International selection for Antonio and Lily
Mullingar athletes picked up some silverware and Irish caps at the Mallusk Playing Fields in Belfast last Saturday where they competed at the All-Ireland Schools Cross Country Finals.
The Intermediate boys team from Coláiste Mhuire finished a fantastic second place, and Antonio Bertotolo (and we think Lily Walsh) will be selected to compete on the Irish team at the upcoming SIAB Schools International Cross Country in Wales. For Antonio, this will mark his International debut, which is a well-deserved reward for such a talented athlete.
The day started with Siomha Leonard capping off a fine season representing Loreto College in the Minor girls 1,900m race. The course was flat and relatively firm and in a fast-paced race Siomha finished mid-pack in a big field of just over one hundred competitors. In the Minor boys 2,500m, Gareth Glennon (St. Finian’s College) put in a great effort to finish well up, just outside the top twenty, in a big field of nearly 120 boys. He’ll be able to use this cross country endurance strength to his advantage as he now turns his attention to the National Juvenile Indoors where he’ll be chasing National honours in the race walk.
In the Junior boys 3,500m race, Antonio Bertolo, representing Coláiste Mhuire, went straight to the front group with a strong start and stayed in the battle for honours, racing his way home in a fantastic fifth place. Aaron Kenny (Mercy Kilbeggan) in his first ever cross country season, has impressed with every race, and finishing just outside the top twenty places and shows he has huge potential for even bigger results in future competitions. There was double delight for Antonio though, as the top six individuals were awarded medals and the top ten were selected to represent Ireland at the SIAB Schools Cross Country in Wales, his first International vest.
Lily Walsh (Loreto College) racing in her first year of two in the Intermediate category was up against some very strong, older girls in the Intermediate girls 3,500m. Being the victim to a virus doing the rounds in school during the week didn’t help her cause and unfortunately she wasn’t in peak condition facing into the race. Regardless, she burned every ounce of energy available as she chased a top ten position over the race. After a huge sprint finish that brought her up to ninth place, the illness took its toll and, completely out of energy, she was passed just before the finish line, crossing in eleventh. The gap in age of athletes is quite big and Lily was informed that one of the girls ahead of her is ineligible to compete at SIAB, as she is too old. Therefore, Lily should be called in as the tenth member on the Irish team.
The Coláiste Mhuire Intermediate boys team were on a roll this season and faced into the Intermediate boys 5,000m event with great confidence. Led home by Cillian Galvin in nineteenth, Oisin Clarke just seconds behind, and with Daniel Horohoe, Morgan Isdell and Cormac McGrath packing really well for the vital team scores, the boys finished second team. A second place finish at an All-Ireland Championship is no surprise considering these boys have won Leinster and National medals with Mullingar Harriers already this season.
The day finished with the Senior boys 6,500m where Jamie Wallace (Coláiste Mhuire) lined up in his final schools cross country race. In typical fashion, Jamie took the race by the scruff of the neck and was leading for the first 2k but unfortunately a recent back injury forced Jamie to surrender the lead but through guts and determination he fought to the finish line coming home in a very creditable eighth place.
Well done to all our athletes who competed for their schools and colleges over the three rounds of racing, and congratulations to all those who raced so well at the All-Ireland finals [CW/TW/GD].
Aisling and Matthew shine in Slovakian sun
A small group of Irish racewalkers made the long journey to the spa town of Dudince, Slovakia for the Dudinska 50, a World Athletics Racewalking Gold Tour event, held there last Saturday. While the journey was long and difficult, it felt good to get away from the extended periods of rain in Ireland into clear and bright blue skies.
It was a jam packed programme that included athletes young and old, male and female racing from 10k to the full marathon distance, all on a tricky 1k circuit that included multiple sharp bends and awkward loop turns. Following her recent National Championship successes, Aisling Lane arrived at the start line of the women 10k racewalk with an increased sense of confidence as she faced opposition from some of the best in Europe and from further afield. Starting at 9.15am Aisling started her race with control, walking close to the 5 minutes per kilometre pace needed to finish under 50 minutes, which was her goal for the 10k. Reaching the 5k mark in 24:45 the lead group gradually began to split up as the heat of competition and the morning sun began to take its toll. Fighting hard while still maintaining her rhythm and excellent technique, Aisling gradually took control of second place in the u/23 category but had to battle hard to hold this place all the way to the finish line, which she reached in 49:41, which is a new personal best by nearly a minute, and more importantly breaking the 50 minute barrier for the first time, along with a podium finish.
Four hours later her Mullingar Harriers clubmate Matthew Glennon toed the line for the International half marathon racewalk. While temperatures did not reach the highs of summer heat it was still a shock to the system to arrive into ever increasing temperatures and bright sunshine but Matthew was delighted to have the excellent support of his diligent brother John who manned the refreshment table as he supplied Matthew with whatever he needed to keep going for the full duration of the race. Aware of how others had suffered for surging unnecessarily, Matthew started off conservatively walking close to 4:30 minutes per kilometre pace for some of the early laps. This too helped him keep his technique safe, as he was being carefully watched by the panel of international judges. Once he had settled into a technically safe rhythm Matthew then put in a very strong 10k, which took him right through the field and into the top 10. Then it was a battle over the tough final few laps until Matthew went through the finish line in 1:30:58 and a magnificent eighth place finish [ML].
Bohermeen Half Marathon
Bohermeen AC had a turnout of over 1,600 athletes competing in their annual Bohermeen Half Marathon last Sunday morning. A bright and sunny morning greeted the runners at the Meath club, but with a stiff breeze to contend with throughout the route, which was along rural roads near the club’s excellent facilities. A mixture of some short rolling hills along with flat stretches tested everyone, and the final kilometre was flat and led to the entry to the club grounds with a final 200m run-in on the track to the finish line.
Mullingar Harriers had nine athletes competing. First home was Alan Crowley running 1:16:44, a new two minute best for the distance, followed by Paul O’Reilly with 1:17:22. Kedagh Geoghegan dipped under the 1:20 barrier with a finishing time of 1:19:49. Enda Seery was next home in 1:24:10, a nearly two minute best for the distance, with Joan Flynn finishing in 1:28:43, just missing a podium place in her master category. Mick Fagan was pleased with his run as he clocked 1:29:07, followed by Barry White in 1:32:37. Fiona Healy returned a time of 1:38:29 and Ger Flynn came home in 1:56:25 [MO’S].
Tullamore Harriers 5k
The ever-popular Offaly 5k road series returned last Sunday morning, with the first race in the 2026 calendar staged by Tullamore Harriers AC, the Tullamore 5k. Race organisation was top class with road closures, stewarding and refreshments post-race adding to the enjoyment for all participants. A total of 506 finishers enjoyed a bright sunny morning, with a moderate breeze and a few sharp hills on an excellently marked course that brought them out from the town and back to finish at the Tullamore Harriers stadium for a 400m dash to the finish line.
Mullingar Harriers had seven athletes taking part. Daniel Glennon had a super run, just pipped in his category for first place by a mere 3 seconds, finishing in a time of 15:59.
Mark Ronan had a very steady run coming home in 17:02, followed by Andrew Glennon with a time of 18:01, using the race to run-off any stiffness from winning the Irish Universities Indoor race walk title only the day before, and Kieran Nolan making up the men’s team of four with a run of 18:47.
Agonisingly, the team narrowly missed out on a podium place as they finished on 127 points behind the third placed club, St. Michael’s AC, with 125 points. Orlaith Flanagan had another fine run finishing in a time of 18:48.
Lorraine Claffey made her return to competitive action following a number of years working abroad and was pleased with her time of 22:36. Michael O’Sullivan completed the distance in 25:25 [MO’S].