 5th of 68 finishers in the Senior Boys race and led the Belvedere College team to silver medals.

The 15-acres was again the venue as the NORTH LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS moved from its regular venue at ALSAA. Last Friday’s (28.01.2022) competition saw Eleanor Hopkins of St. Dominic’s College place 32nd in the Intermediate Girls – and Arlen Szabo, who is due to transfer from Raheny Shamrocks AC to Donore Harriers this Spring, took 2nd in the Minor Boys race.

Jack Raftery claimed a hard-earned silver medal in the Men’s 400m at the IRISH UNIVERSITIES INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Athlone Arena on Saturday. Representing DCU Raftery won Heat 1 of the 400m in 48.34 to book his place in the final. His main challenger was expected to be Cathal Crosbie of University Limerick – and so it proved! Crosbie (47.40) went into an early lead and didn’t relinquish his advantage despite the best efforts of Raftery. Raftery’s cause was not helped by a niggling hamstring, and he crossed the line holding his leg and having to be content with 2nd place in a time of 48.38. Caoimhe Mackey (UCD) recorded a personal best of 58.19 in the 2nd semi-final of the 400m, but narrowly failed to progress to the final. Mackey did qualify for the final of the 60m Hurdles with 3rd place in Heat 1 in a time of 9.64. She was joined in the final by Eva McPartlan (UCC), who also came 3rd in Heat 2 in 9.35. The two Donore Harriers athletes placed 5th and 6th in the final, with McPartlan timing 9.35 and Mackey 9.70.
Gavin Curtin impressed in the 3,000m in the colours of Athlone IT. The former Moyle Park College student came 7th with a PB of 8.39.99 in a very competitive field. All six athletes who finished in front of Curtin had represented Ireland at underage level. Curtin explained: “I’m happy with that in a strong field. Slow 75 first 400 metres, so definitely can go faster”
Paul McDermott came 5th in Heat 2 of the 60m sprint and was the opening runner on the DCU team that took silver in the 4 x 200m relay.
The other club athletes who competed were Louise Murray (10.55.48) 10th in the 3,000m final for TCD; Adam Halpin (24.54) 4th in Heat 3 of the 200m for AIT; and Oran O’Brien (11.13m) 6th in the Shot Putt representing DCU.

John Travers was back in action, this time in the WORLD INDOOR ATHLETICS TOUR BRONZE MEET in Luxembourg on Saturday evening. Amongst a quality field in the 3,000m he matched strides with favourite and race winner Charel Grethen (7.48.19) of the host nation over the opening 2,000m. Unable to stay the pace he eventually had to settle for 4th place in 7.56.43. Hamish Carson (7.48.43) of New Zealand came 2nd and Michael Somers (7.50.47) of Belgium 3rd.

Donore Harriers claimed 5 medals at the NATIONAL INDOOR MASTERS T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Athlone Arena on Sunday. The star performance came from Michael McCarthy who set a national masters indoor record for the triple jump with a best effort of 11.78m in the first round of jumps. He finished almost 2 metres ahead of his nearest challenger Patrick O’Donnell (9.85m) of Olympian Youth AC. Niall Allen added to his medal collection with gold in the M45 Weight-For-Distance throwing 6.61m and a silver in the M45 Shot Putt with a best throw of 10.90m. Colm Dunne (7.89) took bronze in the M45 60m sprint and Donal Iremonger (4.27.54) also claimed bronze in the M50 class 1,500m.

The AXA RAHENY 5-MILE ROAD RACE is one of the most popular road races in Ireland. The 38th edition on Sunday will probably be remembered for an over- distance course, rather than the quality of the races and general feel-good factor of the event. Athletes were glancing at their watches as the 5-mile distance was reached without sight of the finish line. One commentator said: “It’s a high calibre road race, but 0.35 miles over the distance is completely unacceptable”. Bernard O’Hanlon of Leevale AC said: “It’s a great race all the same”. Best for Donore Harriers on the day was an in-form Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (27.48) who came 2nd woman behind Fionnualla McCormack of Kilcoole AC (27.32). Sorcha came 62nd overall in the race that had more than 3-thousand finishers. Older sister Aislinn NicDhomhnaill (29.33) placed 159th overall and was the winner of the W40 category. Pamela White (37.03) placed 807th and was the 3rd scorer on the Donore Harriers women’s team that came 7th of 62 closing teams.
Kane Collins (26.25) was the first Donore Harriers athlete home in the place occupying 22nd spot. Next came James Bolton (27.11) in 42nd and the 2nd placed finisher in the Junior category. David McConn (28.19) closed out the club’s scoring team in 82nd position, as Donore Harriers placed 7th out of 79 teams. The other club finishers were Sean Fox (28.48) in 114th, Alasdair Brown (29.02) in 120th, Craig Scott (29.54) in 188th, Liam Keane (31.12) in 315th, Kevin Odgers (32.21) in 404th, Peter Brennan (33.06) in 498th, Sean Kinsella (33.59) in 503rd, Gavin White (34.03) in 566th, David McGrath (35.47) in 836th, Ian Redican (37.59) in 950th, Treasa Ryan (37.40) in 1,014th, Louise Kelly (38.33) in 1, 119th, Mark Devine (39.03) in 1,166th, JP O’Hanlon (38.45) in 1,317th, Suzie Henley-Willis (40.37) in 1,356th and Tommy Halton (59.48) in 2,879th. The race was won by Efrem Gidey of Clonliffe Harriers in 24.41.

In the IRISH MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION BROCKAGH BURST race on Saturday Niall Lynch (27.22) came 5th overall and 1st in the M50 category. Deirdre McCanna (30.30) came 30th overall for the 6km mountain route and was the 2nd woman home.

Abdel Laadjel knocked more than 7-seconds of his personal best when finishing 8th of 16 in the 3,000m ‘B’ race at the JOHN THOMAS TERRIER CLASSIC INDOOR MEET at Boston University on Sunday evening. The race had a cagey start with nobody prepared to take the pace. Laadjel passed the first 400m in 77 seconds and was positioned towards the back of the melee. Over the next couple of laps, he progressed to 4th position. The 18-years old former Kishoge Community College student was pitted against more experienced athletes – and got picked off by four athletes. Determined, as ever, he stuck to his task and crossed the line in a new PB of 8.10.84. Abdel said afterwards: “I didn’t run a good race tactically. I just didn’t feel right leading up to the race. I will be back here again in 2 weeks’ time for the Valentine Invitational hoping to get closer to that 8-minutes barrier”

Juvenile members Liam Morris and Dylan McKenna were first finishers respectively at Corkagh Park and Waterstown Park. PARKRUN results are listed below.

EAST LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at PHOENIX PARK (26.01.2022)
MINOR GIRLS: 15th Amber Lynch (Loreta Stephen’s Green) 06.32 – 87 finishers
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS: 15th Julie Cleary (Loreta Stephen’s Green) 10.41, 37th Honor Lynch (Loreta Stephen’s Green) 11.25 – 122 finishers
SENIOR GIRLS: 7th Emma Stacey (Muckross College) 08.32 – 39 finishers
MINOR BOYS: 72nd Ross Cassidy (St. Patrick’s Cathedral) 07.26 – 80 finishers
WEST LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at PHOENIX PARK (27.01.2022)
JUNIOR GIRLS: 1st Emily Bolton (Mount Sackville) 05.54, 2nd Eva Crowe (Edmund Rice) 06.05, 15th Aoife Nic Siacias (Colaiste Chilliain) 06.59, 40th Ava Hoare (Colaiste De Hide) 07.59 – 81 finishers
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS: 16th Laura Nunan (Mount Sackville) 08.49, 62nd Olivia Furlong (Castleknock CC) 11.30 – 83 finishers
MINOR BOYS: 6th Daniel Hughes (Belvedere College) 05.54, 11th Liam Blair (Confey College) 06.00, 26th Eoin Mooney (Colaiste Chilliain) 06.32, – 149 finishers
JUNIOR BOYS: 1st Liam Morris (Colaiste Chilliain) 07.51, 76th Aaron O’Callanain (Colaiste Chilliain) 10.21 – 107 finishers
INTERMEDIATE BOYS: 2nd Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s College) 13.15, 3rd Thomas Bolton (Belvedere College) 13.30, Alex Phelan (Castleknock CC) 20.36 – 111 finishers
SENIOR BOYS: 5th James Bolton (Belvedere College) 13.38 – 68 finishers
NORTH LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at PHOENIX PARK (28.01.2022)
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS: 32nd Eleanor Hopkins (St. Dominic’s College) NTA
IRISH UNIVERSITIES INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at ATHLONE ARENA (29.01.2022)
WOMEN’s EVENTS:
60m HURDLES FINAL: 5th Eva McPartlan (UCC) 9.34 – qualified 3rd H2 in 9.35
60m HURDLES FINAL: 6th Caoimhe Mackey (UCD) 9.70 – qualified 3rd H1 in 9.64
400m SEMI FINAL 2: 3rd Caoimhe Mackey (UCD) 58.19 PB
3,000m FINAL: 10th Louise Murray (TCD) 10.55.48
MEN’s EVENTS:
60m HEAT 2: 5th Paul McDermott (DCU) 7.27
200m HEAT 3: 4th Adam Halpin (AIT) 24.54
400m FINAL: 2nd Jack Raftery (DCU) 48.38 – qualified 1st in H1 in 48.34
3,000m FINAL: 7th Gavin Curtin (AIT) 8.39.99 PB
4 x 200m RELAY FINAL: 2nd DCU (88.31) inc. Paul McDermott on Leg 1
SHOT PUTT: 6th Oran O’Brien (DCU) 11.13m
WORLD INDOOR ATHLETICS TOUR BRONZE at LUXEMBOURG (29.01.2022)
MEN’s 3,000m: 4th John Travers (7.56.43)
NATIONAL INDOOR MASTERS CHAMPIONSHIPS at ATHLONE ARENA (30.01.2022)
MEN’S M45 60m SPRINT: 3rd Colm Dunne (7.89)
MEN’S M50 1,500m FINAL: 3rd Donal Iremonger (4.27.54)
MEN’S M35 TRIPLE JUMP: 1st Michael McCarthy Snr (11.78m) – new national masters indoor record
MEN’S M45 56lb WFD: 1st Niall Allen (6.61m)
MEN’S M45 SHOT PUTT: 2nd Niall Allen (10.90m)
IMRA BROCKAGH BURST MOUNTAIN RACE in Rathdrum, Co. Wicklow (29.01.2022)
5th & 1st M50 Niall Lynch (27.22)
21st & 2nd woman Deirdre McCanna (30.30)
154 finishers
RAHENY 5-MILE ROAD RACE (30.01.2022)
22nd Kane Collins (26.25)
42nd & 2nd Junior James Bolton (27.11)
62nd & 2nd woman Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (27.48)
82nd & 13th M40 David McConn (28.19)
114th & 7th M45 Sean Fox (28.48)
120th Alasdair Brown (29.02)
159th & 1st W40 Aislinn NicDhomhnaill (29.33)
188th & 35th M40 Craig Scott (29.54)
315th & 76th M40 Liam Keane (31.12)
404th & 48th M45 Kevin Odgers (32.21)
498th Peter Brennan (33.06)
503rd & 9th Junior Sean Kinsella (33.59)
559th Gavin White (34.03)
566th & 4th M65 Tony Kynes (34.26)
807th Pamela White (37.03)
836th David McGrath (35.47)
950th & 118th M45 Ian Redican M50 (37.59)
1,014th Treasa Ryan (37.40)
1,119th Louise Kelly (38.33)
1,166th & 152nd M45 Mark Devine (39.03)
1,317th JP O’Hanlon (38.45)
1,356th & 67th W40 Suzie Henley-Willis (40.37)
2,879th & 19th M65 Tommy Halton (59.48)
3,086 finishers
MEN’s TEAM: 7th Donore Harriers <Collins, Bolton, McConn> 144. 79 teams closed
M40+ TEAM: 5th Donore Harriers <McConn, Fox, Scott> 367. 58 teams closed
WOMEN’s TEAM: 7th Donore Harriers <NicDhomhnaill, NicDhomhnaill, White> 126. 62 teams closed
BOSTON UNIVERSITY JOHN THOMAS TERRIER CLASSIC at BOSTON UNIVERSITY INDOOR TRACK (30.01.2022)
MEN’s 3,000m ‘B’ race: 8th Abdel Laadjel (8.10.84 PB)
PARKRUNS 5km (22.01.2022)
CASTLETOWN: 72nd Joan McTernan W60 (27.15)
CORKAGH: 1st Liam Morris M11-14 (17.57), 6th Eoin Mooney M11-14 (20.54), 38th & 3rd woman Rosie-May Morris W11-14 (24.46)
GRIFFEEN: 77th Charlie O’Neill M65 (27.46)
MALAHIDE: 101st Angela O’Dea W40 (25.49)
POPPINTREE: 80th Eilish Joyce W40 (34.04)
ST. ANNE’S: 62nd Frank McNally M55 (22.57)
WATERSTOWN: 1st Dylan McKenna J15-17 (20.13), 4th Lucas Collender M11-14 (22.13)