Big European Masters medal haul for Sean McMullin

Mullingar Harriers club notes

Even though it’s the European Masters Indoors, there are still some outdoor road events, and even cross country, which would be difficult to hold at another event given the pressures on the International fixtures list.

Having won gold in the 3,000m race walk on the indoor track just three days before (27 March), Sean McMullin was back in action again on Monday evening (30 March) in the tough 5,000m road walk and, despite incurring a 30 second time penalty, he was simply too good for the opposition, and he won the gold medal in his age category by just over 80 seconds, his second gold medal of the Championships.

As if that wasn’t satisfying enough, the race included a team event and Sean dropped down to make up an over 70 team and was the second Irish man to finish for the team who won silver, behind a very strong Czechia team.

No rest for Sean though, and showing his athletic versatility and team spirit, he was out again on Wednesday morning (1 April) for the 6,000m cross country, where he won his age category by just three seconds in a close finish.

Of course, there’s always a team element in cross country, and Sean was a vital score on the Irish over 75 team who finished first team, securing his fifth medal of the Championships – four gold and a silver – a magnificent haul for Sean over six tough days of competition.

Also in Poland for the masters indoors was Aidan O’Donoghue, who competed in the pentathlon on Monday 30 March.

More than 30 men in Aidan’s master age category started the competition at lunchtime with the 60m hurdles, where Aidan was delighted to record a best time for the distance.

He followed with the long jump, shot put and high jump over a busy afternoon, before gathering any energy he had left for the gruelling 1,000m race to finish the competition at 8pm, seven hours after he began.

The standard is extremely high at that level and while Aidan didn’t feature in the medal places, he was still satisfied to have taken part [GD].

Roscommon Harriers 5k

The annual Roscommon Harriers 5k race series got off to a lively start on Good Friday evening. A bright sunny but windy evening greeted the athletes as they assembled at the start just outside the county GAA grounds, fondly nicknamed The Hyde.

Taking in a looped route on the outskirts of the town, a strong headwind for more than 3k made for a challenging race, mixed in with a few steady climbs.

Mark Darby who has just joined the club, revelled in the conditions and was always in the mix with the leaders. Indeed, with Mick Fogarty from Tullamore Harriers, they pulled away from the rest with just over 2k to go.

In the race back into the town centre, Mark had to give way to his more experienced rival but was delighted with a second place finish in a time of 16:55. Maura Dervin was always to the fore in the women race, eventually coming home in 21:40 to comfortably take first place in her master category.

Brigid McCabe was satisfied with a solid run, finishing in 25:25, with husband Nicky the fourth member from the club to compete, running a time of 26:34.

A field of 137 runners took part, and the series continues each Friday evening during the month of April [MO’S].

Streets of Kilkenny 5k

The Streets of Kilkenny 5k is a popular annual race, this year scheduled for Holy Thursday evening. Taking in a two-lap circuit around the medieval city, it is a fast flat course with a carnival atmosphere.

Street closures and a number of supporter areas with live music added to the atmosphere. Among the field of 924 runners was Enda Seery. He was pleased with his finishing time of 17:34, just a few seconds outside his best for the distance [MO’S].

Check the club website at www.mullingarharriers.com or the Facebook page for more.