Mullingar Harriers' success at home and away

Ciara Fogarty proved last Sunday (14th Feb) what a class act she is in shot putt when she took gold in the under 17 event at the Scottish Underage Indoors in Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.Despite giving away a year under UK age rules, and competing with a heavier shot than she is used to, Ciara took the challenge in her stride and was clearly buoyed up with confidence from the new strength and conditioning coaching she is receiving from Wayne Healy and it looks certain that she will have a great season ahead of her.Congratulations to Ciara on her first taste of International success.Also last Sunday, but nearer to home, the Club travelled in force both in terms of athletes and supporters to Kilmacow, Co. Kilkenny for the Leinster Junior and Senior cross country and the Juvenile cross country relays where the Club won five gold, one silver and two bronze in the relays and the junior men won gold for first County showing that when it comes to cross country in particular, Mullingar Harriers is the premier club in Ireland.A great team effort by Ellen Cronin, Niamh Quinn, Adeola Ojomo-Amaka and Meabh McNulty saw the girls just shaded for gold in the 4x250m for girls under 12 but they were still delighted with their silver medals.Mullingar Harriers had more than one team and also competing were Laura Whitelaw, Lucy McCartan, Hilary Harris, Emma Glynn, Alannah Bate and Maolíosa Ní Léannacháin and though each ran well, they were unlucky to finish out of the medals but not for lack of effort and team spirit.First win of the day came courtesy of Kevin Giles, Cormac Dalton, Conor McHugh and Eoghan Gallagher as they dominated from the start and led from gun to tape in the 4x250m for boys under 12.Following them home were Craig Clinton, Rian Kelleher and young John Whitelaw and Eoin Quinn in 4th place, just outside the medals, but they ran extremely well for a young team.Moving on to the 4x500m for girls u/14 Victoria Harris, Linda Conroy, Aisling Bracken and Caoimhe Shaw were in fine form to win gold, and full credit to Caoimhe Shaw who really had to dig deep to hold off a late challenge to cross the line first.There was more than winning to cheer about though as Lorna Moody, Faye Walsh, Aisling Moody and Niamh Quinn worked extremely hard to stay in contention and were rewarded with bronze medals.In the 4x500m for boys u/14, Liam O'Reilly, Oisin Quinn, Jack Reid and Glen Gaffney didn't put a foot wrong and absolutely ran away with the race to win gold, but top marks to Philip Doherty, Mervyn Harris, James O'Leannachain and Eoghan Sheridan for competing hard all the way to finish and even though they won no medals, can be very proud of their efforts.With a squad like Donna Kiernan, Lorraine Daly, Ciara Hewson, Elizabeth Carr and Anna Ryan to choose from, it's no wonder that Mullingar took gold in style with a large winning margin in the 4x500m for girls under 16.The club had two teams in the final relay of the day, the 4x500m for boys under 16 and after a storming opening leg by Aaron Glynn, it was up to Stephen Nea, Shane Fitzsimons and Ryan Blundell to hold the lead, which they duly did and Ryan crossed the line with a big smile on his face to win the Club's fifth relay gold of the day, followed home by the team of Ian McCormack, Patrick Fagan, Glen Gaffney and Jack Reid in third place to finish a brilliant series of relay races for Mullingar.Rounding off the day Harriers had a full team in the junior men 6,000m and it was good to see Jake Byrne showing that he is getting back to full fitness with a good solid performance to take 2nd place, and with terrific support from Vincent Connolly finishing very strongly (9th), followed by Adam Daly, Stephen Nea, Shane Kelleher and Ian McCormack the team finished 4th, just out of the Club medals but they were delighted to finish 1st County and win Leinster gold medals. Unfortunately, Robert Yorke was forced to drop out before the final lap with a painful stitch but stayed near the course to cheer his team-mates on to the end.Well done to St. Senan's AC in Kilmacow for organising last Sunday's fixture. Kilmacow was the perfect venue with excellent underfoot conditions for the athletes and favourable weather and a good course layout to suit the many parents and others who travelled in good number to give encouragement and support and were well rewarded with excellent performances from all the Club's athletes that were in action.AAI Masters & Intermediate Cross CountryThis coming Sunday (21st Feb), the Club will be very well represented with full men and women teams at the AAI National Masters and Intermediate cross country finals in Lough Key Forest Park, Co. Roscommon.Also in action will be the boys under 13 team that looked certain to have won Club gold in Coleraine last December but as the race was declared null and void they'll re-run it this Sunday and they'll get another chance to shine on the All-Ireland stage. We wish them and our master and intermediate athletes the very best of luck.Finally, the Executive and members of the Club wish to extend sincere sympathy to John O'Reilly on the recent death of his grandmother, Frances Woods. May she rest in peace.Fixtures21st Master & Intermediate Cross Country, Lough Key Forest Park, Co. Roscommon24th Leinster Schools Cross Country, DCU27th/28th Leinster Juvenile T&F Indoors - days 2 & 3, Nenagh28th Rás na hÉireann International Cross Country, Oldbridge Estate, DroghedaTraining continues each Tuesday and Thursday from the Clubhouse in Grange at 7pm and at Belvedere on Sunday mornings at 11am when not at competition. Check the Club's website at www.mullingarharriers.com for results, news and details of all upcoming fixtures.