HIGHLIGHTS: Abdel Laadjel smashed the Irish Under 20 record for the 10,000m at the RALEIGH RELAYS MEET Stateside. Emily Bolton, Liam Morris and Oliver Hopkins all won team medals representing Ireland in the SIABs XC in South Wales. Gold for Lara O’Byrne (60mH) & Michael McCarthy Snr (TJ) and silver for Jack Byrne (800m) in the LEINSTER INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at Athlone. Men’s team 2nd and women’s team 4th, Tony Kynes 1st M65 plus an array of PBs in the DUNBOYNE 10KM. Aideen Burke 11th woman in gruelling IMRA 50km.

REPORT <by Gerry Naughton, Florence Curley & Graham Hopkins>:

He predicted that he would run somewhere in the 29.20 to 29.30 mark, and he delivered! Abdel Laadjel, a freshman at the University of Providence in Rhode Island, set about breaking the Irish Under 20 record for the 10,000m at the RALEIGH RELAYS MEET at Raleigh, North Carolina on Friday evening. The Raleigh Relays meeting is one of the popular early season track and field events that brings hordes of athletes from the colder northern States to compete in a more pleasant southern climate. The 3-day event had the 10,000m races on Friday evening (Day 2) in ideal weather conditions. This was an ideal setting for a record attempt. To add to the sense of the occasion Abdel wore his Donore Harriers singlet with the blessing of his Providence Friars coach Ray Treacy.
The Irish Under 20 record had stood with another Donore Harriers athlete dating back to the 19th of August 1970. Here’s a short report from the Irish Independent 20.08.1970: “Frank Greally (Donore), who comes from Ballyhaunis, won the 10,000m Grade A event at the Co. Dublin Board BLE event at the Kennedy Stadium, Santry, last night. His time on a slow track was an impressive 30mins 17secs. His clubmate, Tom O’Riordan, showed the way for six laps until he was forced to retire with a blistered heel”. Result: 10,000m 1. F. Greally (Donore) 30.17, 2. D. McGann (Civil Service), 3. E. Spillane (Donore).
Greally’s fine record certainly stood the test of time. Indeed, it was the longest-standing record in Irish athletics. Many attempted to break the mark but came up short. Laadjel, an 18-year-old former student at Kishoge Community College, executed his race plan with great maturity. In the 2nd of three graded 10,000m races he was pitted against athletes with similar 5k times. His Donore Harriers clubmate Eric Keogh, representing Queen’s University North Carolina, was also among the 52 athletes on the crowded start-line.
Laadjel settled around 16th position after some conservative paced opening laps. With consistent circuits at around 70-seconds pace he moved up to 6th after the halfway mark. However, he was outkicked to finish in 8th place in the closing stages but was just over a second shy of finishing in 5th position.
Abdel’s time of 29.23.92, not only shattered Greally’s 1970 mark but makes him the first Irish Under 20s athlete to break the 30 minutes barrier.
Frank Greally acknowledged Abdel’s achievement: “Congratulations to Abdel. I’m delighted to hear that it’s another Donore Harriers athlete who has knocked a good chuck off my long-standing record”. On his Facebook page Greally wrote: “Best wishes to Abdel. Stride on with Gratitude and Purpose. I’m grateful for the years I’ve held the record and the joy that running has given me over more than half a century”
In a message to Abdel, club president Charlie O’Neill wrote: “As President of Donore Harriers it gives me enormous pleasure in sending many congratulations from your fellow clubmates on breaking the long-standing Irish junior 10,000m record … This so soon after breaking the Irish Under 20 indoor 5,000m record in February is remarkable – and testament that your hard training regime is paying dividends. Your star is rising and will only shine brighter in the future”
Former club distance star Ronnie Carroll commented: “Well done Abdel. Great run from one Donore man to another. Just shows what a great run by Frank back on a cinder track in 1970. Abdel and Frank two quality athletes”
Abdel himself said post the race: “It was a good experience; I am happy with it. Feel I had a bit left in the tank”. Note that Abdel still has more than a year-and-a-half left in the Junior grade, so watch the space!
Eric Keogh, who was towards the fore in the early part of the race, retired from the race with a recurring foot injury soon after the halfway mark.

Emily Bolton, Liam Morris, and Oliver Hopkins wore their Irish singlets with distinction in the SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS BOARD CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS <report with thanks to Graham Hopkins> at Pembury Country Park in South Wales on Saturday. The course was described as: “challenging and undulating” and so it proved. Long climbs, sand dunes and fast downhill stretches tested the mettle of the best young cross-country runners from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. Emily Bolton was hot on the heels of a strong English team who packed six runners at the front of the Junior Women’s 3km over 2 laps. Unfortunately, Bolton took a heavy fall in the dunes on Lap 2 and lost several places. She managed to regain her composure to finish 17th in a time of 12.17. Emily was the 3rd scorer on the Irish team that took the bronze medals.
Liam Morris ran a brilliant leg in the Junior Girls & Boys 4 x 1.5km mixed relay. Taking the baton in 2nd place on the 2nd leg he stormed into the lead to handover in pole position. Whilst the team eventually finished in the silver medal position it proved a good day for the Colaiste Chilliain student.
Oliver Hopkins ran a smart race in the Inter Boys race over 6km. He’s still regaining his race fitness, so decided to settle around 25th position for the opening 2 of 4 laps. He gained to 14th on the latter half of the contest, overtaking 3 Scottish athletes that proved crucial when the final team scores were tallied. England easily won the team gold, with Ireland edging the Scots by just 3 points to claim the silver medals.

Lara O’Byrne again lowered her own club indoor record time for the senior women’s 60m Hurdles at the LEINSTER JUNIOR, SENIOR, & MASTERS INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at Athlone Arena on Saturday. Her new time of 8.82 made the Donore Harriers star a clear winner ahead of runner-up Maeve Hayes (9.77) of St. Paul’s AC. In the senior men’s 800m Jack Byrne (1.58.47) bagged a silver medal behind winner Joe Warne (1.57.39) of Doheny AC.
It was 3 medals from three when Michael McCarthy Snr jumped 11.70m in his first attempt in the M35 Triple Jump to finish 20cm clear of runner-up Eoghan McGrath (11.50m) of Celbridge AC.

A 24 strong Donore Harriers contingent competed in the EIRGRID DUNBOYNE 10km <report by Florence Curley>. Formerly a 4 mile race which was long a popular one with Donore runners, the largely fast and flat race took place in glorious sunshine starting close to the village, briefly coming into the village centre (there was brief drama when leader Efrem Gidey almost took a wrong turn after a few hundred metres!) before heading out to the Dunboyne environs and coming back into the village from the opposite direction. Coach Willie Smith headed out to the 9k mark to encourage his charges in that last kilometre and there were several PBs on the day. First Donore runner home was the ever-improving Ryan Aikins 21st overall in a 34.07 pb. Darragh Keegan was next in a PB of 34.54 and 37th place. Coming back into good form is Fergal Whitty who was not far behind in 35.05.  Men’s captain Craig Scott was delighted with his 35.48 PB.  These 4 runners got the Donore men’s team into 2nd place.
Next in were Wayne Waldron in 36.08 and Sean Fox in 36.13. New member Didier Da Costa finished in 37.02. Finishing close together were Declan Lynch 39.04 and Peter Brennan in a new PB of 39.09. First Donore female was Grace Kennedy-Clarke in 40.30 who is competing in the Rotterdam marathon very soon. M65 Runner Tony Kynes had a terrific race finishing in 41.33 to win his category. Owen Robinson ran 41.49 and Dave McGrath 42.14. Pam White smashed her PB with 43.22.
Another PB was achieved by John Curran in 44.24.  New member J.P. OHanlon also got a PB in 44.33.  The 3rd Donore female was Louise Kelly who knocked a big chunk off her best time to get 45.11. Ian Redican was next in 46.18. Katherine Marsh also got a lifetime best of 47.08. Suzie Henley-Willis was delighted with her 47.26 PB. Louise, Suzie and Katherine are bound for the Stockholm marathon, so this was excellent preparation. Mark Devine 47.45 and Angela Eustace 48.05 were next in. Ruth Chambers ran 48.18 and new member Sabrina Coyle was delighted with 49.05.
It was great to see so many personal bests, and racing from our newest members, the training is paying off.
Runaway winner of the race was Efrem Gidey in 28.25 nearly 2 minutes ahead of the next runner Jake O’Regan. First female was the great Fionnuala
McCormack in a super course record of 32.27.  567 runners competed.

The IMRA MAURICE MULLINS ULTRA-MARATHON formerly called the Wicklow Way Ultra remembers noted ultra-runner Maurice Mullins. Aideen Burke took on this 50k challenge over the Wicklow mountains which incorporates a net 2,000m elevation. Conditions were dry underfoot and the sun was shining. The race started near Luggala estate and over White Hill, Ballinastoe – a detour then on to Djouce, Crone, Curtlestown, Glencullen and back with some punishing uphill between white hill and Crone.  Aideen was hoping to go sub 6 hours but completed the course in 6 hours 17 minutes, a great achievement. She finished 87th overall and 11th woman.

Laura Nunan (57.46) was16th overall and 2nd female junior in the recent IMRA OUGHAVAL WOODS 8.5km at Stradbally in Co. Laois (20.03.2022).

Results in brief:
NORTH CAROLINA STATE RALEIGH RELAYS MEET at the PAUL DERR TRACK, RALEIGH NC (25.03.2022)
MEN’S 10,000m SECTION 2 RACE: 8th Abdel Laadjel (29.23.52 NU20R), DNF Eric Keogh
52 starters, 38 finishers
SCHOOLS INTERNATIONAL ATHLETICS BOARD XC CHAMPIONSHIPS at Pembrey Country Park in South Wales (26.03.2022)
JUNIOR GIRLS 3,000m: 17th Emily Bolton (12.16)
INTERMEDIATE BOYS 6,000m: 14th Oliver Hopkins (21.59)
JUNIOR GIRLS & BOYS MIXED RELAY 4 x 1,500m: 2nd Ireland < Leg 2 Liam Morris> 21.13.00
LEINSTER INDOOR JUNIOR, SENIOR & MASTER CHAMPIONSHIPS at Athlone Arena (26.03.2022)
SENIOR WOMEN’S 60m Hurdles: 1st Lara O’Byrne (8.82 PB) GOLD
SENIOR MEN’S 800m Final: 2nd Jack Byrne (1.58.47) SILVER
M35 MEN’S TRIPLE JUMP: 1st Michael McCarthy Snr (11.70m) GOLD
EIRGRID DUNBOYNE 10km ROAD RACE (27.03.2022)
21st Ryan Aikins (34.09 PB)
37th Daragh Keegan (34.57 PB)
38th & 6th M45 Fergal Whitty (35.05)
45th & 11th M40 Craig Scott (35.51 PB)
50th Wayne Waldron (36.11)
52nd & 8th M45 Sean Fox (36.18)
67th & 11th M45 Didier De Costa (37.02)
95th & 27th M40 Declan Lynch (39.08)
98th Peter Brennan (39.14 PB)
119th & 14th woman Grace Kenndy-Clarke (40.35)
133rd & 1st M65 Tony Kynes (41.36)
141st Owen Robinson (41.55)
148th Dave McGrath (42.21)
172nd & 30th woman Pam White (43.27 PB)
191st & 27th M45 John Curran (44.35 PB)
194th John Paul O’Hanlon (44.40 PB)
207th & 36th woman Louise Kelly (45.11 PB)
225th & 32nd M45 Ian Redican (46.27)
239th & 53rd woman Katherine Marsh (47.20 PB)
247th & 12th W40 Suzie Henley-Willis (47.38 PB)
254th & 34th M45 Mark Devine (47.57)
257th & 5th W50 Angela Eustace (48.18)
261st & 63rd woman Ruth Chambers (48.31)
284th & 15th W40 Sabrina Coyle (49.23 debut)
567 finishers
MEN’S TEAM: 1. Portmarnock AC 86, 2. Donore Harriers <Aikins, Keegan, Whitty, Scott> 134, 3. Brothers Pearse AC 171. 16 teams closed
WOMEN’S TEAM: 1. Mullingar Harriers 78, 4. Donore Harriers <Kennedy-Clarke, White, Kelly, Marsh> 132. 15 teams closed
IMRA MAURICE MULLINS ULTRA-MARATHON 50km at Glencullen (26.03.2022)
87th & 11th woman Aideen Burke (6.17.00)
167 finishers
IMRA OUGHAVAL WOODS 8.5km at Stradbally, Co. Laois (20.03.2022)
16th & 4th woman Laura Nunan JNR (57.46)
22 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (26.03.2022)
ARDGILLAN: 30th Joe Murphy M40 (26.01)
BUSHY: 108th Thomas Halton M65 (32.42)
CORKAGH: 34th & 4th woman Rosie-May Morris W11-14 (25.13)
POOLBEG: 4th Niall Lynch M50 (17.42)
TOLKA VALLEY: 2nd Owen Robinson M35 (20.36)
WATERSTOWN: 2nd Dylan McKenna M15-17 (20.07)