Highlights: One gold (Niall Allen), six silvers (Emmet O’Briain, Fiona Smith-Keegan, Donal Iremonger, Des Tremble, Tony Kynes and Barry Potts) and a bronze (Colm Dunne) for Donore Harriers athletes in the National Masters track & field championships. Bobby Amadi and Luuk Jackson prove their fine potential in underage competitions.

 

 

Report: Donore Harriers were well represented in the National Masters Track & Field championships at Santry on Sunday (06.09.2020), achieving a return of one gold, 6 silvers and a bronze medal.

The gold medal went to Niall Allen (5.82m) who was the convincing winner of the M45 Weight for Distance 56 lb competition, having a metre to spare over runner-up Justin Lane of Trim AC.

The first Donore Harriers athlete to make the podium on a busy day of competition was Colm Dunne. Dunne (12.30), now in his second competitive season, got off to a flyer in the M45 100m final and held on for a bronze medal behind winner John Corr (11.84) of Leevale AC.

Emmet O’Briain ran a very measured race to take the silver medal in the M40 1,500m. O’Briain was one of a front group of 5 athletes at the bell, but was unable to match the finishing pace set by winner Martin Cunningham (4.22.78) of Tir Chonaill AC. However, he did manage to open a gap on the others to secure a fine 2^nd place in 4.26.52. There was also a silver medal for Tony Kynes (5.32.63) in the M65 category over the same distance. Kynes ran a consistent race only to concede to the strong running of Martin Kelly (5.27.14) of Menapians AC over the final 400m lap. It was a fine effort by Kynes, who was making his first appearance in the championship.

Another championship debutant Aidan O’Rourke ran a gutsy race in the M35 1,500m to place 9^th in a personal best time of 4.29.16.

Donore Harriers also secured 2 silver medals in the 5,000m races. Des Tremble (16.50.33) was involved in an intriguing top 3 battle over the first 4,000m of the M50 race. It was then that Vivian Foley (16.42.14) of Eagle AC opened a winning gap whilst Tremble began to put some daylight between himself and 3^rd placed Gerry Carty (17.10.83) of Galway City Harriers. Peter Gaffney and Peter Nugent finished 8^th and 9^th in the same race with respective times of 18.16.53 and 19.00.66. Barry Potts (22.50.38) took silver in the M70 class behind Richard Piotrowski (21.36.38) of Eagle AC.

In the M45 800m Donal Iremonger (2.14.38) narrowly edged out George Delaney (2.14.65) of United Striders AC to claim the silver medal behind pre-race favourite Mark O’Shea (2.02.25) of Drogheda & District AC.

In the women’s over 35 javelin Fiona Smith-Keegan won the silver medal with a 3^rd round throw of 14.91m.

Club captain Florence Curley (11.27.35) came a very creditable 6^th in the W45 3,000m. Also making her championship debut, this was Curley’s first competitive race since August 2019 due to a long-term injury.

In Day One of the National Junior Track & Field championships on Saturday (05.09.2020) 16 years-old Bobby Amadi made his club debut when he competed in the Long Jump. His 3^rd round jump of 5.83m placed him 13^th overall, just 6 centimetres short of a top 10 placing. The talented Amadi, who has 3 years remaining in the junior grade, is due to compete in the national combined events at Santry next Saturday (12.09.2020). Day 2 of the National Junior championship is due to take place next Sunday (13.09.2020).

In the Morton Live Juvenile Event for athletes aged U12 to U16 at Santry on Friday (04.09.2020) Luuk Jackson was the convincing winner of the boys under 12s 600m race in a time of 1.46.51. Fionn Kirby (1.52.39) of Kildare AC came 2^nd.

Results in brief:

MORTON LIVE JUVENILE ATHLETICS OPEN TRACK MEETING U12-U16 at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY (04.09.2020)

U12 Boys 600m: 1^st Luuk Jackson 1.46.51

NATIONAL JUNIOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY DAY 1 of 2 (05.09.2020)

Men’s Long Jump: 13^th Bobby Amadi (5.83m)

NATIONAL MASTERS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at MORTON STADIUM, SANTRY (06.09.2020)

W45 3,000m: 6^th Florence Curley (11.27.35)

W35 Javelin: 2^nd Fiona Smith-Keegan (14.91m) – silver

M45 100m: 3^rd Colm Dunne (12.30) – bronze

M45 800m: 2^nd Donal Iremonger (2.14.38) – silver

M35 1,500m: 9^th Aidan O’Rourke (4.29.16 PB)

M40 1,500m: 2^nd Emmet O’Briain (4.26.52) – silver

M65 1,500m: 2^nd Tony Kynes (5.32.63) – silver

M50 5,000m: 2^nd Des Tremble (16.50.33) – silver, 8^th Peter Gaffney (18.16.53), 9^th Peter Nugent (19.00.66

M70 5,000m: 2^nd Barry Potts (22.50.38) – silver

M45 Weight for Distance 56 lbs: 1^st Niall Allen (5.82m) – gold