HIGHLIGHTS: M50 team silver, senior men’s team 4^th in the NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Ide & Sorcha Loughnane and Kane Collins ran track PBs in the NORTH BELFAST HARRIERS 5,000m RACES. Audrey Gahan 1^st woman in the WEXFORD 10KM ROAD RACE. Joan McTernan 1^st W60 plus PBs for Louise Kelly & Suzie Henley-Willis in the WEXFORD HALF-MARATHON. David McConn 4^th & 1^st M40 in the RUN THROUGH 10KM at Regent’s Park in London. Juvenile Liam Morris scored wins in the FIRMUS FAB5 JUVENILE MEET in Belfast and the DUBLIN JUVENILE T&F LEAGUE 2 at Santry. There were wins also for Zion Osawe and Ruby Blake at Santry.

REPORT: <by Gerry Naughton, Leonie Newman & Florence Curley>

It was a stellar performance by the senior men’s team in the NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Raheny on Sunday – albeit to finish in 4^th place. The overall team time was less that half-a-minute short of the club’s best time for the course when winning the silver medal in 2019. Indeed, it took a course record of 37.11 by Raheny Shamrocks AC on that day to beat the Donore quartet by just 4 seconds. Moving forward to 2022 and it proved to be a day of records. Clonliffe Harriers won for the first time in 14 years with a new course record of 36.45 relegating a strong UCD AC (37.13) team to 2nd place. These two teams came to the forefront on the 3^rd leg as Daragh McIlhenny (13.30) of UCD AC and Efrem Gidey (13.37) of Clonliffe both broke the 3-laps stage record set by John Travers (13.55) in 2019. That, together with a strong young Ennis Track team (37.32) containing the talented Casey brothers Dylan and Dean meant that Donore Harriers (37.43) had to settle for a gallant 4^th for a consecutive season. This was arguably the strongest ever field for the senior men’s race, with teams from DSD AC (5^th in 37.50), defending champions Raheny Shamrocks AC (6^th in 37.57) and Kilkenny City Harriers (7^th in 38.00) running times that would have contested for victory in previous seasons. Daragh Fitzgibbon (9.22) got himself into a lead group of 6 athletes in the opening 2-mile leg and handed over to Louis O’Loughlin in 2^nd place as Raheny Shamrocks AC took an early lead thru Cillian Kirwan. O’Loughlin (4.28) lost only one-second to Juan Ignacius Pena of Raheny on the 2^nd leg over one-mile. Donore were 5 seconds down at this point with Ennis Track 2 seconds further back and UCD AC 5 seconds behind Donore. Eventual winners Clonliffe Harriers were in 5^th. John Travers, who has been carrying a foot injury for several months now, ran a tenacious 3-lap leg in 14.20 – but slipped back 2 places as the big-hitters laid siege! Travers, a wonderful clubman, limped from the handover area buoyed by the fact that he gave a 100% effort. “I’m happy with that time considering the amount of training I’ve missed in recent months” he said afterwards. Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan, who was called up to the team on Wednesday following Gavin Curtin’s injury diagnosis, probably ran his finest race in a Donore Harriers singlet in the final 2-lap leg. The expectation was that seasoned Irish internationals like Mick Clohissy of Raheny Shamrocks and Eoin Everard of Kilkenny City Harriers would reel him in, but the Cork native was having none of it! Indeed, he gained 15-seconds on 2^nd placed Luke McCann of UCD AC and ran an equal time as that of Niall Murphy of the 3^rd placed team Ennis Track. Thus, O’Sullivan-Hourihan kept the team in fourth place to the finish line by returned a leg time of 9.33. He described his effort afterwards with just one word – “hard!”.

The Donore Harriers senior B team came 19^th out of 25 closing teams in 43.29. The quartet consisted of Simon O’Toole (11.07), Michael Ryan (5.02), Ryan Aikins (16.12), and Harry Vaughan (11.08). O’Toole, Aikins, and Vaughan are all first season athletes who were making their debut in this event.

There was some medal ware for Donore Harriers in the M50 relay (one-mile, 2-mile, one-mile) as Ciaran O’Flaherty (5.23) tapped on to the second leg athlete in 2^nd place behind a very strong Inishowen AC team. Niall Lynch (11.18) consolidated 2^nd place with a strong run over 2 laps as Pauric McKinney pushed the North Donegal club into a bigger lead. Des Tremble (5.24) ran the fastest 3^rd leg over the one lap route to bag the silver medals. Inishowen AC (21.20) took the gold, Donore Harriers (22.05) the silver – with Metro St. Brigid AC (22.40) in 3rd place. 15 teams closed.

The Donore Harriers M35 team came 5^th of 20 closing teams. Ray Hynes (4.42) gave the team an early lead in the opening one-lap leg. Eoin Durkan (10.21), lacking in race sharpness, conceded ground on the 2-mile leg slipping back to 5^th position. The team was closed by Craig Scott (5.11) who held on to 5^th place in the final one-lap leg. The grade was won by East Cork AC (19.28) with Donore Harriers having an overall time of 20.14.

Three Donore Harriers athletes competed in the 2^nd annual NORTH BELFAST HARRIERS AFTERNOON OF 5,000M RACES at the Mary Peters Track in Belfast on Saturday. The event, which is gaining in popularity, attracted a good selection of top-class athletes from both Ireland and the other home countries. Kane Collins, who has a best time of 14.57 for the 5km distance on the road from last December, was hoping to break the 15 minutes barrier on the track in the Men’s B race. He passed the 1km mark in 2.59, the 2km in 6.01 and the 3km in 9.03. Thereafter, the hot and windy conditions coupled with fatigue following his 69.15 half-marathon effort in Barcelona less than 3 weeks ago caused the Donore man to lose pace – and he finished 10^th of the 13 starters in a time of 15.22.16. His race was won by Owen Miller of Fife AC in a time of 14.41.67. Ide and Sorcha NicDhomhnaill lined up in a competitive Women’s A race that was won by Scottish athlete Annabel Simpson in a time of 15.44.87. The sisters ran together thru the opening 1km in a time of 3.12. Ide then moved forward to 10^th position with Sorcha in a close order 14^th as they reached the 2km point in about 6.25. The Donore Harriers duo then moved up to 8^th and 10^th places as the pace dipped slightly. They maintained those positions to the finish line with Ide recording a time of 16.20.86 and Sorcha 16.26.43. Both achieved track PBs.

Audrey Gahan (44.06) won the women’s race in the SUPERVALU WEXFORD 10KM ROAD RACE on Sunday morning. She finished more than 3-minutes ahead of her nearest rival and came 20^th overall out of 114 finishers. She also won the W40 category.

In the SUPERVALU WEXFORD HALF-MARATHON Joan McTernan (2.00.37) came 619^th of 764 finishers and won the W60 class. Louise Kelly improved her PB to 1.40.59 to place 157^th overall and 16^th woman. Suzie Henley-Willis (1.47.05) placed 279^th overall and was 19^th of 92 in the W40 category. The first Donore Harriers athlete home was Owen Robinson (1.34.34) in 97^th position.

David McConn came 5^th in the RUN THROUGH REGENT’S PARK 10KM ROAD RACE in London on Saturday. McConn came 1^st in the M40 category and posted a time of 35.56. The race was won by Samuel Gebreselassie (32.21) of Belgrave Harriers. There were 394 finishers.

On Wednesday evening (20.04.2022) Niall Lynch, an M50 athlete, came 2^nd of 148 finishers in the IRISH MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION BELMONT & LITTLE SUGAR LOAF mountain race over an 8.6km route with a 360m elevation. Lynch recorded a time of 41.00 to finish just 24 seconds behind Conor Grennan of TT Racers. 147 finished the course.

Four aspiring club athletes competed in the Under 15 Boys 800m race at the FIRMUS FAB5 JUVENILE T&F MEETING at Mary Peters Track Belfaston Thursday evening. They dominated the race with 4 finishers in the top 5 from the 9 starters. Liam Morris (2.07.16) took first place, with promising newcomer Reuben McCormick (2.12.37) the runner-up. Other new members Daire McCarthy (2.22.10) came 4^th and Adam Mulhall (2.29.04) 5^th.

The second event in the DUBLIN JUVENILE TRACK & FIELD LEAGUE took place on Saturday at Santry Stadium. The main highlight for Donore Harriers came in the Under 15 Boys 800m race with Liam Morris (2.08), Reuben McCormick (2.14) and Daire McCarthy (2.20) occupying the first 3 places. Zion Osawe won the Under 15 Girls High Jump and came 3^rd in the 100 metres. Ruby Blake won the Under 13 Girls Shot Putt. More results to follow.

In the Saturday morning 5km PARKRUN events Patrick Moriarty (18.47) was 6^th at Marlay Park and juvenile member Katie Delaney (25.01) was 11^th overall and 3^rd woman at Waterstown. Other results below.

Results in brief:

NORTH BELFAST HARRIERS AFTERNOON OF 5,000M at Mary Peters Track Belfast (23.04.2022)

MEN’S 5,000m B RACE: 10^th Kane Collins (15.22.16 PB)

WOMEN’S 5,000m A RACE: 8^th Ide NicDhomhnaill (16.20.86 PB), 10^th Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (16.26.43 PB)

FIRMUS FAB5 JUVENILE T&F MEETING at Mary Peters Track Belfast (21.04.2022)

U/15 BOYS 800m: 1^st Liam Morris (2.07.16), 2^nd Reuben McCormick (2.12.37), 4^th Daire McCarthy (2.22.10), 5^th Adam Mulhall (2.29.04). 9 finishers

DUBLIN JUVENILE T&F LEAGUE FIXTURE 2 at Santry (23.04.2022)

U/13 Girls Shot Putt: 1^st Ruby Blake

U/13 Girls 80m Sprint: 8^th Ruby Blake (won heat, 4^th in semi-final)

U/14 Boys 800m: Eoin Mooney (2.40 h-t)

U/15 Girls 100m: 3^rd Zion Osawe

U/15 Girls High Jump: 1^st Zion Osawe

U/15 Boys 800m: 1^st Liam Morris (2.09 h-t), 2^nd Reuben McCormick (2.14 h-t), 3^rd Daire McCarthy (2.20 h-t). Also, Adam Mulhall (2.31 h-t)

U/16 Boys 800m: 6^th Lucas Collender (2.26 h-t)

The following club athletes also competed – U/10 Boys = Bobby Farrell, Cadel Senyk, Eli Henley-Willis & Seamus McCluskey; U/11 Girls = Cliodhna McMahon, Anna Whelan, Robyn McCluskey; U/11 Boys = Daniel Maddox, Alan Maddox; U/12 Boys = Max Henley-Willis; U/13 Girls = Lily Clarke

The events held were – 60m/80m/100m, 500m/600m/800m, Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Putt, Discus & Javelin.

DUBLIN JUVENILE T&F LEAGUE FIXTURE 1 POINT SCORERS (Tallaght 09.04.2022)

U/11 GIRLS: Anna Whelan 2^nd in 600m, 4^th in Long Jump (8 points)

U/12 GIRLS: Anabella Omozee 6^th in 600m (1 point)

U/13 GIRLS: Ruby Blake 1^st in Javelin (7 points)

U/14 GIRLS: Zion Osawe 3^rd in Long Jump (4 points), Melody Omozee 5^th in Long Jump (2 points)

U/14 BOYS: Elliot Whelan 3^rd in Long Jump (4 points)

U/15 BOYS: Liam Morris 1^st in 1,500m (7 points), Daire 5^th in 1,500m (2 points)

FIRMUS FAB5 JUVENILE T&F MEETING at Mary Peters Track Belfast (21.04.2022)

U/15 BOYS 800m: 1^st Liam Morris (2.07.16), 2^nd Reuben McCormick (2.12.37), 4^th Daire McCarthy (2.22.10), 5^th Adam Mulhall (2.29.04). 9 finishers

RUN THROUGH REGENT’S PARK (LONDON) 10KM ROAD RACE (23.04.2022)

5^th & 1^st M40 David McConn (35.56)

394 finishers

NATIONAL ROAD RELAY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Raheny (24.04.2022)

MASTERS MEN W35-49 = 1 mile – 2 miles – 1 mile <NOTE: laps are about 60m over one-mile>

5^th Donore Harriers (20.14) = Ray Hynes (04.42), Eoin Durkan (10.21), Craig Scott (05.11)

20 teams closed

MASTER MEN M50+ = 1 mile – 2 miles – 1 mile

2^nd Donore Harriers (22.05) = Ciaran O’Flaherty (05.23), Niall Lynch (11.18), Des Tremble (05.24)

15 teams closed

SENIOR MEN = 2 miles – 1 mile – 3 miles – 2 miles

4^th Donore Harriers A (37.43) = Daragh Fitzgibbon (09.22), Louis O’Loughlin (4.28), John Travers (14.20), Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (09.33)

19^th Donore Harriers B (43.29) = Simon O’Toole (11.07), Michael Ryan (5.02), Ryan Aikins (16.12), Harry Vaughan (11.08)

25 teams closed

SUPERVALU WEXFORD HALF-MARATHON at Wexford (24.04.2022)

97^th Owen Robinson (1.34.34)

157^th & 16^th woman Louise Kelly (1.40.59 PB)

279^th & 19^th W40 Suzie Henley-Willis (1.47.05 PB)

619^th & 1^st W60 Joan McTernan (2.00.37)

764 finishers

SUPERVALU WEXFORD 10KM ROAD RACE at Wexford (24.04.2022)

20^th, 1^st Woman & 1^st W40 Audrey Gahan (44.06)

114 finishers

IMRA BELMONT & LITTLE SUGAR LOAF (8.6KM) RACE (20.04.2022)

2^nd Niall Lynch M50 (41.00)

147 finishers

PARKRUNS 5km (23.04.2022)

BUSHY: 123^rd Thomas Halton M65 (32.34)

CASTLETOWN: 84^th Joan McTernan W60 (22.05), 138^th Anna McMahon W35 (38.07)

CORKAGH: 32^nd & 5^th woman Nicola Dowdall W45 (25.27)

MARLAY: 6^th Patrick Moriarty M35 (18.47)

NEW ROSS: 12^th Eugene McCurtain M55 (24.37), 20^th & 4^th woman Liz McCurtain W55 (28.20)

TOLKA VALLEY: 7^th Owen Robinson M45 (18.47)

WATERSTOWN: 11^th & 3^rd woman Katie Delaney W15-17 (25.01), 66^th Andie Maguire W20 (49.09), 67^th Andrew Maguire M55 (49.12)

HIGHLIGHTS: David McConn (silver), Tony Kynes & Barry Potts (both gold) took individual medals in the BATTLE OF CLONTARF/LEINSTER 10-MILE ROAD RACE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Donore Harriers M35 team won silver. Incoming member Niamh Clifford recorded a sub-3-hour time at the 126^th BOSTON MARATHON. U/16 Julie Cleary 1^st woman in the NA FIANNA 5KM. A team of young athletes competed in the ST. SENAN’S JUVENILE MEET in Co. Kilkenny. Paul McDermott selected to the IRISH SPRINTS SQUAD.

REPORT: <by Gerry Naughton, Leonie Newman & Florence Curley> The BATTLE OF CLONTARF 10-MILE ROAD RACE organised by the Raheny Shamrocks club at St. Anne’s Park on Bank Holiday Monday morning incorporated the LEINSTER 10-MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS. Despite a mixed weather forecast the rain held off and the race took place in calm conditions within the boundaries of St. Anne’s Park. The small Donore Harriers representation was led home by David McConn (56.54) in 9^th place overall and 2^nd in the M40 category. Next home was Didier Da Costa (1.00.27) who came 23^rd in the main race and 5^th M45. Tony Kynes and Barry Potts won individual gold in their age categories. Kynes (1.08.57) placed 80^th overall and won the M65 group finishing almost half-a-minute ahead of Tom Loftus of Raheny Shamrocks AC. Potts (1.16.01) had more than 3 minutes to spare over William Belton of Sli Cualann AC to win the M70 class. Potts came 136^th overall of the 310 finishers. The other Donore Harriers athletes were Des Gill (1.18.29) in 169^th and 17^th M55 and Angela Eustace (1.18.49) in 172^nd and 7^th in the W50 age category. The Donore Harriers team of McConn, Da Costa and Kynes placed 5^th in the overall men’s category behind winners Raheny Shamrocks AC – and came 2^nd in the M35 team event on 103 points. The winners were Brothers Pearse AC on 92 with Metro St. Brigid AC 3^rd on 114. The individual race winners were Mick Clohissy (50.43) of Raheny Shamrocks AC and Catherine O’Connor (1.02.06) of Sli Cualann AC. The 8^th athlete home and 3^rd in the senior men’s category was Ian Fitzgerald in a time of 56.07. Fitzgerald is a transfer athlete from Waterstown Warriors who will be eligible to compete for the club from the 1^st of May 2022.

Niamh Clifford who is also a transfer athlete from the Star of the Laune AC club in Co. Kerry ran a super time of 2.53.40 at the 126^th BOSTON MARATHON on Monday. Clifford, who has been training at the club for the past few months, has a PB time of 2.50.53 from the 2019 Dublin Marathon. However, her recent training was interrupted by illness that hampered her aspirations of beating that time. She passed the halfway mark in 1.25.33 and dug deep in the latter stages to finish in 1,900^th place overall and 98^th woman.

Talented under 16 athlete Julie Cleary (19.57) came 9^th overall and 1^st woman in the NA FIANNA 5KM ROAD RACE in Glasnevin. Cleary won her category by almost 4 minutes with the runner-up being her mother Kate in 23.50.

A small group of young athletes made their way to Kilmacow in South Kilkenny to compete in the ST. SENAN’S JUVENILE TRACK & FIELD MEETING. The competition was high standard and none of the Donore Harriers team progressed to finals. Eli Henley-Willis competed in the Under 9 Girls 80m, Alan and Daniel Maddox lined up in the heats of the Under 11 Boys 80m and 300m, Max Henley-Willis was in the Under 12 Boys 80m and 700m, and Anna Peake competed in the Under 13 Girls High Jump.

The club’s star male sprinter Paul McDermott was recently selected to the Irish senior sprints relay squad. McDermott who is coached by Stuart Hogg but made his early progress as a sprinter under the careful coaching tutelage of the Late John Geoghegan. The main aim of the Irish sprints team this summer is to qualify for the European Track & Field Championships due to take place in Munich in mid-August. Best of luck to Paul! JG is looking down with pride!

In PARKRUN events W80 athlete Ann Woodlock (37.48) was 9^th woman finisher at Brickfield Park. Other noteworthy results include Will Morris M45 (19.04) 2^nd at Corkagh Park, Ruby Kelly (22.05) 16^th overall and 2^nd woman at Castletown, and juvenile members Lucas Collender (21.00) 3^rd overall and Katie Delaney (26.08) 9^th overall and 1^st woman at Waterstown Park. Other results below.

Results in brief:

BATTLE OF CLONTARF 10-MILE ROAD RACE, inc. LEINSTER 10-MILE CHAMPIONSHIPS at St. Anne’s Park (18.04.2022)

8^th & 3^rd MS Ian Fitzgerald (56.07) incoming athlete from Waterstown Warriors

9^th & 2^nd M40 David McConn (56.54)

23^rd & 5^th M45 Didier Da Costa (1.00.27)

80^th & 1^st M65 Tony Kynes (1.08.57)

136^th & 1^st M70 Barry Potts (1.16.01)

169^th & 17^th M55 Des Gill (1.18.29)

172^nd & 7^th W50 Angela Eustace (1.18.49)

310 finishers

MEN’S TEAM: 1. Raheny Shamrocks AC 31. 5. Donore Harriers <McConn, Da Costa & Kynes> 103. 10 teams closed

M35 TEAMS: 1. Brothers Pearse AC 92, 2. Donore Harriers <McConn, Da Costa, Kynes> 103. 3. MSB AC 114. 8 teams closed.

M50 TEAMS: 1. Raheny Shamrocks 164. 4. Donore Harriers <Kynes, Potts, Gill> 319. 5 teams closed.

126^th BOSTON MARATHON (18.04.2022)

1,900^th and 98^th woman Niamh Clifford (2.53.40) incoming athlete from Star of the Laune AC

28,500 finishers

NA FIANNA 5KM ROAD RACE at Glasnevin (18.04.2022)

9^th & 1^st woman Julie Cleary U16 (19.57)

213 finishers

ST. SENAN’S AC OPEN JUVENILE TRACK & FIELD at Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny (18.04.2022)

U/9 Girls 80m Heat: Did not qualify Eli Henley-Willis

U/11 Boys 80m Heat: Did not qualify Alan Maddox & Daniel Maddox

U/11 Boys 300m Heat: Did not qualify Alan Maddox & Daniel Maddox

U/12 Boys 80m Heat: Did not qualify Max Henley-Willis

U/12 Boys 700m Heat: Did not qualify Max Henley-Willis

U/13 Girls High Jump Qualify: Did not qualify Anna Peake

PARKRUNS 5km (16.04.2022)

BRICKFIELDS: 38^th & 9^th woman Ann Woodlock W80 (37.48)

BRICKFIELDS (09.04.2022): 38^th Anthony Ferns M55 (41.48)

BUSHY: 107^th Thomas Halton M65 (32.23)

CASTLETOWN: 16^th & 2^nd woman Ruby Kelly W18/19 (22.05)

CORKAGH: 2^nd Will Morris M45 (19.04)

NEW ROSS: 26^th Eugene McCurtain M55 (24.43), 45^th Liz McCurtain W55 (28.22)

POPPINTREE: 18^th Owen Robinson M35 (24.17)

WATERFORD NATURE: 6^th Paul Nunan M45 (23.17)

WATERSTOWN: 3^rd Lucas Collender M11-14 (21.00), 9^th & 1^st woman Katie Delaney W15-17 (26.08), 46^th Andrew Maguire M55 (48.08)

HIGHLIGHTS: Gavin Curtin, Caoimhe Mackey, Lara O’Byrne, Ailbhe Healy & Paul McDermott were medallists in the IUAA T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS. Men’s team 3rd in the GREAT IRELAND/NATIONAL 10KM CHAMPIONSHIP. Age category medals were won by Sorcha Loughnane (gold), Tony Kynes and Barry Potts (both bronze). Three members competed in the ROTTERDAM MARATHON. The WEST LEINSTER SCHOOLS T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS returned after 3 years with Isabella Kelly, Rory O’Farrell, Eve Crowe, Alex Leonard, Emily Bolton, Liam Morris & Roisin Kirby among the gold medallists. Some of our young athletes competed in the first fixture of the DUBLIN JUVENILE T&F LEAGUE

REPORT: <by Gerry Naughton, Florence Curley & Leonie Newman> Gavin Curtin keeps improving! He is one of those athletes who is universally respected for his focus and commitment to his sport. The former Moyle Park College student now studying at the Athlone IT qualified to the final of the 1,500m in the IRISH UNIVERSITIES AA TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Carlow IT track on Friday evening with 2nd place in Heat 2 in a time of 4.15.62. In Saturday’s final he ran a mature race to take the silver medal in a close encounter between 5 athletes. The race was won by Aaron Brennan of NUIG in 3.57.84 – with Curtin (3.58.53) taking the silver medal by edging out Colin Smith (3.58.66) of DCU in the sprint finish.
Caoimhe Mackey is another club athlete with steely determination. Coached by Gerry Ronan the UCD student came 2nd behind Deirdre Murray of DCU in the 400m Hurdles. Running from the inside lane Mackey ran a time of 1.04.21 to claim a new personal best time that lowers her own club record and bagged a silver medal in the process.
Lara O’Byrne also claimed a silver medal in the 100m Hurdles event. She qualified 1st from her heat in 15.27 – and then posted a 15.05 time in the final to get the runners-up spot behind Sarah Quinn (14.87) of NUIG.
The club’s other individual medal winner was Ailbhe Healy in the Pole Vault. Healy was making a welcome return to competition after a 3-years break and claimed a bronze medal with a second attempt clearance of 2.75m.
Paul McDermott won a gold medal when he anchored the DCU 4 x 100m relay to victory in a championship record time of 41.23. Caoimhe Mackey took her 2nd championship medal when she was part of the UCD 4 x 400m team that took bronze position on the podium. Thrower Oran O’Brien had a busy championship placing 7th in the Shot Putt with 10.55m, 10th in the Discus with 28.90m and 11th in the 35lb Weight-For-Distance with a best of 6.90m. Lara O’Byrne (10.09m) came 6th in the women’s Shot Putt. The other club members who competed were Zak Higgins (51.81) 3rd in Heat 3 of the 400m; Jack Byrne (1.59.72) 7th in the 800m Final having qualified 3rd in Heat 2 in 2.00.52; and Lara O’Byrne, Jack Byrne and Zak Higgins who were out of the medals in their respective relay teams.

Abdel Laadjel was given the task of pacemaker in the 5,000m race at the FRIARS INVITATIONAL TRACK & FIELD MEET at Providence, Rhode Island last Friday evening. This was a ‘home’ fixture for the Providence University student who was assigned to help his training buddies to attain personal bests.
Laadjel ran most of the race alongside 22 years-old Waterford native David McGlynn, who recently ran 29.04.92 for the 10,000m. It proved a job well done, as McGlynn (13.59.63 PB) came 3rd behind winner Ryan Gallagher (13.56.44), also of Providence, with the Donore Harriers athlete feeling strong enough to finish out the race in 4th place with a 10-seconds PB of 14.02.94.

The GREAT IRELAND RUN incorporated the NATIONAL 10KM CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Phoenix Park early on Saturday morning. The sunny, crisp morning saw more than 1,300 runners on the start line from all corners of Ireland.
The overall race-winner Mick Clohissy (30.49) of Raheny Shamrocks AC was an early frontrunner together with Jamie Fallon (30.57) of Craughwell AC as these two opening a sizeable gap on the field. The front section of the main field had a Donore Harriers contingent full of honest endeavour with good team packing securing the bronze medals in the Senior Men’s category. Ryan Aikins (34.00) led the charge with a personal best in 25th spot. M50 athlete Niall Lynch (36.19) placed 66th and 9th in his age-group. Next came relative newcomer Simon O’Toole (37.09) who will be encouraged by a new PB and 18th place in the senior men’s class. The scoring team of 4 was completed by Liam Keane (37.30) in 99th position. Aikins, Lynch, O’Toole, and Keane had an amalgamated score of 254 to finish in bronze position behind winners Crusaders AC and runners-up Clonliffe Harriers. Ultra-distant specialist Sorcha Loughnane (37.15) placed 88th overall and was the first athlete home in the W45 category. Didier Da Costa (37.50) came 105th and 9th in the M45 grade, with Peter Brennan just one-place behind in a personal best time of 37.44. Note that both athletes had the same gross time of 37.52. They were followed by Ken Nugent (39.03) in 129th position. There was then a gap before Tony Kynes (41.27) crossed the finish line in 187th place and 3rd in the Master 65 category. Tony was followed by John Paul O’Hanlon (43.19) and John Curran (44.06) who both recorded personal bests when placing in 279th and 306th positions. Angela Eustace, in her 15th year of club membership, recorded a time of 47.23 to place 392nd overall and 7th in the W50 category. Des Gill (47.37) crossed the line shortly afterwards in 405th place.
The evergreen Barry Potts (48.03) came 417th and claimed the bronze medal in the M70 category. The other club finishers were Mark Devine (47.19) in 478th, Neil Maddox (51.50) in 705th and Jo Hughes (55.35) in 838th.

Three club members competed in the 41st edition of the ROTTERDAM MARATHON. This city centre marathon takes in all the conceivable highlights of Rotterdam and is noted for being “flat and fast”. Nearly twelve thousand were on the start line on Sunday morning, including Alasdair Brown, Grace Kennedy-Clarke and Ken McKeown. Brown (2.57.57) came home in 645th place, with the ever-consistent Grace Kennedy-Clarke (3.08.15) in 1,163rd position. Grace passed the halfway mark in 1.32.59 and finished as the 69th woman and 11th in the W35 category. Ken McKeown (3.56.21) passed the 21.1km mark in 1.47.38 but struggled in the second half of the race having just recovered from illness. He placed 3,906th.

The thrills and excitement of the WEST LEINSTER SCHOOLS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS returned to its usual Santry Stadium venue after a 3-year hiatus last Tuesday (05.04.2022). Day 2 of the championships took place on Thursday. Among the early successes for Donore Harriers members were Emily Bolton (Mount Sackville) and Liam Morris (Colaiste Chilliain) in their respective junior grade 1,500m races. Both athletes were coming off successful cross-country seasons, which proved a foundation for convincing victories. Roisin Kirby, representing Mount Sackville, impressed with a gold medal in the Junior Girls Long Jump and 4th in the 100m sprint. Roisin also teamed up with clubmate Isabella Jackson to win the Junior Girls relay. Isabella Kelly (St. Wolstan’s College) is another young athlete who shined over the two days with victory in the Intermediate Girls 100m, silver in the 200m and gold in the relay. Laura Nunan (Mount Sackville) put the disappointment of placing 7th in the Intermediate Girls 1,500m on Tuesday behind her to win the 2,000m (should have been 3,000m) on Thursday. Alex Leonard is an exciting sprints talent! He was a clear winner in the Under 16s Boys 200m. Other club winners were Rory O’Farrell in the Junior Boys Hurdles and Eve Crowe (2.22.0 h-t) in the Junior Girls 800m. Thomas Bolton (2.08.0 h-t) took a silver medal in the Inter Boys 800m, with older brother James (12.22.0 h-t) also taking silver in the Senior Boys race over 4,000m. Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s) found himself in a tussle with Cormac Dixon (Rathcoole College) at the front of the Intermediate Boys 5,000m. The Donore Harriers athlete made a brave bid for glory with 250m remaining, but the superior finishing speed of Dixon, who is a member of Tallaght AC, relegated Hopkins to the silver medal in a time of 9.24.2 (h-t). Sophie Farrell came 3rd in the Senior Girls 200m in the colours of Colaiste Cos Life Lucan.
Special mention to Abigail Tolan (Castleknock Community College) who came 7th in the 800m, 4th in the 1,100m and then took a silver medal in the Minor Girls relay. Other results are listed below. Please forward any missing or corrected results.

The first DUBLIN ATHLETICS BOARD JUVENILE LEAGUE fixture was held at Tallaght Track on Saturday. This is an excellent springboard for young developmental athletes to gain competition experience and confidence.
On the track the young athletes competed over 400m, 600m, 1,500m, with the field events being Long Jump, High Jump, Shot Putt and Javelin. A number of young DH athletes competed, including Max Henley-Willis, Eli Henley-Willis, Michael McCarthy Jnr, Rachel McCarthy, Alan Maddox, Daniel Maddox, Anna Whelan, Cliodhna McMahon, Robyn McCluskey, Tess O’Donoghue, Ruby Blake, Lola Blake, Zion Osawe, Melody Omozee, Anabella Omozee and Liam Morris.
Well done to those young competitors and to their coaches/mentors for preparing the athletes for this event.

It was young members to the fore again in this week’s PARKRUN results. Dylan McKenna the first finisher at Waterstown Park and Ruby Kelly the 2nd woman at Castletown. Other results below.

Results in brief:
WEST LEINSTER SCHOOLS TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at Santry (05 & 07.04.2022)
Junior Girls 100m: 4th Roisin Kirby (NTA)
Junior Girls 200m: 4th Isabella Jackson (NTA)
Inter Girls 100m: 1st Isabella Kelly (NTA) – GOLD
Under 16 Boys 200m: 1st Alex Leonard (NTA) – GOLD
Inter Girls 200m: 2nd Isabella Kelly (27.6 h-t) – SILVER
Senior Girls 200m: 3rd Sophie O’Farrell (28.0 h-t) – BRONZE
Junior Boys Hurdles: 1st Rory O’Farrell (NTA) – GOLD
Minor Girls 800m: 7th Abigail Tolan (2.51.0 h-t)
Junior Girls 800m: 1st Eve Crowe (2.22.0 h-t) – GOLD
Junior Girls 800m: 14th Claire O’Hanlon (2.54.0 h-t)
Junior Boys 800m: 8th Liam Blair (NTA)
Inter Boys 800m: 2nd Thomas Bolton (2.08.0 h-t) – SILVER
Senior Boys 800m: 7th Sean Kinsella (2.13.5 h-t)
Minor Girls 1,100m: 4th Abigail Tolan
Junior Girls 1,500m: 1st Emily Bolton (NTA) – GOLD
Junior Boys 1,500m: 1st Liam Morris (NTA) – GOLD
Inter Girls 1,500m: 7th Laura Nunan (NTA)
Inter Girls 2,000m: 1st Laura Nunan (NTA)
Senior Boys 4,000m: 2nd James Bolton (12.22.0 h-t) – SILVER
Junior Girls High Jump: 5th Leah Nunan
Junior Boys High Jump: 4th Samuel Whelan
Junior Girls Long Jump: 1st Roisin Kirby – GOLD
Inter Boys Long Jump: Not placed Bobbi Amadi
Minor Girls Relay: 2nd Castleknock CC (w/ Abigail Tolan) – SILVER
Junior Girls Relay: 1st Mount Sackville (w/ Roisin Kirby & Isabella Jackson) – GOLD
Junior Boys Relay: Not placed Edmund Rice School (w/ Paddy Nolan, Ewan ? and Samuel Whelan)
Inter Girls Relay: 1st St. Wolstan’s Celbridge (w/ Isabella Kelly) – GOLD
FRIARS INVITATIONAL TRACK & FIELD MEET at Providence, RI, USA (08.04.2022)
4th Abdel Laadjel (14.02.94 PB)
37 starters, 34 finishers
IRISH UNIVERSITIES TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at IT Carlow (08 & 09.04.2022)
Women’s 100m Hurdles Heat 2: 1st Lara O’Byrne (15.27) – qualified to final
Women’s 100m Hurdles Final: 2nd Lara O’Byrne (15.05) – SILVER
Women’s 400m Hurdles Final: 2nd Caoimhe Mackey (1.04.21 PB) – SILVER
Men’s 400m Heat 3: 3rd Zak Higgins (51.81)
Men’s 800m Heat 2: 3rd Jack Byrne (2.00.52) – qualified to final
Men’s 800m Final: 7th Jack Byrne (1.59.72)
Men’s 1,500m Final: 2nd Gavin Curtin (3.58.53 PB) – SILVER
Women’s 4 x 100m Final: 6th TCD (w/ Lara O’Byrne on anchor leg) 55.04
Women’s 4 x 400m Final: 3rd UCD (w/ Caoimhe Mackey on 3rd leg) 4.07.79 – BRONZE
Men’s 4 x 100m Heat 2: 1st DCU (w/ Paul McDermott on anchor leg) 42.48
Men’s 4 x 100m Final: 1st DCU (w/ Paul McDermott on anchor leg) 41.23 – GOLD
Men’s 4 x 400m Heat 1: 1st TCD (w/ Jack Byrne on first leg) 3.39.29; 3rd TUD (w/ Zak Higgins on 2nd leg) 3.46.93
Men’s 4 x 400m Final: 5th TUD (w/ Zak Higgins on 2nd leg) 3.27.54, 6th TCD (w/ Jack Byrne on 1st leg) 3.31.87
Women’s Pole Vault Final: 3rd Ailbhe Healy (2.75m) – BRONZE
Women’s Shot Putt Final: 6th Lara O’Byrne (10.09m)
Men’s Shot Putt Final: 7th Oran O’Brien (10.55m)
Men’s Discus Throw Final: 10th Oran O’Brien (28.90m)
Men’s Weight4Distance 35lb: 11th Oran O’Brien (6.90m)
GREAT IRELAND RUN, inc NATIONAL 10km ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS at Phoenix Park (09.04.2022)
25th & 9th MS Ryan Aikins (34.00 PB)
66th & 7th M50 Niall Lynch (36.19)
85th & 18th MS Simon O’Toole (37.09 PB)
88th & 1st W45 Sorcha Loughnane (37.15)
99th & 15th M40 Liam Keane (37.30)
105th & 9th M45 Didier Da Costa (37.50)
106th & 14th M35 Peter Brennan (37.44 PB)
129th & 17th M35 Ken Nugent (39.03)
187th & 3rd M65 Tony Kynes (41.27)
279th & 25th M35 John Paul O’Hanlon (43.19 PB)
306th & 23rd M45 John Curran (44.06 PB)
392nd & 7th W50 Angela Eustace (47.23)
405th & 23rd M55 Des Gill (47.37)
417th & 3rd M70 Barry Potts (48.03)
478th & 34th M45 Mark Devine (47.19)
705th & 40th M40 Neil Maddox (51.50)
838th & 17th W50 Jo Hughes (55.35)
1,316 finishers
MEN’S TEAM: 1. Crusaders AC 95, 2. Clonliffe Harriers 145, 3. Donore Harriers <Aikins, Lynch, O’Toole, Keane> 254. 13 teams closed
M35 TEAM: 1. Inishowen AC 97, 5. Donore Harriers <Keane, Da Costa, Brennan> 276. 16 teams closed
M50 TEAM: 1. Liffey Valley AC 222, 9. Donore Harriers <Kynes, Gill, Potts> 800. 14 teams closed
41st NN ROTTERDAM MARATHON (10.04.2022)
645th Alasdair Brown M35 (2.57.57)
1,163rd & 69th woman & 11th W35 Grace Kennedy-Clarke (3.08.15)
3,906th Ken McKeown M35 (3.46.21)
11,714 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (09.04.2022)
BUSHY: 128th Thomas Halton M65 (33.04)
CASTLETOWN: 19th & 2nd woman Ruby Kelly W18/19 (21.58), 89th Joan McTernan W60 (30.26)
CORKAGH: 33rd & 8th woman Nicola Dowdall W45 (25.21)
MARLAY: 7th Patrick Moriarty M45 (18.59)
POPPINTREE: 82nd Eilish Joyce W40 (34.24)
RUSSBOROUGH: 9th & 2nd woman Mary McDermott W50 (23.35)
WATERSTOWN: 1st Dylan McKenna M15-17 (19.00 PB), 6th Lucas Collender M11-14 (21.09)

HIGHLIGHTS: Sorcha & Ide NicDhomhnaill 1st & 3rd in the TITANIC 10KM at Belfast. Kane Collins broke 70 minutes in the BARCELONA HALF-MARATHON. Under 16 boys relay team took bronze on Day 3 of the NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOORS. Club athletes were at MANCHESTER & PARIS MARATHONS and the BERLIN HALF-MARATHON. Ariana Ball & Ruby Kelly placed at the MAYNOOTH 5KM & 10KM respectively.

REPORT: <by Gerry Naughton, Florence Curley & Leonie Newman> Sorcha and Ide NicDhomhnaill were the outstanding competitors in the TITANIC 10KM ROAD RACE in Belfast on Sunday morning. The popular race with a 3.15km loop followed by a 5.3km loop around the docks and airport region saw a quality contest with the first four women finishers inside 35 minutes. The overall race was won by Aaron Woodman (32.28) of Willowfield Harriers, with Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (33.55) leading the women home ahead of runner-up Jessica Craig (34.02) of North Down AC. Ide NicDhomhnaill (34.23) was the 3rd woman finisher having almost half-a-minute to spare over Catherine Whoriskey of City of Derry AC. Both Sorcha and Ide ran personal bests. There were more than 700 finishers.

Kane Collins broke the 70-minutes barrier for the first time in the BARCELONA HALF-MARATHON early Sunday. The picturesque city-centre route took the runners from the Arc De Triomf and past the old towns to the Plaza Catalunya. Then it went along the famous Ramblas and down the Avenida Del Parallel. It also included the Parc de la Ciutadella and the Torre Agbar, one of the most striking buildings in the city – then along the beach again before finishing close to the Arc De Triomf.
Collins, who recently had his training hampered by injury, returned a personal best time of 1.09.15 to place 57th in a high-quality international field. Coached by Lee Van Haeften, the Cork native was “delighted” with his run and splits of 16.41, 16.17, 16.33, 16.30 and 3.18 are indication of more-to-come from the much-improved Donore Harriers athlete.

The club had two members compete in the MANCHESTER MARATHON – also on Sunday. David McConn was hoping to break the 2.40 mark, but cramp in the latter stages of the race slowed his progress – and he had to settle for a 9-minutes personal best of 2.43.04 and 269th position. Ray Armstrong (3.00.33) narrowly failed to join the sub-3-hours club despite a PB of 8 minutes. He placed 1,330th of the 13,406 finishers.

There was also a personal best for 57 years-old Dean Fullston in the PARIS MARATHON when he finished in a time of 3.26.17 for 5,686th place from 24,251 finishers. This was a fine effort from Fullston who passed the halfway mark in 1.40.48 and was on target for a 3.22/23 time until the 35km point in the race.

Simon O’Toole (1.28.21) was the club’s lone competitor in the BERLIN HALF-MARATHON. He placed 1,205th of 13,813 male competitors.

In the MAYNOOTH 5KM & 10KM ROAD RACES on Sunday Ariana Ball placed 15th overall in the 5km and was the 2nd woman finisher. She dipped under 20 minutes for the first time with a new PB time of 19.49. In the 10km race Tony Griffin (43.16) came 47th of 303 finishers, with junior athlete Ruby Kelly (44.54) placing 61st overall and 3rd in the women’s category.

Four club members were among the 237 finishers in the BUSINESS HOUSE DCC 4-MILE ROAD RACE at St. Anne’s Park in Raheny on Saturday. Tom Fagan (27.11) narrowly won the tussle with his regular training partner Peter Nugent (27.14) as they occupied 41st and 42nd positions. Next came Mary McDermott (30.50) in 84th place – with Des Gill (31.24) crossing the line in 89th spot.

The Under 16 Boys team of Paddy Nolan, Alex Leonard, Rory O’Farrell and Ciaran O’Farrell stepped up their game to take bronze medals in the 4 x 200m event on 3rd day of the NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at Athlone Arena on Saturday. The quartet qualified to the final by placing 3rd in Heat 2 in a time of 1.41.83. They were over a second quicker in the final to claim 3rd place in 1.40.83 relegating Ratoath AC to 4th position. In one of the best races of the day Celbridge AC (1.38.30) narrowly won ahead of Templemore AC (1.38.46). The Donore Harriers team were almost left as spectators! With a late withdrawal it was to the credit of Ciaran O’Farrell (and his mother Natalie) who hightailed it to Athlone so that he could take his place in the team. Kudos also to Rory O’Farrell who raced despite a niggling foot injury. The Under 17 Girls team also made the final by placing 3rd in Heat 3 of the 4 x 200m relay with a time of 1.53.40. The quartet of Isabella Jackson, Isabella Kelly, Eve Conroy and Roisin Kirby were out of contention for medals and had to settle for 6th place in a time of 1.53.86.
The Under 17 Boys team (1.42.28) came 4th in Heat 1 of the 4 x 200m and failed to progress. The team consisted of Rory O’Farrell – who was taking the opening leg for the first time, Oisin Cummins-Weiss – more familiar with the Shot Putt event, Alex Leonard and Romeo Omozee. In field events Oisin Cummins-Weiss threw a best of 10.50m to place a creditable 5th in the Under 17 Boys Shot Putt. Romeo Omozee (8.61m) came 13th in the same category. Roisin Kirby placed 13th in the Under 16 Girls Long Jump with a best of 4.24m.

Audrey Gahan (1.30.31) competed in the IRISH MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION TINAHELY event over 13.5km on Sunday. She placed 18th overall and 3rd woman from a field of 57 finishers.

Best results in this week’s PARKRUNs came from juvenile members Dylan McKenna and Lucas Collender who were 2nd and 3rd finishers at Waterstown Park. Other results below.

Results in brief:
NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 3 at ATHLONE ARENA (02.04.2022)
U/16 GIRLS LONG JUMP FINAL: 13th Roisin Kirby (4.24m)
U/17 BOYS SHOT PUTT FINAL: 5th Oisin Cummins-Weiss (10.50m), 13th Romeo Omozee (8.61m)
U/16 BOYS 4 x 200m HEAT 2: 3rd Donore Harriers <Paddy Nolan, Alex Leonard, Rory O’Farrell, Ciaran O’Farrell> 1.41.83 – qualified to final
U/16 BOYS 4 x 200m FINAL: 3rd Donore Harriers <Paddy Nolan, Alex Leonard, Rory O’Farrell, Ciaran O’Farrell> 1.40.74 – BRONZE
U/17 BOYS 4 x 200m HEAT 1: 4th Donore Harriers <Ciaran O’Farrell, Oisin Cummins-Weiss, Romeo Omozee, Rory O’Farell> 1.42.28 – did not qualify
U/17 GIRLS 4 x 200m HEAT 3: 3rd Donore Harriers <Isabella Jackson, Isabella Kelly, Eve Conroy, Roisin Kirby> 1.53.40 – qualified to final
U/17 GIRLS 4 x 200m FINAL: 6th Donore Harriers <Isabella Jackson, Isabella Kelly, Eve Conroy, Roisin Kirby> 1.53.85
BHAA DDC 4 MILE ROAD RACE at St. Anne’s Park, Raheny (02.04.2022)
41st Tom Fagan M50 (27.11)
42nd Peter Nugent M50 (27.14)
84th Mary McDermott W50 (30.50)
89th Des Gill M55 (31.24)
237 finishers
THERME MANCHESTER MARATHON (03.04.2022)
269th David McConn (2.43.04 PB)
1,330th Ray Armstrong (3.00.33 PB)
13,406 finishers
PARIS MARATHON (03.04.2022)
5,686th Dean Fullston M55 (3.26.17 PB)
24,251 finishers
BARCELONA HALF-MARATHON (03.04.2022)
57th Kane Collins (1.09.15 PB)
11,148 finishers
BERLIN HALF-MARATHON (03.04.2022)
1,205th Simon O’Toole (1.28.21 PB)
13,813 male finishers
TITANIC 10KM ROAD RACE at Belfast (03.04.2022)
14th & 1st woman Sorcha NicDhomhnaill (33.55 PB)
17th & 3rd woman Ide NicDhomhnaill (34.23 PB)
734 finishers
MAYNOOTH 5KM & 10KM ROAD RACES (03.04.2022)
5KM:
15th & 2nd woman Ariana Ball (19.49 PB)
191 finishers
10KM:
47th Tony Griffin (43.16)
61st & 3rd woman Ruby Kelly JNR (44.54 PB)
303 finishers
IMRA TINAHELY 13.5KM MOUNTAIN RACE (03.04.2022)
18th & 3rd woman Audrey Gahan (1.30.31)
57 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (02.04.2022)
ARDGILLAN: 13th Joe Murphy M40 (24.36)
BUSHY: 80th Thomas Halton M65 (32.48)
CASTLETOWN: 30th & 8th woman Joan McTernan W60 (27.28)
GRIFFEEN: 68th Charlie O’Neill M65 (26.53)
MALAHIDE: 187th Angela O’Dea W40 (30.51)
POPPINTREE: 73rd Eilish Joyce W40 (33.53)
TOLKA VALLEY: 5th Owen Robinson M35 (20.08)
WATERSTOWN: 2nd Dylan McKenna M15-17 (20.05), 3rd Lucas Collender M11-14 (21.03)

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)

A brilliant gold run by Emily Bolton, plus 2 silver and 2 bronze medals for DH athletes in the NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. Kane Collins 4th in the MALLOW 10-MILE. Club members took part in races at Mullingar, Portlaoise and Abbotstown.

REPORT <by Gerry Naughton, Florence Curley & Leonie Newman>:

Emily Bolton set a new club indoor record of 2.15.70 when winning the final of the Under 15 Girls 800m at the NATIONAL JUVENILE INOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Athlone Arena on Sunday. It was an excellently judged race by Bolton who was in a lead group of 3 at the halfway stage before she took command of the race to finish well clear of Isa McCarron (2.18.03) of Lagan Valley AC. Bolton qualified to the final by winning her heat in 2.19.41.
In the next race Liam Morris (2.08.30) made a brave bid to take the top spot in the final of the Under 15 Boys 800m, but Archie McNamara (2.07.69) of Derg AC overtook the young Donore Harriers athlete with about 100 metres to go and held on to win. Morris earlier came 2nd to McNamara in his qualifying heat with both boys recording times of 2.15.
The club won three medals on Day 1 of the championship. James Bolton got the ball rolling on Saturday morning by taking bronze in the Under 19 Boys 1,500m in a time of 4.05.77. This was James’ first national medal and was due reward for a very dedicated athlete.
Mario Omozee (7.66) having qualified 4th from his heat in 7.73 pulled a super effort out of the bag to take bronze in the final of the Under 15 Boys 60m sprint. Talented Zion Osawe took a silver medal in a dramatic Under 14 Girls High Jump. The first 4 girls all cleared 1.48m and all failed at the next height of 1.51m. The podium places were settled on countback with Osawe’s first attempt failure at 1.30m costing her the gold position, but an otherwise flawless performance to the 1.48m height ensured the silver medal.
The other club competitors on Day 1 included – Eva Crowe (4.53.55) 5th in the final of the Under 16 Girls 1,500m, Thomas Bolton (4.15.53) 5th in the final of the Under 17 Boys 1, 500m, Annabela Omozee (9.12) 8th in the final of the Under 12 Girls 60m sprint, Alex Leonard (7.61) 5th in the final of the Under 16 Boys 60m sprint, Romeo Omozee (7.66) 8th in his heat of the Under 17 Boys 60m sprint, Isabella Kelly (8.37) 6th in her heat of the Under 17 Girls 60m sprint, Rachel Dowling-Barnes (1.25m) 14th in the Under 14 Girls High Jump, Eimear Finn (1.35m & 3.81m) 6th and 12th in the Under 18 Girls High Jump and Long Jump.
There was also Ruby Blake (7.30m) 7th in the final of the Under 13 Girls Shot Putt and Saoirse Jackson (5.99) 11th in the Under 13 Girls Shot Putt qualifying rounds. Their coach Ray O’Keeffe commented: “Ruby, a relative notice in the event, did really well to make the top 8, whilst Saoirse was competing in the first national competition”.
The other club action on Day 2 saw talented Zion Osawe check her stride before the first barrier in the Under 14 Girls 60m Hurdles final and never regained her composure. She came 8th in 10.51 having qualified 3rd from her heat in 9.96. Melody Omozee (10.22) contested the same final placing 7th after qualifying as a fastest loser from her heat in a personal best of 9.99.
Isabella Kelly narrowly failed to progress to the final of the Under 17 Girls 200m when placing 4th in her heat in a time of 27.46. Alex Leonard was unlucky to get DQed from his Under 16 Boys 200m heat after falling foul of a lane infringement.
Luke Hanly (1.60m) came 5th in the final of the Under 18 Boys High Jump in his first national test. He is relatively new to the high jump and his coach Ray O’Keeffe believes that Hanly is one for the future: “there is plenty more to come from Luke”.

Kane Collins (53.18) had a satisfactory run in the MALLOW 10-MILE ROAD RACE on Sunday. Having recently missed out on a key block of training due to injury and illness this race will serve as a confidence booster to the hard-training Collins. The race was won by Irish international Sergio Ciobanu (50.56) of Clonliffe Harriers, with runner-up John Kinsella (53.08) and 3rd placed Derek Griffin (53.13) just ahead of the Donore Harriers man.

On St. Patrick’s Day relative newcomer Wayne Waldron came 23rd of 1,178 finishers in the AON MULLINGAR HALF-MARATHON. His time of 1.19.51 was his first time to go under the 80 minutes mark.

On the same morning the club had four competitors in the STREETS OF PORTLAOISE 5KM ROAD RACE. Harry Vaughan (17.08) came 67th of the 551 finishers. He was followed across the finish line by Ariana Ball (20.38) who came 161st, Tony Griffin (21.10) who placed 189th and Anthony Ferns (40.35) who was 538th.

A few club members turned out in the MSB ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL OF RACES at Abbotstown on Sunday morning. With the MSB club failing to get a permit to host their usual 5km road race in the St. Stephen’s Green area they organised family friendly races at the hallowed turf on the national cross-country course – the venue for the European XC championships last December where our own Abdel Laadjel led the Irish under 20s team to silver medals. Under 16 athlete Eve Crowe (5.29) won the 1.5km family race, with Under 12 Max Henley-Willis (6.36) placing 21st of the 125 finishers. In the 5km race three Donore master athletes took part with Dean Fullson (21.53) in 18th, John Gleeson (24.28) in 40th and Colin Moore (26.04) in 48th. 68 finished.

In the IRISH MOUNTAIN RUNNING ASSOCIATION ANNAGH HILL RACE in North County Wexford on the 13th of March Deirdre NicCanna came 9th overall from the 73 finishers and was the 2nd woman to cover the steep course that twice ascended to a height of about 450 metres.

In this week’s PARKRUN races Niall Lynch was first finisher at Con Smith Park in Cavan in 17.18 and Dylan McKenna (20.22) was 3rd at Waterstown. Other parkrun results below.

Results in brief:
AON MULLINGAR HALF-MARATHON (17.03.2022)
23rd Wayne Waldron (1.19.51)
1,178 finishers
THE STREETS OF PORTLAOISE 5KM (17.03.2022)
67th Harry Vaughan (17.08)
161st Ariana Ball (20.28)
189th Tony Griffin M55 (21.10)
538th Tony Ferns M55 (40.35)
551 finishers
NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 1 at ATHLONE ARENA (19.03.2022)
U/16 GIRLS 1,500m FINAL: 5th Eva Crowe (4.53.55)
U/17 BOYS 1,500m FINAL: 5th Thomas Bolton (4.15.53)
U/19 BOYS 1,500m FINAL: 3rd James Bolton (4.05.77) BRONZE
U/12 GIRLS 60m HEAT 2: 5th Annabela Omozee (9.03) qualified to final
U/12 GIRLS 60m FINAL: 8th Annabela Omozee (9.12)
U/15 BOYS 60m HEAT 2: 4th Mario Omozee (7.73) qualified to final
U/15 BOYS 60m FINAL: 3rd Mario Omozee (7.66) BRONZE
U/16 BOYS 60m HEAT 1: 3rd Alex Leonard (7.65) qualified to final
U/16 BOYS 60m FINAL: 5th Alex Leonard (7.61)
U/17 BOYS HEAT 1: 8th Romeo Omozee (7.66)
U/17 GIRLS HEAT 1: 6th Isabella Kelly (8.37)
U/14 GIRLS HIGH JUMP FINAL: 2nd Zion Osawe (1.48m) SILVER
U/14 GIRLS HIGH JUMP QUALIFYING: 14TH Rachel Dowling-Barnes (1.25m)
U/18 GIRLS HIGH JUMP FINAL: 6th Eimear Finn (1.35m)
U/18 GIRLS LONG JUMP QUALIFYING: 12th Eimear Finn (3.81m)
U/13 GIRLS SHOT PUTT FINAL: 7th Ruby Blake (7.30m)
U/13 GIRLS SHOT PUTT QUALIFYING: 11th Saoirse Jackson (5.99m)
NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2 at ATHLONE ARENA (20.03.2022)
U/15 GIRLS 800m HEAT 2: 1st Emily Bolton (2.19.41) qualified to final
U/15 GIRLS 800m FINAL: 1st Emily Bolton (2.15.70 CR) GOLD
U/15 BOYS 800m HEAT 2: 2nd Liam Morris (2.15.53) qualified to final
U/15 BOYS 800m FINAL: 2nd Liam Morris (2.08.30) SILVER
U/16 BOYS 200m HEAT 1: DQ Alex Leonard TR13.3.1 – lane infringement
U/17 GIRLS 200m HEAT 1: 4th Isabella Kelly (27.46)
U/14 GIRLS 60mH HEAT 1: 3rd Zion Osawe (9.96) qualified to final
U/14 GIRLS 60mH HEAT 2: 5th Melody Omozee (9.99) qualified to final
U/14 GIRLS 60mH FINAL: 7th Melody Omozee (10.22), 8th Zion Osawe (10.51)
U/18 BOYS HIGH JUMP FINAL: 5th Luke Hanly (1.60m)
MALLOW 10-MILE ROAD RACE (22.03.2022)
4th Kane Collins (53.18)
962 finishers
MSB ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL FAMILY XC RACES at ABBOTSTOWN (20.03.2022)
1.5km RACE: 1st Eva Crowe U/16 (5.29), 21st Max Henley-Willis U/12 (6.36).
125 finishers
MSB ST. PATRICK’S FESTIVAL 5KM FESTIVAL OF RACES at ABBOTSTOWN (20.03.2022)
18th Dean Fullston (21.53)
40th John Gleeson (24.28)
48th Colin Moore (26.04)
68 finishers
Earlier result:
IMRA ANNAGH 10km HILL RACE in Co. Wexford (13.03.2022)
9th overall & 2nd woman Deirdre NicCanna (1.04.01)
73 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (19.03.2022)
BUSHY: 95th Thomas Halton M65 (33.57)
CASTLETOWN: 5th J.P. O’Hanlon M35 (21.32), 52nd Joan McTernon W60 (29.08)
CON SMITH: 1st Niall Lynch M50 (17.18)
CORKAGH: 39th & 9th woman Nicola Dowdall W45 (25.58)
GRIFFEEN: 62nd Charlie O’Neill M65 (26.38), 72nd Rosie-May Morris W11-14 (27.45), 119th Terry Mee M75 (33.44)
MARLAY: 13th Patrick Moriarty M45 (19.53)
NAAS: 31st & 5th woman Mary McDermott W50 (24.16)
POPPINTREE: 67th Eilish Joyce W40 (31.10)
WATERSTOWN: 3rd Dylan McKenna M15-17 (20.22)

HIGHLIGHTS: Lara O’Byrne won silver and bronze and ran a 60mH PB at the NATIONAL INDOOR UNDER 23s. DH men’s team won the Fr. Delany Cup (6 to score) and were 2nd team (4 to score) at the BOHERMEEN HALF-MARATHON. Age class top 3s for Eoin Durkan, Fergal Whitty, Sinead O’Reilly and Tony Kynes at the same venue. Emily Bolton 3rd in the Junior Girls at the ALL-IRELAND SCHOOLS XC CHAMPIONSHIPS. Liam Morris and Oliver Hopkins selected to Irish squads for the forthcoming SIABs XC in Wales.

REPORT <by Gerry Naughton & Florence Curley>:

The club’s lone competitor in the NATIONAL INDOOR JUNIOR & UNDER 23 CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Athlone Arena on Sunday was multi-eventer Lara O’Byrne. O’Byrne ran a new personal best of 8.85 to take the silver medal in the Under 23s 60m Hurdles final behind Niamh O’Neill (8.73) of St. Colman’s Mayo. A first attempt clearance of 1.60m was enough to give O’Byrne the bronze gong in the High Jump. LINK

The BOHERMEEN HALF-MARATHON is one of the most popular road races in Ireland. This year’s version attracted almost 1,500 to the start line in the picturesque village near Navan. Donore Harriers have always made this event a favourite on the fixtures list, so were well represented again this year. Eoin Durkan led the 17 strong contingent home in 14th place with a time of 1.13.20. The long-time club member came 3rd in the M40 category. David McConn, competing for the 2nd time within the space of a few days, reached the finish in 25th spot and 6th in the M40 class. He ran a new personal best time of 1.15.48. Marathon specialist Fergal Whitty (1.16.20) came 34th and 3rd in the Over 45s class – followed by Danny O’Sullivan in 42nd spot and 15th M40. The combined finishing positions of Durkan, McConn, Whitty and O’Sullivan ensured that Donore Harriers (110) were runners-up in the team competition behind Pinanha Tri Club (76) and well clear of 3rd placed Trim AC (135). The men’s team went one better by winning the Fr. Delany Cup – an award given to the first men’s team with six-to-score. The 5th and 6th men home were key to this success. Thus, Alasdair Brown (1.17.34), who has steady improvements in recent weeks, placing 44th with a new PB – and Andy Kinane (1.18.03) in 50th ensured the victory. The Donore Harriers 6-man team scored 200 ahead of Trim AC (276) and Piranha Tri Club (296) to claim the Fr. Delany Cup.
Liam Keane ran a personal best of 1.20.45 for 76th position, followed by Colm Kennedy (1.22.18) in 103rd. Next home was Sinead O’Reilly, 2nd in the W40 category, after running a personal best time of 1.24.00 to place 137th overall.
Declan Lynch (1.29.45) came 262nd. Tony Kynes (1.34.49), fresh after making his Ireland debut in the recent European Masters Athletics Championships in Portugal, came 2nd in the M65 category when placing 359th overall. The next Donore Harriers man to reach the finish line was Ray Armstrong (1.42.55) in 606th spot.
The women’s scoring quartet was completed by Louise Kelly (1.44.03 PB) in 609th, Suzie Henley-Willis (1.48.58 PH) in 747th and Angela Eustace (1.49.17) in 761st. Led home by Sinead O’Reilly the women’s team came 13th out of 37 scoring teams.
These four were supported by Katherine Marsh (1.52.24) who placed 838th out of the 1,226 finishers. Barbara Murray did not complete the race. LINK 

The ALL-IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS are fiercely competitive. Athletes must qualify via two qualifying championship races to have the right to stand on the start line. The races are high energy, frenetic and exciting. So, it was good to see these highly contested races return after a blank in 2021 due to the Covid-19 lockdowns. Saturday’s venue was the Mallusk Playing Fields near Belfast.
Emily Bolton (9.21), representing Mount Sackville Secondary School, bravely led the 2.5km Junior Girls race until she was passed by race winner Niamh Garvey (9.16) of Killina Secondary School in the closing kilometre. She then lost out on the silver step on the podium when she was overtaken at the finish line by Isa McCarron (9.19) from the Knock School in Belfast. Eva Crowe (10.16) came 43rd in the same race representing the Edmund Rice School Castleknock.
The club had three athletes in the 3.5km Junior Boys race – all in the colours of Colaiste Chilliain Clondalkin. Liam Morris (12.14) ran a well-judged race to move up the field from the mid-20s position to finally place 11th. An improving Sam O’Chrothair (13.10) ran his best race yet to cross the line in 40th position. Aaron O’Callanain (14.05) closed out the scoring 4 in 89th spot. The non-club athlete was Max MacLocklainn (13.26) in 51st. The Colaiste Chilliain team came 8th of 11 closing teams. Julie Cleary had a super race in the Intermediate Girls 3.5km race. Representing Loreta Stephen’s Green she placed 15th in a time of 13.43. Oliver Hopkins (17.16), who won the junior grade race at Santry in 2020, was never in contention this time round. He failed to build on last month’s runner-up spot in the Leinster Schools due to illness. Without his usual strength and sharpness, the St. Declan’s Cabra student had to settle for 11th spot as the keenly contested race was won by Lughaigh Mallon (16.34) of Rathmore Grammar Belfast. In the Senior Boys race over 6.5km James Bolton (Belvedere College) never found his usual rhythm with the soft underfoot conditions. He placed 46th of 73 with a time of 24.53.
Liam Morris and Oliver Hopkins have been selected to the Irish squad to compete in the Schools International Athletics Association international at Pembrey, Cardiff on the 26th of March 2022.

Peter Brennan returned to his native Co. Offaly to compete in the TULLAMORE HARRIERS 5KM ROAD RACE where he ran a personal best time of 18.17 to finish 31st of 334 finishers.

Junior athlete Claudia Redmond (53.13) placed 49th and 14th woman in the GREAT GOREY 10KM RACE on Sunday. There were 131 finishers.

In the DUBLIN NIGHT RUN 10km RACE at Sandymount on Tuesday evening 8th of March David McConn finished 2nd of more than 400 finishers in the time of 35.57.

PARKRUNs. Juvenile member Dylan McKenna (19.39) was 2nd home at Waterstown. Other parkrun results below.

Results in brief:
DUBLIN NIGHT RUN 10km ROAD RACE at Sandymount (08.03.2022)
2nd David McConn M40 (35.57)
425 finishers
ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS CROSS COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Mallusk Playing Fields, Co. Antrim (12.03.2022)
JUNIOR GIRLS 2,500m:
3rd Emily Bolton (Mount Sackville) 9.21
43rd Eva Crowe (Edmund Rice) 10.16
93 finishers
JUNIOR BOYS 3,500m
11th Liam Morris (Colaiste Chilliain) 12.14
40th Sam O’Chrothair (Colaiste Chilliain) 13.10
89th Aaron O’Callanain (Colaiste Chilliain) 14.05
94 finishers
TEAM: 8th Colaiste Chillian <inc. Morris, O’Chrothair & O’Callanain>.
11 teams closed
INTERMEDIATE GIRLS 3,500M:
14th Julie Cleary (Loreta Stephen’s Green) 13.43
54 finishers
INTERMEDIATE BOYS 5,000m
11th Oliver Hopkins (St. Declan’s) 17.16
97 finishers
SENIOR BOYS 6,500m:
46th James Bolton (Belvedere College) 24.53
75 finishers
NATIONAL JUNIOR & UNDER 23 INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at Athlone Arena (12.03.2022)
WOMEN’S U/23 60m HURDLES FINAL: 2nd Lara O’Byrne (8.85 PB)
WOMEN’S U/23 HIGH JUMP: 3rd Lara O’Byrne (1.60m)
TULLAMORE HARRIERS 5km ROAD RACE (12.03.2022)
31st Peter Brennan MS (18.17)
334 finishers
BOHERMEEN HALF-MARATHON (13.03.2022)
14th & 3rd M40 Eoin Durkan (1.13.20)
25th & 6th M40 David McConn M40 (1.15.48 PB)
34th & 3rd M45 Fergal Whitty (1.16.20)
42nd & 15th M40 Danny O’Sullivan (1.17.26 PB)
44th Alasdair Brown MS (1.17.34 PB)
50th & 19th M40 Andrew Kinane (1.18.03)
76th Liam Keane M40 (1.20.45 PB)
103rd Colm Kennedy M40 (1.22.18)
137th & 2nd W40 Sinead O’Reilly (1.24.00 PB)
262nd Declan Lynch M40 (1.29.45)
359th & 2nd M65 Tony Kynes (1.34.49)
606th Ray Armstrong M40 (1.42.55)
609th Louise Kelly WS (1.44.03 PB)
747th Suzie Henley-Willis W40 (1.48.58 PB)
761st Angela Eustace W50 (1.49.17)
838th Katherine Marsh WS (1.52.24)
DNF Barbara Murray
1,226 finishers
MEN’S TEAM: 1st Piranha Tri Club 76, 2nd Donore Harriers <Durkan, McConn, Whitty, O’Sullivan> 110, 3rd Trim AC 135. 46 teams closed
MEN’S TEAM FATHER DELANY CUP (6 to score): 1st Donore Harriers <Durkan, McConn, Whitty, O’Sullivan, Brown, Kinane> 200, 2nd Trim AC 276, 3rd Piranha Tri Club 296. 28 teams closed
WOMEN’S TEAM: 1st Brothers Pearse AC 90, 13th Donore Harriers <O’Reilly, Kelly, Henley-Willis, Eustace>. 37 teams closed
GREAT GOREY 10KM RUN (13.03.2022)
49th & 14th woman Claudia Redmond JNR (53.13)
131 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (12.03.2022)
BUSHY: 133rd Thomas Halton M65 (33.09)
CASTLETOWN: 69th Joan McTernon W60 (28.33)
MALAHIDE: 50th Angela O’Dea W40 (24.25 PB)
WATERSTOWN: 2nd Dylan McKenna M15-17 (19.39)

HIGHLIGHTS: Ken Nugent and Sorcha Loughnane are CLUB CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONS for 2022. Gavin Curtin produced another fine run in the IUAA CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS. Abdel Laadjel lowered his indoor 3,000m time again at the ECAT INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS in Boston MA. The Fit-4-Life squad went all out in the KINVARA ROAD RACES with Barry Potts 1st M70 in the half-marathon. Anne Gormley was given a special recognition award for her contribution to the sport by the IRISH MASTERS ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION.

The INTERVARSITIES (IUAA) CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS are one of the most keenly contested races on the athletics calendar. This year’s event took place at the Trinity Sports Grounds in Santry on Saturday morning with plenty of the country’s leading athletes on the start line. Gavin Curtin (26.07) representing Athlone IT ran another superb race to place 8th in the men’s 8km race and in the process finished ahead of a host of more experienced athletes. After a fine cross-country season, the 19 years-old former Moyle Park College student will now target the summer track season with loftier ambitions.
Matthieu Proffitt (27.53), the 2019 Dublin novice cross-country bronze medallist, came 38th representing Trinity College. He was followed home by mountain running specialist Rory Burke (28.38) in 55th, Matt Fabbro (29.23) in 64th and Michael Ryan (31.33) in 93rd. The race was won by Keelan Kilrihill (25.21), one of the stars of the successful Irish Under 23 team at the recent European Cross-Country Championships, who was representing DCU. In the women’s race over 5km Rachel Smyth (22.53) came 43rd in the colour of Trinity College.

Report on the CLUB CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS by coach Willie Smith: On a beautiful morning, a small but select group of our men and women faced the starter for our club cross-country championships on the 5th of March. Former Club President and the 1980 winner of the Faugh-A-Ballagh Cup Tony Murphy sent eleven men on their way over 6 miles and nine women over 4 miles. The underfoot conditions on the 2-mile lap (opposite the Pope’s Cross) were very good. With laps of 12.24 and 12.35 ultra-marathoner Sorcha Loughnane had a 36-seconds win over Sinead O’Reilly to claim the Jim McNamara Cup.
In the Faugh-A-Ballagh 6-mile men’s race Ken Nugent followed up his win in the Waterhouse Byrne Baird Shield 10-mile on St. Stephen’s Day with a 39-seconds win over Ryan Aikins who had a very good run. Full results below. Ken joins a small select group who have won the WBB Shield and the Faugh-A-Ballagh Cup in the same cross-country season (October to March). The first was Paddy Byrne in 1915/16, and again in 1918/19. Presentations of the Cups were made in the club lounge. James McNamara presented the Cup introduced in honour of his late father to the women’s winner Sorcha Loughnane. James thanked the club for keeping Jim’s legacy alive. Men’s captain Craig Scott presented the Faugh-A-Ballagh Cup to Ken Nugent.
Willie Smith spoke on the historic nature of the Donore Harriers trophies, and summarized Jim McNamara’s achievements. He also noted that 13 runners faced the starter in the first running of the Faugh-A-Ballagh Cup race in 1907.

Abdel Laadjel ran a PB of 8.07.89 when placing 7th in the 3,000m A race at the EASTERN COLLEGES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at Boston University indoor track on Sunday afternoon. He ran the opening 2km at the front of the field with his Providence University colleagues Ryan Gallagher and Patrick Thygesen. The trio passed the first kilometre in 2.42.5 and reached the 2km mark in 5.28. 18 years old Laadjel was unable to match the speed of the race favourites over the last 300m as Brandon Olden (8.03.48) of Siena University sprinted to victory ahead of Gallagher and Thygesen.

A group of club athletes, mostly from the Fit-4-Life group made the journey to Co. Galway to compete in the KINVARA HALF-MARATHON and 10KM ROAD RACES. In the half-marathon Fit-4-Life mentor Barry Potts won the Over 70s category when finishing 94th overall from a field of 558 finishers. He was followed over the line by Peter Daly (1.52.14) in 279th, Deirdre Healy (2.00.52) in 396th and Jo Hughes (2.05.17) in 432nd. Alasdair Brown was the first clubman home in the 10km race placing 4th overall. His time of 34.06 was a new personal best by 50 seconds. Next to complete the undulating course that started and finished at the Quays in the village of Kinvara was Julia Hacket (47.00) who was 101st overall and 3rd W50 finisher. The Fit-4-Lifers among the 707 finishers were Neil Maddox (51.30) in 213rd, Melanie Labor (56.26) in 345th, Anna McMahon (1.11.17) in 601st, Paula Morrissey (1.11.56) in 602nd, Blathnaid Hughes (1.11.56) in 603rd and Geraldine Cummins (1.27.39) in 673rd.

The penultimate race in the BHAA XC SERIES was the AIB & NUI MAYNOOTH CROSS-COUNTRY RACES at the St. Patrick’s College Grounds in Maynooth on Saturday morning. Mary McDermott completed the 2 x 1-mile loop in 15.11 to place 15th of 33 finishers in the women’s race. Among the 85 who completed the men’s race over 4 miles were Tom Fagan (26.54) who came 39th overall and 1st in the M50 category; Ian Redican (28.38) who was 51st; Des Gill (32.49) in 72nd spot; and Terry Mee (45.09) 83rd and 1st in the over 70s grade.

On Sunday, the club had two athletes compete in the LUSK 4-MILE ROAD RACE. Audrey Gahan (26.23) was 85th overall and 5th in the W35 category, with J.P. O’Hanlon (27.53) placing 108th of the 514 finishers.

Elaine Verdon (1.24.47) came 236th of the 477 runners who completed the inaugural NAAS 10-MILE ROAD RACE organised by the local Brendan’s Running Club in association with Naas GAA.

In the IMRA FORTH MOUNTAIN 10KM RACE in Co. Wexford on Sunday morning Laura Nunan (59.24) came 23rd of 48 finishers and was the 1st female juvenile.

Club stalwart and regular race walker Anne Gormley was awarded the Tadhg Lynch Trophy at the IRISH MASTERS ATHLETICS ASSOCIATION AGM. The award was given to Anne in recognition of her services to athletics as a competitor, official and administrator. She joins a list of distinguished recipients of the trophy, including our own late, great Jim McNamara. Well done, Anne!

Maura Kearns (18.59) was 3rd overall and 1st woman finisher at the Navan PARKRUN. Juvenile member Dylan McKenna (19.27) was 3rd home at Waterstown. Other parkrun results below.

Results in brief:
IRISH UNIVERSITIES ATHLETIC ASSOCIATION CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Trinity Sports Grounds, Santry (05.03.2022)
WOMEN’S 5KM:
43rd Rachel Smyth (TCD) 22.53
60 finishers
MEN’S 8KM:
8th Gavin Curtin (AIT) 26.07
38th Matthieu Proffitt (TCD) 27.53
55th Rory Burke (UCD) 28.38
64th Matt Fabbro (TCD) 29.23
93rd Michael Ryan (TCD) 31.33
124 finishers
DONORE HARRIERS SENIOR CROSS-COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS at Phoenix Park (05.03.2022)
WOMEN’S 4-MILE for the JIM McNAMARA CUP
1st Sorcha Loughnane (24.59)
2nd Sinead O’Reilly (25.35)
3rd Deirdre MacAnna (27.31)
4th Florence Curley (28.50)
5th Ariana Ball (29.05)
6th Katherine Marsh (31.53)
7th Treasa Ryan (32.11)
8th Sabrina O’Sullivan (32.18)
9th Deirdre Brennan (36.25)
MEN’S 6-MILE for the FAUGH-A-BALLAGH CUP
1st Ken Nugent (34.31)
2nd Ryan Aikins (35.10)
3rd Wayne Waldron (37.16)
4th Emmet O’Briain (37.51)
5th Craig Scott (38.18)
6th Alan Farrell (39.18)
7th Simon O’Toole (39.46)
8th Peter Brennan (40.20)
9th Gavin White (41.27)
10th David McGrath (42.54)
11th Dean Fullston (45.24)
BHAA AIB & NUI MAYNOOTH CROSS-COUNTRY RACES at St. Patrick’s College Grounds, Maynooth (05.03.2022)
WOMEN’S 2-MILES:
15th & 3rd W50 Mary McDermott (15.11)
33 finishers
MEN’S 4-MILES:
39th & 1st M50 Tom Fagan (26.54)
51st Ian Redican M45 (28.38)
72nd Des Gill M55 (32.49)
83rd & 1st M75 Terry Mee (45.09)
85 finishers
LUSK 4-MILE ROAD RACE (06.03.2022)
85th & 5th W35 Audrey Gahan (26.23)
108th & 49th M35 J.P. O’Hanlon (27.53)
514 finishers
45th EASTERN COLLEGES ATHLETIC CONFERENCE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS at Boston University, USA (06.03.2022)
MEN’S 3,000m ‘A’ RACE: 7th Abdel Laadjel (Providence Uni) 8.07.89 PB
12 finishers
KINVARA HALF-MARATHON in Co. Galway (06.03.2022)
94th & 1st M70 Barry Potts (1.37.41)
279th Peter Daly M40 (1.52.14)
396th Deirdre Healy W50 (2.00.52)
432nd Josephine Hughes W50 (2.05.17)
558 finishers
KINVARA 10KM ROAD RACE in Co. Galway (06.03.2022)
4th Alasdair Brown MS (34.06 PB)
101st & 3rd W50 Julia Hackett (47.00)
213rd Neil Maddox M40 (51.30)
345th Melanie Labor WS (56.26)
601st Anna McMahon WS (1.11.17)
602nd Paula Morrissey W40 (1.11.56)
603rd Blathnaid Hughes WS (1.11.56)
673rd Geraldine Cummins W50 (1.27.39)
707 finishers
NAAS 10-MILE ROAD RACE (06.03.2022)
236th & 51st woman Elaine Verdon (1.24.47)
477 finishers
IMRA FORTH MOUNTAIN RACE in Co. Wexford (06.03.2022)
10KM LONG COURSE:
23rd & 1st Female Juvenile Laura Nunan (59.24)
48 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (19.02.2022)
BUSHY: 122nd Thomas Halton M65 (33.06)
CASTLETOWN: 56th Joan McTernon W60 (27.58)
MALAHIDE: 80th Angela O’Dea W40 (25.13 PB)
MARLAY: 16th Patrick Moriarty M45 (18.59)
NAVAN: 3rd & 1st woman Maura Kearns W35 (18.59)
WATERSTOWN: 3rd Dylan McKenna M15-17 (19.27)

HIGHLIGHTS: Abdel Laadjel set a new Irish indoor Under 20 record in the NCAA BIG EAST 5,000m. Louis O’Loughlin won a 1,500m silver and Lara O’Byrne breaks 9 seconds in the 60m Hurdles at the NATIONAL SENIOR INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS. Anne Gormley took team bronze in W50+ Race Walk at the EUROPEAN MASTERS INDOOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS in Portugal.

 
Abdel Laadjel continues to impress in the United States. In the prestigious BIG EAST INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at Chicago, Illinois last Friday evening the Donore Harriers athlete finished 7th in the 5,000m final with a time of 14.12.73. His time set a new national record for the event, replacing Daragh McIlhenny’s mark of 14.13.67 set at the Athlone Arena in February 2019. Representing Providence University, Laadjel ran a smart race by starting conservatively in a field of 25 and then using his strength and endurance base to gain to 7th. Indeed, he narrowly lost out on 6th place in a sprint to the line. Laadjel commented afterwards: “Happy with that! It’s a good improvement and a step forward. Happy to sneak an Irish record also”. The high calibre race was won by Simon Bedard (13.43.04) ahead of Irishman Barry Keane (13.43.81) – both representing the Butler University team.

Louis O’Loughlin was the club’s only medallist in the weekend’s NATIONAL SENIOR INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at the National Indoor Arena in Dublin 15. He handily qualified to the final by winning Heat 3 of the 1,500m on Saturday with a time of 4.04.54. Sunday’s final was a different matter! Pre-race favourite and Irish senior international Luke McCann of UCD AC (3.45.14) took command of the race from the start opening a widening gap on the field to win comfortably. O’Loughlin (3.54.74) settled near the front of the chasing group, before unleashing his trademark kick over the final 300 metres to take the runners-up spot ahead of Kevin McGrath (3.55.41) of Bohermeen AC. O’Loughlin, who now has his training programme set by Lee Van Haeften, is beginning to show a maturity at senior level. “He ran a smart race today. Hopefully a confidence booster. Now he needs a good block of training ahead of the more serious summer championship races” commented Van Haeften afterwards.
Lara O’Byrne was delighted to break the 9-seconds barrier for the first time when qualifying in 4th position in Heat 1 of the 60m Hurdles on Saturday morning. Her new PB time of 8.96 augurs well for the rest of the season when she returns to compete in the multi-discipline events. In the afternoon final she placed 7th of 8 in a time of 9.00.
Alex Clarkin qualified to the final of the 60m Hurdles with 2nd place in Heat 2 in a time of 8.41. However, Clarkin took a fall prior to the actual race. He fell into the first barrier when attempting to stop after the race was called back when Iarlaith Golding of St. Colman’s South Mayo AC was eliminated. He grazed both knees but ran the race and qualified. To add to his day of woes, he pulled a hamstring in the warm-up for the final and didn’t make the start-line. It was a real shame, as an in-form Clarkin would have been in contention for a podium place.
Daragh Fitzgibbon (8.31.47) put in a solid effort in the final of the Men’s 3,000m. He raced mid-order in a competitive field before crossing the line in 12th position.
The club had two other competitors on the day. David Campbell (24.22) placed 4th in Heat 6 of the Men’s 200m and Caoimhe Mackey (1.00.54) was 4th in Heat 3 of the Women’s 400m. Both failed to progress to the finals.
On Day 2 of the championships Daragh McAuley (7.48) came 7th in Heat 7 of the 60m sprint failing to qualify. Lara O’Byrne was hoping to get a 2nd PB in the championships but failed to make a clearance of 1.65m in the High Jump. She had to settle for 9th place with a second attempt 1.60m clearance. Several of the club’s top athletes did not compete in the championships due to injury including John Travers, Jack Raftery and Aoife Lynch. Aoife, however, attended at the championships as Athletics Ireland presented World silver medals to the Irish 4 x 200m Relay Team who took second place in the World Athletics Relays last year. Aoife ran the opening leg with her national teammates Kate Doherty, Sarah Quinn and Sophie Becker doing the rest. It should be noted that Aoife was recently nominated and approved as a representative on the newly formed Athlete Commission established by Athletics Ireland. Part of the role of the new group will be ensure strong international athlete advocacy and to act as a voice for international athletes. We wish Aoife ‘all the best’ in her new role.

Anne Gormley and Tony Kynes were in action at the EUROPEAN MASTERS INDOOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS at Braga in Portugal last week. On the opening morning of the championships (20.02.2022) Gormley placed 31st in the 8km cross-country race for women aged 55+. She was back in competition on the penultimate day of the week-long programme in her more favoured 5km Race Walk event. She competed well to finish in 36th place in the W50+ class in a time of 39.07. Competing against strong teams from France, Spain and Portugal the Irish team of Sinead McConnell, Maggie H O’Connor and Anne Gormley took home well-deserved bronze medals. On Day 4 of the championships Kynes came 7th in the M65 3,000m with a time of 11.55.91. Two days later he raced 7th in the final of the M65 1,500m in 5.30.65. This was Tony’s first time to represent Ireland and he did so with distinction.

The latest edition of the BUSINESS HOUSE CROSS-COUNTRY SERIES was hosted by the Central Bank of Ireland at Wesley College in Dundrum on Saturday morning. There were 4 Donore Harriers members in a field of 157 finishers. First home after completing the 4-mile flat, meandering course was Emmet O’Briain (24.11) in 19th place. He was followed by Deirdre McCanna (25.56) who placed 41st overall and was the 2nd female finisher. The other club competitors were Tom Fagan (27.29) in 66th and Ian Redican (28.24) in 77th.

In the DULEEK & DISTRICT McNALLY’S 5KM ROAD RACE on Sunday Ruth Chambers (23.07) was 7th woman finisher when placing 75th overall in a field of 275.

In this week’s PARKRUN 5km races juvenile member Dylan McKenna was first home at Waterstown. Other results below.

Results in brief:
EUROPEAN MASTERS INDOOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS at Braga, Portugal Day 1 (20.02.2022)
W55 8km XC: 31st Anne Gormley (47.37). 33 finishers
Day 4 (23.02.2022)
M65 3,000m FINAL: 7th Tony Kynes (11.55.91)
Day 6 (25.02.2022)
M65 1,500m FINAL: 7th Tony Kynes (5.30.65)
Day 7 (26.02.2022)
W50+ 5km Walk: 36th Anne Gormley (39.07). 38 finishers
TEAM: 3rd Ireland <Sinead McConnell, Maggie H O’Connor, Anne Gormley>
BIG EAST INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at the Gately Park Centre in Chicago IL, USA (25.02.2022)
MEN’S ‘A’ FINAL: 7th Abdel Laadjel (Providence Uni) 14.12.73 (PB & Nat Ind U20 record). 25 finishers
NATIONAL INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Day 1 at NIA (26.02.2022)
MEN’S 200m Heat 6: 4th David Campbell (24.22)
MEN’S 3,000m A FINAL: 12th Daragh Fitzgibbon (8.31.47)
WOMEN’S 60m HURDLES HEAT 1: 4th Lara O’Byrne (8.96 PB) qualified to final
MEN’S 60m HURDLES HEAT 2: 2nd Alex Clarkin (8.41) qualified to final
MEN’S 1,500m HEAT 3: 1st Louis O’Loughlin (4.04.54)
WOMEN’S 400m HEAT 3: 4th Caoimhe Mackey (1.00.54)
WOMEN’S 60m HURDLES FINAL: 7th Lara O’Byrne (9.00)
MEN’S 60m HURDLES FINAL: DNS Alex Clarkin (injured)
BHAA CENTRAL BANK OF IRELAND CROSS-COUNTRY RACE at Wesley College, Dundrum (26.02.2022)
4 MILE XC: 19th Emmet O’Briain M45 (24.11), 41st & 2nd woman Deirdre McCanna WS (25.56), 66th Tom Fagan M50 (27.29), 77th Ian Redican M45 (28.24)
159 finishers
NATIONAL INDOOR TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Day 2 at NIA (27.02.2022)
MEN’S 60m HEAT 7: 7th Daragh McAuley (7.48)
MEN’S 1,500m FINAL: 2nd Louis O’Loughlin (3.54.74 PB)
WOMEN’S HIGH JUMP: 9th Lara O’Byrne (1.60m)
DULEEK & DISTRICT McNALLY’S 5KM ROAD RACE (27.02.2022)
75th& 7th senior woman Ruth Chambers (23.07)
274 finishers
PARKRUNS 5km (19.02.2022)
CASTLETOWN: 9th & 2nd woman Ruby Kelly W18-19 (22.16)
MALAHIDE: 113th Angela O’Dea W40 (25.43)
MARLAY: 9th Patrick Moriarty M45 (19.32)
POPPINTREE: 79th Eilish Joyce W40 (32.58)
SPORTS CAMPUS IRELAND: 10th Paul Nunan M45 (23.47)
WATERSTOWN: 1st Dylan McKenna M15-17 (20.00), 4th Lucas Collender M11-14 (20.50 PB), 9th Joe Kinsella M15-17 (24.40), 14th Katie Delaney W15-17 (27.49)