HIGHLIGHTS: Sisters Sorcha and Aislinn NicDhomnaill ran the 2nd and 3rd fastest ever club times in the SEVILLE MARATHON. Emily Bolton and Oliver Hopkins placed 1st and 2nd in their respective races in the LEINSTER SCHOOLS XC CHAMPIONSHIPS. Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan and Daragh Fitzgibbon finished just outside the top 3 in the STREETS OF CLANE 5KM. John Travers and Jack Byrne both placed 2nd at NIA LIVE No. 3. More action on Days 4 and 5 of the DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS with DH teams taking 2 golds, a silver and a bronze in the relays.

REPORT: Sorcha NicDhomhnaill took almost 8 minutes of her previous best marathon time set at Manchester (2.46.24) last October. Her SEVILLE MARATHON effort of 2.38.32 puts her 30th on the all-time Irish list for the distance and 2nd on the club list behind Valerie McGovern’s time of 2.38.02 in Duluth, Minnesota in 2002.
Sorcha was the 30th woman finisher at Seville among a field littered with top-class international marathon athletes. She placed 257th overall and 5th in the W35 category. Seville is one of the most popular destinations for athletes looking to optimize their marathon efforts. It has a flat and fast route that’s protected from cross-winds – and its picturesque course passes the Plaza Espana, Torro Del Oro, La Giralda, Maria Luisa Park and the Maestranza bullring. This year’s race attracted more than 7 and-a-half thousand competitors with the men’s race won by Asrar Abderehman of Ethiopia in 2.04.40 and the women’s category by Alemu Megertu, also from Ethiopia, in 2.18.49. Both winners set course records. Sorcha’s older sister Aislinn came 2nd in the W40 category having knocked more than 4 minutes of her previous best time – also set at Manchester – with a new time of 2.43.30. She placed 365th overall and 35th woman finisher. Her time ranks her 3rd on the all-time club list. Robert Murphy (2.22.08) shaved just 2-seconds of his time set at the Berlin Marathon in 2019 whilst a member of Rathfarnham AC. He placed 83rd overall and 7th in the M40 class. Ray Hynes came 122nd with a time of 2.28.05 and placed 27th in the W35 age group.

The 2022 LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS held at Santry Demesne last Wednesday will be long remembered for the gale-force winds and heavy rains. The afternoon began with blustery winds and rain, but conditions quickly deteriorated to the point that the senior boys’ race was cut short on safety grounds. Several club members were in action hoping to book a passage to the All-Ireland Schools XC at Mallusk, Co. Antrim in mid-March. They needed to finish in the top 15 individuals or be part of a top 3 team. Amber Lynch (6.10) was first into action placing 37th in the Minor Girls race over 1.5km in the colour of Loreta Stephen’s Green.
In the Minor Boys 2km race an improving Arlen Szeb-Szabo (Malahide CC) qualified to compete at Mallusk with a 14th place finish in a time of 8.19. Daniel Hughes (Belvedere College) found the soft underfoot conditions not to his liking and he was disappointed with 33rd position in a time of 8.40. Liam Blair (Confey College) and Eoin Mooney (Colaiste Chilliain) came 53rd and 81st respectively with times of 8.57 and 9.24. Emily Bolton (Mount Sackville) had no problem with the soft ground and took the Junior Girls title covering the 2 x 1km laps in 8.14. Her training partner Eva Crowe (Edmund Rice School) came 6th in 8.35. Newcomer Aoife NicSiacais (Colaiste Chillian) place 59th of 94 finishers in 10.24.
West Leinster Schools winner Liam Morris (Colaiste Chilliain) struggled on the muddy course and scraped home with a top 15 finish covering the 3km race in 10.31. He was 2nd scorer on the Colaiste Chilliain team that came 3rd. The 3rd scorer was Sam O’Chrothair who placed 52nd in 11.53. Aaron O’Callanan (14.05) came 98th.
Julie Cleary (Loreta Stephen’s Green) showed improved form by placing 14th in the Intermediate Girls race over 3.5km.
In the Intermediate Boys race over 3 laps (4.5km) Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s College) made a steady start and worked his way forward to contest for the lead over the final circuit. However, he was unable to match the finishing speed of Corman Dixon (HFCS) in the closing stages and had to settle for runners-up spot in 14.45 – just 5 seconds off the winner. Thomas Bolton (Belvedere College) came 16th in the same race, just missing out on an automatic place to the All-Irelands. His school team came 4th, thus also missing out on the Mallusk trip.
James Bolton (Belvedere College) came 15th in the Senior Boys race over 4.5km – reduced from 6km due to the adverse weather conditions. He completed the 3 mud-laden laps in 15.16 and led his team to 3rd place.

At the 3rd NIA INDOOR LIVE EVENT of the season John Travers came 2nd in the Men’s 1,500m ‘A’ race in a time of 3.47.63. The race was won by new Irish middle-distance star Nicholas Griggs of Mid-Ulster AC. 17 years-old Griggs, who won the European 3,000m Under 20 title in Estonia last July, set a new national junior record in a time of 3.43.71. Jack Byrne came 2nd in Heat 2 of the 400m in 53.48.

Last Tuesday evening (16.02.2022) the inaugural STREETS OF CLANE 5KM ROAD RACES, organised by PopUp Races took place. The ‘open’ and ‘elite’ races were held over a 3 laps course in the town-centre. Despite the damp weather conditions the races were well attended with a general feel-good factor around the event. The ’open’ race had a field of 400 with Donore Harriers having 4 competitors. Peter Brennan was first home in 27th place with a time of 18.55. The others were David McGrath (19.39) in 43rd, JP O’Hanlon (21.25) in 99th and Angela Eustace (23.58) in 174th.
Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan ran a ‘stormer’ in the ‘elite’ race knocking 24 seconds of his previous best time to break the 15-minutes barrier for the first time. He placed 4th with a new personal best time of 14.54. He had club colleague Daragh Fitzgibbon (14.58) in close order for the entirety of the race, with the Co. Kildare native crossing the line in 5th position.
Kevin O’Boyle (16.08) ran a personal best to finish in 45th place. He was followed home by Daragh Keegan (16.37) in 61st, Gavin Keogh (16.51) in 71st, Matt Fabbro (17.09) in 83rd and Michael Ryan (17.24) in 97th. There were 152 finishers.

Days 4 and 5 of the DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS took place at the NIA over the weekend. The club had 23 competitors on Saturday. Mark Nunan and Olyver Whelan reached the final of the Under 12 Boys 600m finishing in 5th and 6th places. Cillian McCooey came 5th in the Under 14 Boys 800m final. Annabella Omozee placed 4th in the Under 12 Girls Long Jump. More comprehensive results are listed below. Sunday’s action saw our Under 15 and Under 16 Boys teams take gold in the 4 x 200m relay. There were also podium places for the Under 17 Girls team who took silver and the Under 17 Boys team the bronze. The team members are listed in the results section below. The Under 10 Boys team and Under 14 Girls team also reached finals with both teams placing in 5th position.

With several PARKRUNs cancelled due to the incessant winds and rain and a lower number of participants as is usual, the best result for the small number of club participants was juvenile member Lucas Collender (22.04) placing 3rd at Waterstown. More results below.

Results in brief:
POP-UP STREETS OF CLANE 5KM ROAD RACES (15.02.2022)
ELITE RACE:
4th Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (14.54 PB)
5th Daragh Fitzgibbonn (14.58)
45th Kevin O’Boyle (16.08 PB)
61st Daragh Keegan M35 (16.37)
71st Gavin Keogh M40 (16.51)
83rd Matt Fabbro (17.09)
97th Michael Ryan (17.24)
152 finishers
OPEN RACE:
27th Peter Brennan M35 (18.55)
43rd David McGrath (19.39)
99th JP O’Hanlon M35 (21.25)
174th Angela Eustace W50 (23.58)
399 finishers
LEINSTER SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Santry Demesne (16.02.2022)
MINOR GIRLS 1,500m:
37th Amber Lynch (Loreta Stephen’s Green) 6.10
93 finishers
MINOR BOYS 2,000m:
14th Arlen Szeb Szabo (Malahide CC) 8.19
33rd Daniel Hughes (Belvedere College) 8.40
53rd Liam Blair (Confey College) 8.57
81st Eoin Mooney (Colaiste Chilliain) 9.24
127 finishers
JUNIOR GIRLS 2,00m:
1st Emily Bolton (Mount Sackville) 8.14
6th Eva Crowe (Edmund Rice) 8.35
59th Aoife Nic Siacais (Colaiste Chilliain) 10.24
93 finishers
JUNIOR BOYS 3,000m
15th Liam Morris (Colaiste Chilliain) 10.31
52nd Sam O’Chrothair (Colaiste Chilliain) 11.53
98th Aaron O’Callanan (Colaiste Chilliain) 14.05
103 finishers
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS 3,500M:
14th Julie Cleary (Loreta Stephen’s Green) 14.56
82 finishers
INTERMEDIATE BOYS 4,500m
2nd Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s) 14.50
16th Thomas Bolton (Belvedere College) 15.47
98 finishers
SENIOR BOYS 4,500m:
15th James Bolton (Belvedere College) 15.16
93 finishers
NIA INDOOR LIVE NO. 3 at the National Indoor Arena (16.02.2022)
MEN’s 400m H2: 2nd Jack Byrne (53.48)
MEN’s 1,500m H4: 2nd John Travers (3.47.63)

DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 4 at NIA (19.02.2022)
U/11 GIRLS 500m HEAT 5: 2nd Lola Blake (1.48.19)
U/11 GIRLS 500m HEAT 6: 7th Cliodhna McMahon (1.54.76)
U/12 BOYS 600m HEAT 1: 2nd Mark Nunan (1.56.71), 6th Cian Hussey (2.05.21)
U/12 BOYS 600m HEAT 2: 7th Elliott Reilly (2.19.51)
U/12 BOYS 600m HEAT 5: 1st Olyver Whelan (1.55.21), 4th Max Henley-Willis (2.15.10)
U/12 BOYS 600m FINAL: 5th Mark Nunan (1.57.65), 6th Olyver Whelan (1.58.23)
U/13 BOYS 600m HEAT 5: 5th Daniel Lynch (2.10.20)
U/13 BOYS 600m HEAT 6: 8th Oisin O’Gorman (2.17.32)
U/13 GIRLS 600m HEAT 1: 4th Petra Cunningham (2.07.81)
U/13 GIRLS 600m HEAT 5: 6th Ciara O’Neill (2.04.81)
U/14 BOYS 800m HEAT 1: 3rd Cillian McCooey (2.26.85)
U/14 BOYS 800m HEAT 2: 5th Eoin Mooney (2.41.06)
U/14 BOYS 800m FINAL: 5th Cillian McCooey (2.30.60)
U/14 GIRLS 800m HEAT 1: 2nd Amber Lynch (2.46.67)
U/14 GIRLS 800m HEAT 4: 5th Lily Clarke-Hanrahan (2.44.96)
U/14 GIRLS 800m HEAT 5: 8th Sophie Boyle (2.58.54)
U/12 GIRLS LONG JUMP FINAL: 4th Annabella Omozee
ZURICH MARATHON SEVILLA (SPAIN) (20.02.2022)
83rd & 7th M40 Robert Murphy (2.22.08 PB)
122nd & 27th M35 Ray Hynes (2.28.05)
257th, 30th woman & 5th W35 Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (2.38.32 PB)
365th, 35th woman & 2nd W40 Aislinn NicDhomhnaill (2.43.30 PB)
7,561 finishers
DUBLIN JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 5 at NIA (20.02.2022)
U/10 BOYS 4 x 200m HEAT: 5th Donore Harriers (Michael McCarthy, Cadel Senyk, Seamus McCluskey, Jamie Keegan – latter 2 stepping-up) 2.38.08
U/14 GIRLS 4 x 200m FINAL: 5th Donore Harriers (2.00.52)
U/15 BOYS 4 x 200m FINAL: 1st Donore Harriers (Romeo Omozee, Samuel Whelan, Elliott Whelan, Luuk Jackson – latter 2 stepping-up) 1.48.96
U/16 BOYS 4 x 200m FINAL: 1st Donore Harrers (Alex Leonard, Ciaran O’Farrell, James Dunne, Rory O’Farrell) 1.43.80
U/17 GIRLS 4 x 200m FINAL: 2nd Donore Harriers (Isabella Kelly, Eve Conroy, Roisin Kirby, Isabella Jackson – latter 2 stepping up) 1.52.59
U/17 BOYS 4 x 200m FINAL: 3rd Donore Harriers (Oisin Cummins-Weiss, Alex Leonard, Ciaran O’Farrell, Rory O’Farrell – latter 3 stepping-up) 1.41.38
PARKRUNS 5km (19.02.2022)
BUSHY: 75th Thomas Halton M65 (33.41)
MARLAY: 12th Patrick Moriarty M45 (19.42)
ST. ANNE’S: 12th Shane Casey (19.13)
WATERSTOWN: 3rd Lucas Collender M11-14 (22.04)