Knight seizes the day with Leinster M65 title
MICHAEL KNIGHT epitomises that age is no barrier to performance and athletic success.
He is one of two athletes at opposite ends of the age spectrum whose achievements have inspired in 2019 and who are receiving a special recognition award.
He began 2019 as an M60 athlete (aged 60–64).
In March he competed in the Bohermeen half marathon in Co. Meath.
He placed 315th of the 1236 finishers, second in the M60 category in which there were 16 finishers.
This was really a warm-up race for his next challenge, the Boston Marathon, the world’s oldest annual marathon and one of the world’s best-known road racing events. He placed 98th of 1086 competitors in the M60 category in a net time of 3 hr 33 min 52 sec.
On May 9 he advanced to the M65 (age 65–69) masters age category. His first event as an M65 athlete was the Terenure 5 mile road race. He clocked 33:22 to place second in his age category. His next road race was the Clonee 1O km in Co. Meath, hosted by Dunboyne AC. He placed 86th of 398 male finishers and first M65 athlete in a time of 43:05.
His first national championship of 2019 was the 10-mile championship in Phoenix Park, Dublin, on 13 July. He placed 218th of 711 male finishers in a time of 71 min 42 sec. He was awarded with the national gold medal in the M65 category.
Two weeks later he competed in the 2019 Dublin Race Series, at the South Dublin 10km held in Grange Castle Business Park, Clondalkin. He finished in 265th place of the 1050 male finishers and first M65 athlete in a time of 42:40, a season’s best.
Three weeks later, the national half marathon championship was held in conjunction with the Rock & Roll Half Marathon in Dublin. He placed 168th of the 356 male competitors in a time of 1 hr 36 min 30 sec.
He gained his second national gold medal as the M65 half-marathon road champion.
Michael’s main target for the year was the National Marathon held in conjunction with the Dublin City Marathon on October 27. He finished in an outstanding time of 3 hr 20 min 54 sec to take the M65 national marathon bronze medal.
The National Marathon is also used as the Leinster Marathon.
When the results were re-analysed by province Michael was crowned the 2019 Athletics Leinster M65 champion and gold medallist.