O’Shea and Walsh mix it with the best

‘WINTER miles make Summer smiles,’ seems to be the motto of most club coaches these days.

It certainly paid off last weekend for two of Drogheda and District’s track men at the national championships held in Santry Stadium.

Mark O’Shea and David Walsh were mixing it with the best athletes in the country at the National Seniors. O’Shea broke two minutes for the first time this year with 1.59.21 in a race in which he gave away 21 years to the next oldest athlete in the field.

Walsh who is also rounding into shape with his fastest 1500m in some time, ran a fine 4.16.78 and looks good for the upcoming masters season.

Elsewhere, there was a big breakthrough for Kieran McGrath in Tallaght last Wednesday evening, where he took another three seconds off his 800m PB running 2.00.56.

McGrath, who’s only been running a couple of years is closing in on the much coveted sub two-minute mark for this event.

There were a trio of PBs in the 200m for Andrew Kelly (24:65), Hugh Callan (25:43) and Roisin Coade (29:95).

Mary Leech ran sub 11-minutes again for 3000m with a 10:51 performance and Orla O’Connor continued her march to fitness with a 2:23 in the 800m.

Prolific racer Conor Cooney decided to celebrate his birthday in style by running the Saint Coca’s Kilcock 5k.

Run over a fast course, this race always attracts a large number of good class athletes.

Cooney was more than a match for all but one of them as he ran well to finish second in his category.

Cooney’s time of 20:28 was a nice run but he’ll go better as the summer progresses.

Going one place better was the ever present Nuala Reilly who ran hard from gun to tape to win her category in fine style.

Jackser Reilly, who’s finding some form at last, had a solid run and finished in 20:34.

Club coach Eoin McGinn must be taking plenty of his own advice these days!

At last Saturday’s Parkrun in Oldbridge, McGinn raced round the tough 5k course in just 19:28, a new pb for this very popular club runner.

Also running new best times were Jane Callan 30:38, Pamela Wall 30:46, Janella Clarke and Natalie Doyle Bradley.

This coming Thursday, the 30th of June sees Drogheda and District A.C. hosting the next of their Summer graded track events at the Lourdes Stadium. Events are the 200m, 800m, 3000 and Shot Putt. Start time of the first event is 7pm.