National Indoor 1,500m title for Lily Walsh

The final day of this season’s indoors, day 3 of the National Juvenile Indoors, took place last Saturday in TUS Athlone where the focus for Mullingar was the 1,500m on the track and the triple jump in the field events.

After a wet and muddy cross country season that stretched from September to March and included two appearances in an Irish singlet, Lily Walsh was happy to focus on her favourite distance of 1500m, racing in a dry, sheltered TUS Indoor Arena.

Amazingly, there were five other Irish International athletes toeing the start line of the U16 girls 1,500m, ensuring a very competitive race lay ahead. From the gun Lily ran straight to the front of the field and set into a quick tempo.

Her fast pace had the rest of the girls strung out in single file very early into the race. Holding her nerve, Lily held the lead from gun to tape, eventually gapping any competitors who had managed to stay close with a fast kick into the last lap. After a confident, brave run, Lily was delighted to win her third National 1,500m title, adding to victories over the same distance at U14 and U15 outdoors.

Oisin Clarke was a little more familiar with the indoor 200m track having raced the National 800m just two weeks previously, and it was his 800m speed that helped him win his first National individual medal. Following the early leaders closely in the U16 boys 1,500m Oisin adapted a tactical, championship approach. Covering all the moves throughout the race, he waited patiently until one lap to go when he surged to take the lead.

A furious last lap ensued, with Oisin very unlucky to be outsprinted and passed with just 60m to go. A strong, wise effort ensured Oisin secured his first visit to a National podium, with a well-deserved second place finish and a National silver medal.

Daniel Horohoe was in the busiest of all the 1,500m competitions where twenty five entries in the U17 boys 1,500m required two races with the fastest times over the two races to decide the medals. Racing in what unfolded to be the fastest of both races, Daniel set off with the leaders at a quick tempo. The fast pace was a little too much on this occasion but Daniel ran a strong 1,500m to finish tenth in his race.

For Eleanor Kiernen, despite running not far off her time in the Leinsters, she had to settle for a place out of the medals. Conor Walsh’s indoor season was hampered by illness during the early weeks but, with one eye on preparation for the upcoming outdoor season, he committed himself to the U18 boys 1,500m.

Two time trial races were needed to decide the medals and Conor found himself in the faster of the two. The race set off at a very tough pace in the early stages. It wasn't long before gaps started to open, and when the leaders broke clear, Conor was in a fight for the minor placings.

After putting up a good battle he eventually finished ninth, and just outside the top ten after the results of both races were amalgamated. We finished with the U19 boys 1,500m where Matthew Molloy ran an excellent race, finishing strong on the last lap to cross the line in a very creditable seventh place.

Donnacha Doyle has performed well in both the high jump and long jump in recent seasons but was concluding his first season of triple jump in the U15 boys triple jump. Being new to the event didn’t seem to bother him and all the hard work in training over the two months since he won bronze in Leinster definitely paid off as he hopped, skipped and jumped nearly half a metre further to finish just out of the medals in fourth place, a very impressive result in a new event for Donnacha [CW/GD].

National 10k Medals for Mullingar Masters

The Great Ireland Run in the Phoenix Park last Sunday morning incorporated the National 10k and just over 3,200 runners completed the race. It was very windy, and the hills in the Phoenix Park are never easy, but at least the rain held off. The conditions didn’t lessen the enthusiasm of the athletes though and with the race incorporating the National 10k there were podium places to be raced for across all categories. Mullingar Harriers had nine athletes participating.

Eddie Newman running 38:26, came home second in his master category to earn another National medal, a silver. Orlaith Flanagan continues her very steady progress and with a time of 39:50 was in the top 10 finishers in the women race. Joan Flynn ran a time of 41:40 to win the National bronze medal in her master category. Ann Hall finished in 42:02, while Maura Dervin was always in contention and her finishing time of 44:14, placed her third in her master category to win the National bronze medal. Orlaith, Joan and Maura combined to place a very creditable seventh Club. There were also very good running performances from Claire Ross (47:46), Lorraine Claffey (48:11), Eva Ross (51:50) and Lisa McEntee (56:34) [MO’S].

Delight for Andy Boyhan in Milan

Starting from Corso Sempione and finishing in Piazza Del Duomo, the Milan Marathon welcomed over 40,000 participants last Sunday morning. The event is Italy’s fastest marathon and is staged along a course that touches the city’s most iconic landmarks. Run on mainly flat even surfaces through the city streets, it is an open-air celebration, with cheering zones, and the energy of the crowd supporting the runners every step of the way. For Andy Boyhan it proved to be a very special morning, as he dipped below the 3 hour barrier, recording an excellent time of 2 hours 56 minutes 38 seconds [MO’S].

Mullingar to the fore at Cootehill 5k and 10k

East Breffni AC staged their annual 5k and 10k road races in Cootehill, Co. Cavan last Sunday morning. The course consists of a loop circuit starting and finishing in the main street, while bringing athletes on a circuit through the town out to the countryside on rural roads with a few rolling hills, and back to the town centre to finish.

In the 5k there were 116 finishers and Mark Ronan was always at the head of affairs, pulling away in the final 400m to win in 17:50. Not far behind and finishing fourth overall was Gareth Glennon winning the U20 race in 18:10.

In the 10k there were 94 finishers, with Susan Glennon in control of the women race and winning in 39:57. Her brother Andrew Glennon was just ahead of her and came home third in the men race in a time of 38:56 [MO’S].

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