With the World Student Games, the World Youth Championships, the European Youth Olympic Festival and the European U23 Championships all looming, athletics has moved into top gear over the past week.
Thanks to cheap flights, Irish athletes take regular trips abroad in search of fast times and qualifying marks. At the top end, the like of 400m man Brian Gregan will live out of a suitcase until the end of August.
Key events last weekend were the British Milers Club races in Watford and the junior international in Mannheim, a regular annual stop-over for young Irish athletes.
In Watford, UCD’s Ciara Everard proved that she was back to full fitness after a recent injury scare when she ran 2:04.86 to finish second in the women’s A race. Earlier this year, Everard made a huge breakthrough when she ran 2:02.54 indoors.
Michael Mulhare of Portlaoise moved closer to the 14 minute mark when he finished second in the A 5000m in 14:03.71. In seventh place was Clonliffe marathon man Mark Kenneally in 14:14.94, with John Travers of Donore 12th in 14:34.21.
Steeplechaser Tomas Cotter of Dunleer won the 1500m D race in a personal best 3: 47.08 – a time he is sure to improve on in the coming weeks.
In Mannheim, Sarah Lavin of Emerald won the 100m hurdles in 13.50 and Letterkenny’s Ruairi Finnegan the 800m in 1:50.97. In the 1500m, Clonmel’s Sean Tobin was third in 3:48.17, while in the women’s 800m, Siofra Cleirigh Buttner of DSD ran 2:05.40 to finish sixth. Sligo sprinter Zak Irwin ran 10.90 for 100m and 21.79 for 200m as final preparation for the World Youth Championships.
Other good results over the weekend included an 800m 2:02.04 for Rose Anne Galligan in Rheims, France; 56.74 in the 400m hurdles for Ferrybank’s Jessie Barr in Chambery, France; 4.21 for Raheny pole vaulter Zoe Brown at the Welsh Championships; 11.99 for Louise Kiernan in the 100m at Nivelles and 46.83 in the 400m for Brian Murphy in Notwil.
Finally, at the European Multievents Cup in Madeira, Kelly Proper of Ferrybank was just 13 points off her newly-minted Irish heptathlon record with a score of 5429; Bandon’s Roisin Howard came close to 4000m points with 3973.
* Sarah Lavin, who competes in the European Junior Championships from July 18, returned from Germany in time for the Woodie’s DIY National Junior and U23 Championships in Tullamore, where she won the 100m hurdles in 13.69. She was also in action at last night’s Cork City Sports. Sprinters Marcus Lawler of St Laurence O’Toole and Phil Healy of Bandon both recorded 100m/200m doubles, though times were slow in the wet blustery conditions. Conor McCullough of Crusaders won the U23 hammer with a throw of 67.02m – comfortably over the 66m he needed for the European U23 Championships. Injury-hit Thomas Barr of Ferrybank made a welcome return to racing to win the U23 400m hurdles in 51.94.
* A double for Sam Healy of Carrigaline CS was just one of the highlights at the Aviva Schools Tailteann Games in Tullamore. Healy jumped a personal best 6.97m in the fifth round of the long jump and followed up with 7.06m in the final round. He also won the 100m hurdles in a personal best 13.05 secs. Ronan Jenkinson of Campbell College) set a new boys’ javelin record of 57.14m -a personal best by five metres. Closest race of the day was the girls’ 800m where Alanna Lally (Pres Athenry just made it ahead of Louise Shanahan from Scoil Mhuire Cork and Carla Sweeney from St. MacDara’s.
* A great day out in Co Meath is promised to everyone who enters the Dunleer 4 mile, taking place on Sunday Jul 14 (3pm) – an ideal way to celebrate the French national holiday! Up front, a €100 course record bonus is up for grabs, as well as generous prizes in all categories. Online entry for €15 is currently open at precisiontiming.net.
* Maria McCambridge of DSD and the Marathon Mission was a comfortable winner of the women’s prize at the Irish Runner 5-Mile in Dublin’s Phoenix Park. McCambridge’s time of 26 mins 45 secs put her well clear of Siobhan O’Doherty of Borrisokane and Raheny’s Fiona Roche – the pair who had finished first and second ahead of her at the women’s mini marathon.
Leading home close to 3,000 finishers in 24 mins 58 secs was Dunshaughlin’s Robbie Matthews. Colm Rooney of Clonliffe was second with Mark Hoey from Star of the Sea third.
* Clonliffe’s Gary O’Hanlon won the Viking Marathon in Waterford – his sixth marathon this year. Pauline Curley from Tullamore was fourth overall and first woman on a course that was 400m long due to last-minute road works. Between the marathon, half marathon and relay, close to 1,900 lined out.
* At the St Coca’s 5km in Kilcock on Friday evening, Mark Christie of Mullingar was a clear winner in 14 mins 13 secs, with Orla Drumm of Crusaders was first woman in 16 mins 49 secs. That same night at the Ards Half Marathon, Paul Pollock of Annadale came home first in 67 mins 46 mins, beating Kenyan visitor Freddy Keron Sittok by a minute.
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