HIGHLIGHTS: Lara O’Byrne won the NATIONAL SENIOR HEPTATHLON with 3 new club records. Zion Osawe and Melody Omozee competed well in their U14 GIRLS PENTATHLON. Ide & Sorcha NicDhomhnaill took gold and silver in the NATIONAL 10,000m CHAMPIONSHIP. Kane Collins 10th in the MEN’S 10,000m. Jack Raftery won the AAI GAMES 400m, as Paul McDermott & Daragh McAuley both ran well in 100m and 400mH events. Donore Harriers 1st Men’s team and 3rd Women’s team in the TALLAGHT/DUBLIN NOVICE 5km ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS. David McConn individual silver. Des Tremble 1st M50. Daire McCarthy and Arlen Szeb-Szabo 3rd and 4th in the U16 category. Honor Lynch 3rd in IMRA TRIALS for selection to Irish team to compete in the British & Irish Mountain Championships.

REPORT: <report/results by Gerry Naughton & Florence Curley> It was another busy weekend of competition at the Tullamore Harriers track with the AAI GAMES, the NATIONAL 10,000m TRACK CHAMPIONSHIPS, and the NATIONAL COMBINED EVENTS for various categories.
Lara O’Byrne had another productive weekend on her athletics journey. She won the Irish senior Heptathlon championships, broke the five-thousand points mark for the first time, and set three new club records.
It all began early on Saturday morning as the NATIONAL MULTI-EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS commenced. O’Byrne was delighted when she won her first event – the 100m Hurdles with a new personal best and club record time of 14.33. That effort earned her 932 points. She then cleared 1.63m and 1.66m in the High Jump but after 3 efforts she failed to match her PB of 1.69m. The 1.66m clearance earned her another 806 points.
The Donore Harriers star then threw a solid 10.45m in the Shot Putt to bag another 559 points. She rounded out Day 1 with a personal best of 25.64 to win the 200m and add 829 points to her tally.
Day 2 began well for O’Byrne when she won the Long Jump with a PB and club record jump of 5.38m. That earned her 665 points. She picked up a leg injury but was on a roll and decided to continue in the competition. She was pleased to get the Javelin throw out beyond 30 metres with a best of 30.89m and that added 493 points to her scorecard. She was on course to break the 5,000 points target but it required a good 800m run. If a leg injury was one problem a torrential downpour added to her anxiety. But Lara O’Byrne is a supreme competitor! She ran from the front in the 800m passing at the bell in a minute and 12 seconds and then kept on running strong to the finish line to win in 2.27.94. It was six seconds short of her PB, but the statistic that really mattered was that the 719 points gained got her a final score of 5,003 points. The new mark was not only a personal best, but also a club and Dublin County record. She won all 7 events and finished exactly one-thousand points in front of silver medallist Louise King of St. Colman’s South Mayo AC.
Zion Osawe and Melody Omozee competed in the Under 14 Girls Pentathlon placing 9th and 11th overall. Osawe scored 2,022 points and Omozee got 1,830 points. Osawe was best in the 75m Hurdles when she came 2nd in Heat 2 in 12.59. She then came 3rd in the Long Jump with 4.59m and in the penultimate event she cleared 1.47m to finish 2nd in the High Jump. Omozee came 4th in the 75m Hurldes in 12.94 and picked up good scores when finishing 8th in the both the Long Jump (4.11m) and High Jump (1.30m). Additional results for the girls are listed below.
Both Zion and Melody are talented young athletes. They will have been inspired by watching Lara O’Byrne compete in the senior heptathlon championship. Lara joined the club in 2010 when aged 9 and a-half. Her commitment to her sport and the club has been inspirational.
Jack Raftery, just back after competing so well in the World Athletics Championship mixed relays, starred on Day 2 of the AAI GAMES by winning the 400m A race in 46.51 ahead of Callum Rorison (47.17) of Australia and the 2nd ranked Irish 800m athlete John Fitzsimons (47.98).
Daragh McAuley came up against top class international opponents in the 400m Hurdles. His cause was not helped by being given the outside lane. The Donore man, however, ran close to his best to finish 6th in 57.62. The race was won by Niklas Strohmayer-Dangl of Austria in 51.25. with Patrik Domotor (51.72) of Slovakia the runner-up.
Paul McDermott, whose season was badly hampered by injury, placed 4th in the Men’s 100m Grade B race one in 10.90. Despite a poor pick up from the blocks he ran marginally faster in race two and placed 5th in 10.88.

Saturday’s AAI Games programme also included the NATIONAL 10,000m CHAMPIONSHIPS. Ide and Sorcha NicDhomhnaill formed a lead group with Jessica Noble with each athlete taking a turn at the front of the race. The Australian athlete dropped out at the halfway point leaving the Donore Harriers pair to trade the lead as they vied for the gold medal spot. Ide won out in 34.10.05 with Sorcha a stride behind in 34.10.28. Sinead O’Connor of Leevale AC was 3rd in 35.09.93.
Kane Collins contested the Men’s 10,000m in hot and humid conditions. He ran a steady race to gain from 15th place after the opening few laps to finish 10th in 32.22.69. Matthew Neill of Strive Racing AC won in 30.43.35.

The DUBLIN NOVICE 5KM ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS was incorporated into the TALLAGHT 5KM RACE on Sunday morning. It was a sunny, humid morning and strong winds made personal bests difficult to gain.
David McConn (16.29) was 4th overall. He won the silver medal in the Dublin Novice and was 1st in the M40 category. It was a good morning for McConn as he also led Donore Harriers to team gold in the novice competition.
The next scoring member was Daragh Keegan (16.55) in 12th place. Keegan ran a wholehearted race and held 9th position until the final 30 metres when he no longer had the legs to hold position. The scoring four was completed by Alasdair Brown (17.00) in 17th spot and Des Tremble (17.04) in 19th place and 1st in the M50 age group. The team scored 28 to finish well clear of runners-up Liffey Valley on 62 with Crusaders AC 3rd on 63.
Ian Fitzgerald fell back after a strong start to place 21st in 17.13 – and he was followed home by new member Matteo Leguen (17.14) in 23rd. Simon O’Toole (17.37) came next in 26th position.
Two Under 15 athletes came next for Donore Harriers. Daire McCarthy (18.38) knocked 7 seconds off his previous best time to place 39th and finish 3rd in the Under 16 category. Arlen Szep-Szabo chalked up a 5km time for the season with 19.11 that brought him over the line in 47th place and 4th in the U16s. His caused was not helped by a dreaded stitch in mid-race.
The other club male finishers were John Paul O’Hanlon (20.44) in 78th, John Curran M45 (20.49) in 79th and Ciaran McCarthy M45 (22.11) in 97th.
The women’s team took the bronze medals in the Dublin Novice. Deirdre NicCanna (20.37) was first finisher for the team placing 73rd and 11th in the women’s category. Next in the black and white of Donore Harriers was Jean Murphy (20.47) in 76th place and 14th woman. Louise Kelly (21.50) came 94th and was the 21st female finisher. Suzie Henley-Willis (22.10) came 96th and 22nd woman, but she was ineligible for the novice competition having recently being a scoring member on the Donore Harriers team that won the National 10-mile road championship. Thus, the scoring four was closed out by Aisling Kirby (22.43) who came 108th overall and 26th woman. There were 203 finishers, including 73 women. Crusaders AC won the women’s team on 30. Brothers Pearse AC were 2nd on 34 and Donore Harriers 3rd on 50.

An improving Wayne Waldron (59.26) came 20th in the MULLINGAR 10-MILE ROAD RACE on Sunday morning. The other competing club members were Ken Nugent (1.01.28) in 24th, Ollie Kearney M45 (1.07.24) in 49th and Chris Muldoon M45 (1.04.42) in 50th. There were 193 finishers.

In the penultimate DUBLIN OPEN GRADED MEETING of the summer season at Tallaght Track on Wednesday Donore Harriers had just the two competitors. Maura Kearns came 8th in the A grade women’s 1,500m in 5.09.78 and David Campbell was 5th in the B grade 200m in 24.68.

On the same evening Aideen Burke came 52nd overall and 4th woman in the IMRA COILLTE CRONE CAPER race that started at the Powerscourt Waterfall. The 10.5km race that went up the Maulin climb via Crone Wood had a total climb of 572 metres. Regular mountain runner Ben Conroy (1.14.53) came 64th of the 121 finishers.

In Sunday morning’s IMRA BRITISH & IRISH JUNIOR TRIALS at Camaderry above Glendalough Honor Lynch (29.16) came 9th overall and 3 junior woman over a tough 5km course that had a total elevation of about 500 metres. Honor is now in line to be selected on the Irish team to compete in the British & Irish Junior Mountain Running Championship to take place at Ambleside in the English Lake District on the 3rd of September.

PARKRUNS – M75 athlete Terry Mee ran a time of 31.24 at the CORKAGH PARKRUN. Jean Murphy was first woman home at WATERSTOWN whilst Mary McDermott was 2nd woman at NAAS. Juvenile member Dylan McKenna was 3rd home in WATERSTOWN.
More results below.

Results in brief:
DUBLIN OPEN GRADED MEET NO. 7 at Tallaght Track (20.07.2022)
WOMEN’S 1,500m GRADE A RACE: 8th Maura Kearns W35 (5.09.78)
MEN’S 200m GRADE B RACE: 5th David Campbell (24.68)
IMRA COILLTE CRONE CAPER 10.50KM at Powerscourt Waterfall, Co. Wicklow (20.07.2022)
52nd & 4th woman Aideen Burke W35 (1.10.57)
64th Ben Conroy M50 (1.14.53)
121 finishers
AAI GAMES DAY 1 at Tullamore (23.07.2022)
SENIOR WOMEN’S NATIONAL 10,000m FINAL: 1st Ide NicDhomhnaill (34.10.05), 2nd Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (34.10.28)
SENIOR MEN’S NATIONAL 10,000m FINAL: 10th Kane Collins (32.22.69)
NATIONAL COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1 at Tullamore (23.07.2022)
SENIOR WOMEN HEPTATHLON: Lara O’Byrne lead after Day 1
1st 100m Hurdles (14.33 PB & club record) 932 points
1st High Jump (1.66m) 806 points
1st Shot Putt (10.45m) 559 points
1st 200m sprint (25.64 PB) 829 points
NATIONAL COMBINED EVENTS CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2 at Tullamore (23.07.2022)
SENIOR WOMEN HEPTATHLON: 1st Lara O’Byrne (5,003 points) PB, club record & Dublin County record
1st Long Jump (5.38m PB and club record) 665 points
1st Javelin (30.89m) 493 points
1st 800m (2.27.94) 719 points
NATIONAL COMBINED EVENTS JUVENILES at Tullamore (24.07.2022)
U14 GIRLS PENTATHLON: 9th Zion Osawe (2.022 points), 11th Melody Omozee (1.830 points)
75m HURDLES Heat 1: 4th Melody Omozee (12.94) 574 points
75m HURDLES Heat 2: 2nd Zion Osawe (12.59) 610 points
LONG JUMP: 3rd Zion Osawe (4.59m) 451 points, 8th Melody Omozee (4.11m) 333 points
SHOT PUTT: 9th Melody Omozee (7.27m) 352 points, 12th Zion Osawe (6.28m) 289 points
HIGH JUMP: 2nd Zion Osawe (1.47m) 588 points, 8th Melody Omozee (1.30m) 409 points
800m: 12th Melody Omozee (3.25.91) 162 points, 13th Zion Osawe (3.39.98) 84 points.
AAI GAMES DAY 2 at Tullamore (24.07.2022)
MEN’S 100m GRADE 2 race 1: 4th Paul McDermott (10.90)
MEN’S 100m GRADE 2 race 2: 5th Paul McDermott (10.88)
MEN’S 400m GRADE 1: 1st Jack Raftery (46.51)
MEN’S 400m HURDLES GRADE 1: 6th Daragh McAuley (57.62)
TALLAGHT 5KM ROAD RACE, incorporating DUBLIN NOVICE ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS at Tallaght (24.07.2022)
4th, 1st M40 & 2nd Dublin Novice David McConn (16.29)
12th Daragh Keegan (16.55)
17th Alasdair Brown (17.00)
19th & 1st M50 Des Tremble (17.04)
21st Ian Fitzgerald (17.13)
23rd Matteo Leguen (17.14)
26th Simon O’Toole (17.37)
39th & 3rd U16 Daire McCarthy (18.38 PB)
47th & 4th U16 Arlen Szep-Szabo (19.11)
73rd & 11th woman Deirdre NicCanna (20.35)
76th & 14th woman Jean Murphy (20.47)
78th JP O’Hanlon (20.44)
79th & 7th M45 John Curran (20.49)
94th & 21st woman Louise Kelly (21.50)
96th, 22nd woman & 5th W40 Suzie Henley-Willis (22.10)
97th & 9th M45 Ciaran McCarthy (22.11)
108th & 26th woman Aisling Kirby (22.43)
203 finishers, inc 73 women.
DUBLIN NOVICE MEN’S TEAM: 1st Donore Harriers <McConn, Keegan, Brown & Tremble> 28, 2nd Liffey Valley AC 62, 3rd Crusaders AC 63. 6 teams closed.
DUBLIN NOVICE WOMEN’S TEAM: 1st Crusaders AC 30, 2nd Brothers Pearse AC 34, 3rd Donore Harriers <NicCanna, Murphy, Kelly, Kirby> 50. 5 teams closed.
MULLINGAR 10-MILE ROAD RACE (24.07.2022)
20th Wayne Waldron (59.26)
24th Ken Nugent (1.01.28)
49th Ollie Kearney M40 (1.07.24)
50th Chris Muldoon M40 (1.07.42)
193 finishers
IMRA BRITISH & IRISH JUNIOR TRIALS at Camaderry (24.07.2022)
SHORT COURSE 5km: 9th and 3rd junior woman Honor Lynch (29.16)
11 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (23.07.2022)
BRICKFIELDS: 19th Daire McCarthy M11-14 (25.15)
BUSHY: 99th Thomas Halton M65 (32.27)
CORKAGH: 40th & 6th woman Nicola Dowdall W45 (26.08), 45th & 7th woman Sarah Ni Ruairc W40 (26.37), 86th Terry Mee M75 (31.24)
MARLAY: 129th Charlie O’Neill M65 (26.21)
NAAS: 22nd & 2nd woman Mary McDermott W50 (24.06)
NEW ROSS: 38th & 12th woman Liz McCurtain W50 (28.33)
PORTERSTOWN: 4th Tom Fagan M50 (21.22)
WATERSTOWN: 3rd Dylan McKenna M15-17 (21.04), 5th and 1st woman Jean Murphy W35 (22.13), 30th Katie Delaney W15-17 (29.38)