Drogheda athletes find form indoors, and out
THE warm and windless environs of the National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown tempted many Drogheda & District athletes to take part in a series of races held there during the past week.
There’s a bit of a knack in finding the right line going into the tight bends on this state-of-the-art track and a good position coming off the final bend is often crucial in deciding who gets to win.
First up was Hugh Callan who raced well in the 400m at last Sunday week’s AAI Games to record a new PB of 53:74 when finishing fourth.
The following evening it was the turn of the club juniors to take to the boards and young Finn Coade ran well in the 60m dash to finish sixth in 10:15, while sister Lili Mai finished second in her 60m race in 9:14.
Also running was Matthew O’Shea who went close to winning his race, finishing runner-up in 1:38.39.
Then last Tuesday evening the D&D Senior, Masters and Junior athletes were in action at the NIA Live Meeting.
In the 60m Andrew Kelly raced well against some good opposition to finish fifth in 7:35 and later in the evening placed thid in the 200m in 23:25.
Local firefighter Karl Carton scorched up the track to finish third in his 60m event in 8:17 and then went one better, placing second in the 200m in 27:23.
Also running the 60m was Mary Flanagan who was fifth in 12:42, while Frank Cruise ran well in the 200m to finish third in a useful 28:84.
In the Women’s 200m Andrea McCabe went close when finishing runner-up in 32:55, with Jenny Gregory third in 34:56.
The Men’s 400m, run over two laps, saw Cormac Canning cope well with the tight bends to finish second in Heat 2 in a lively 54:38.
Heat 3 of the 400m was a battle for club honours, with Shane Smyth winning in 56:98, Paul Stuart runner-up in 58:75 and club coach Gerry O’Connor third in 61:40.
Mark O’Shea continued his run of good form when finising sixth in the 800m against some good opposition in 2:02:88.
The last event of the evening, the Mile, saw young Tadhg Everitt Thompson dip under the five-minute mark to finish third in 4:59:62.
Meanwhile, over at a windswept
ALSAA, Frank Brady did well to stay on his feet, never mind finish fifth in 7:11 on an icy track where the wind was blowing the athletes sideways at times. Also running was Gerard Fay who finished sixth in 7:48.
Some of the athletes preferred to take to the muddy fields and in many respects this is the truest form of running.
Competing in the Irish Life Health Leinster Schools Cross-Country Championships was Tadhg Donnelly who had a terrific run to finish fourth in the Senior Boys race, leading St joseph’s CBS to bronze medals - with training partner Tom Cummins third on the team. Liam Mulligan ran well to finish 19th in what was a very competitive race.
Abigail Tegart had a super run to finish ninth in the Intermediate Girls race, qualifying for the All-Irelands in a few weeks’ time, while Kate O’Reilly was 42nd - well up the field.
The Inter Girls race saw Lilly Cummins finish 21st, while in the Boys event Oliver Clutterbuck was 47th and Jon Canning 85th.
Further afield, at Saturday’s BHAA ALSAA Cross-Country race, Nuala Reilly raced well to place 17th in the Women’s two-mile event.
The Men’s five-mile race was a very competitive affair, with Stephen Kelly finishing third overall, Paul Smith fourth and David Walsh 13th. Close behind was Colm Reilly in 21st spot, followed by Rodney Thornton in 22nd, Gerry Mullins in 73rd and Conor Cooney in 84th.
Closer to home, at the weekly Oldbridge Parkrun, D&D’s first finisher in sixth place overall was Andrew Logue in 21:04, follow by Daniel Danko who was 19th in 24:24. Brian Guilfoyle was 24th in 25:16, with Declan McMahon one place and three seconds behind and Linda Bowe 66th in 43:13.