Record-breaking end to Drogheda series
THE sixth and final round of Drogheda & District AC’s Summer Graded Series ended on a high note when multiple World Masters champion Joe Gough from West Waterford AC set a new Irish record (subject to ratification) for his category in the 1500m.
On an evening that was perfect for track running, Gough got stuck in right from the gun and kept in contact with some of his much younger rivals as the pace settled down after a fast opening lap.
With just over a lap to go, Gough dug in and squeezed every ounce of energy out of his body as he crossed the line in an incredible 4:55.1, some 13 seconds faster than the existing Irish record.
Having such a talented athlete as Gough take part in the D&D Graded Series says much about how athletics is once again flourishing in Drogheda.
D&D’s own members performed well in each of the three 1500m races, with Danny Skeffington running a lively 4:45 when finishing third in his event, Robbie Maher close behind in 4:50 and Pat O’Grady running 4:51.
In the 1500m C race Austin Collins finished fourth in 6:39, with Theresa Eccles fifth in 6:40 and Edel Smith seventh in 6:50.
Lee McGuinness lit up the track when running a great bend in his 200m race to win in a fast 22.40, with training partner Andrew Kelly runner-up in 22.8.
Paul Stewart continues to impress and he won his 200m event in 26.1, with Frank Cruise third in 28.0.
In the 3,000m B race Yasmin Canning ran an impressive 11:22.2 in what was pretty much a solo run, with Ciara O’Reilly next in a solid 11:52.7, followed by Niall Magill who ran 12:27.9.
D&D’s juvenile athletes ran well, with Liam Mulligan breaking five minutes for the first time in the 1500m with his run of 4:59.8, while Abi Tegart ran 5:36.4 and Kate O’Reilly was close behind in 5:40.8.
In the 200m, Muirne O’Connor ran 31.9 and Sam O’Reilly 33.5, while young Liam McGreehan showed some of his emerging talent when running 11:52.5 in his 3,000m race.
Also in action on the track over the weekend at the National Juvenile Championships in Tullamore was Tadhg Donnelly who was running in the Boys U-17 3,000m.
In what turned out to be a tactical encounter, Donnelly finished sixth in 9:29, almost half a minute slower than his personal best for this distance, but championship races can go that way and it’s all about the learning at this stage.
Some of D&D’s best track runners were in action in Saturday’s GV Ryan/IMC Meeting, held in Irishtown Stadium.
Orla O’Connor had a great run to record a season’s best time of 2:15.34 when finishing sixth in her 800m A race.
Kieran McGrath once again dipped under the two-minute mark when running 1:59.50 to finish fourth in his 800m B race, while Mark O’Shea was second in his 800m C race in 2:00.51.
In the Women’s 1500m, Mary Leech ran well to record 4:51.01 against some very good opposition, while Cormac Canning was 10th in his 1500m in a useful 4:21.77.
Sunday’s Dunleer 4-Mile Road Race tempted some D&D members and both the Men’s and Women’s teams were third in the team categories.
The men were led home by Shane Larkin who was sixth overall in 22:32, followed by David Campbell (27th in 24:53), Martin Russell (28th in 25:05) and Joey Ryan (74th in 29:29).
D&D’s women’s team consisted of Laura Roche, Mary McDonnell, Jane Glynn and Deirdre McFerran and category prize-winners were Shane Larkin (2nd O-40), Mary McDonnell (1st O-60) and Gerry Carroll (2nd O-70).
Over in Phoenix Park at the Irish Runner 10-Mile Road Race, Brian Martin delivered the goods to finish 13th overall in 57:59 on a tough enough course on one of the warmest days of the year.
Colm Reilly was D&D’s next finisher in 57th spot in 1:05:28, while Stephen Floyd was 119th in 1:10:44.
The club’s first woman across the line - in 391st - was Linda Cruise who ran 1:24:29, with Elva Maree next in 1:27:55.
Closer to home at the Oldbridge Parkrun, Conor Cooney was D&D’s first finisher in 20th place overall in 23:14 - just holding off Nuala Reilly who was 21st in 23:23. David Thornton was 32nd in 24:55, followed by Sharon Hanna in 48th spot in 27:41. Rose Dalton ran a new PB time of 31:35 to finish 67th overall.
Marathon man Gerard Fay dropped down in distance when running 24:52 for last week’s Oldcastle 5K and followed that up with the Clonliffe Harriers five-mile race in the grounds of Malahide Castle where he ran 41:30.