On Your Marks – from Herald Wed Aug 10

For the athletics community, the National Track and Field Championships are about far more than competition. Athletes long retired make their annual visit to Santry,renewing friendships and assessing the form of the sport’s rising stars,

They would have seen plenty to please them last weekend. 

On the track, a thrilling men’s 400m hurdles saw 19-year-old Thomas Barr of Ferrybank setting a new Irish junior record of 50.06, with Jason Harvey just behind him on 50.65.  

A closely-fought triple jump was won by Eoin Kelly of St Abban’s with a best of 14.58, while pole vault champion Dave Donegan only came into the competition at 4.70, and then failed at 4.80. Ruairi O Briain made 4.70 on his third attempt for second.

Taking a first national senior title for Dunleer was Thomas Cotter in the steeplechase. In 2008, Cotter was a bright star of the sport setting a Leinster schools record. He proved that he was back with a bang at Santry. With nothing to keep him in Ireland, he’s returning to his US base in Wichita.

Throws fans enjoyed an encouraging weekend. Conor McCullough, son of three-times Irish champion, Conor, threw 72.67 to win the hammer – close to his father’s 1988 championships best of 74.16.

Tomas Rautkas of Clonliffe also caught the eye, winning the discus with 52.06 and also taking the 56lb for distance.

One to watch is 19-year-old Claire Fitzgerald from Tralee. Her winning throw of 50.07 in the discus was the best seen in this country for almost 20 years.  Fitzgerald also won the shot and was second in the javelin.

Taking the women’s hammer 57.62 was Ferrybank’s Cara Kennedy, only slightly short of the national junior record she set last month. In the women’s javelin, Anita Fitzgibbon, still recovering from a shoulder injury, threw a personal best of 47.09 and with luck, could soon join the 50m club.

On a weekend when young talent shone through, old masters still made their mark. Paul Hession ran his fastest race of the year when winning the 200m, while hurdler Derval O’Rourke and race walker Rob Heffernan were winning a ninth national title apiece.

Best of all, at the age of 31, Raheny’s Siobhan Eviston won the 800m in a huge personal best when Ciara Mageean spectacularly blew up. She must be still pinching herself!

* Dubliner Tony Mangan, now ten months and 10,000 kilometres into his “World Jog”, has received a hero’s welcome in Mexico. Not only is he getting a police escort in some towns, but local tourist offices are using his visit to promote their areas. For updates, see www.theworldjog.com.

* Mary Ann Healy from Kildare proved the star at Kilomarathon-Ireland in Moone, Co Kildare when she finished in a new women’s course record of 1 hour 55 minutes 4 seconds. Noel Kelly, last year’s winner, was again the overall winner in 1 hour  32 minutes 19 seconds,  with Michael Boyle second and Lar Doyle third.

* Andrew Ledwith of Fr Murphy’s continued his winning streak on the roads when he came home first in 15 minutes 3 seconds at the Carlingford 5km. Dromore’s Julie Turley was first women in an impressive 16 minutes 44 seconds. 

 * Bilboa’s Rosemary Ryan chalked up her sixth win at the Corrib Oil Streets of Galway 8km finishing 19th of the 1,961 finishers. Siobhan O’Doherty and Aoife Talty were second and third women. Winning the men’s title for a third time was the evergreen Gerry Ryan of Craughwell, who sprinted home ahead of Raheny’s Vinnie Mulvey and Neville Davey. Raheny took both men and women’s team titles.

* Veterans dominated the Tulfarris “Tough” 10-Mile, with Tinryland’s Eddie Walsh first home ahead of mountain runner Gerry Lalor and Lucy Darcy of Sportsworld first woman and a remarkable third overall.

* Castletown House will provide a stunning backdrop for Sunday’s inaugural Celbridge Runworx 5km (11.0). Cash prizes of €250 go to the first man and woman home, with Sports Injury Management offering a €100 bonus for a sub-14 minutes 30 seconds winning time. All standards welcome; pre-entry €15 or €20 on day. See www.celbridgeac.com.