ST. JOSEPH’S A.C.
The high point of the indoor athletic season, the Irish Life Health national Senior indoor championships, took place recently in the National Sports Centre, Abbotstown, Dublin.
One of the competition highlights was St. Joseph’s high-flying Sophie Becker racing to a superb win in the 400m final in a blistering time of 53.75.
Well done as well to Shane Power who finished seventh in a very competitive Senior pole vault competition. He failed at 4.45m and the silver medalists failed at 4.75m, meaning that just 30cm was the difference between second to seventh position.
Well done to both Sophie and Shane for continuing to put St. Joseph’s firmly on the national track and field stage.
Another athlete who put the club firmly on the national stage in the past two weeks was Maggie Helen O’Connor who decided to take on the hugely challenging 20km distance in the national Senior race walking championships.
She then proceeded to have the race of her life, eventually winning the silver medal in a time of 1.57.20.
Not to be outdone, the club’s Masters athletes, including Maggie Helen, headed to Athlone for the Irish Life Health national indoor championships.
The crew managed to bring home gold, silver and bronze medals along with some national records.
Bríd Lawlor won the Over-60 3km race walking event and also getting a new national record in the process, completing the distance in a superb time of 19:59.
Maggie Helen O’Connor and Tracey Malone were also first in the Over-45 and Over-40 categories.
In the throwing events, Verena Fenlon was first in the Over-45 weight for distance and second in the shot putt, with Mary Breen first in the Over-55 weight for distance and third in the shot putt.
From indoor track and field to hill running, and well done to David Lanigan who took eleventh place overall in a large field, and was first Over-45 with a time of 24:59, in the 6km I.M.R.A. race on his home course, Tory Hill.
A night to remember was the club’s annual dinner dance held recently. A number of club members were presented with awards for both their athletic achievements and for Trojan work in ensuring that the club continues to thrive.
The success of Jordan Knight, Erin Foley, Sophie Becker and Shane Power at national level throughout 2019 ensured that they won the male Juvenile, female Juvenile, female Senior and male Senior awards respectively.
Verena Lee won the Masters track and field award, with Maria Griffin winning the Masters cross-country and road award for a series of great results throughout 2019.
The club Juvenile of the year, denoting an athlete whose commitment and attitude presents a positive role model to all young athletes, was won to great applause by Aoife Lanigan.
The fastest marathon award for male and female club members was won by Tom McDonald and Sally Forristal respectively.
The clubperson of the year was won by Peter Barry, reflecting his Trojan efforts in both competing in all county and Leinster cross-country championships, but also his leadership in ensuring that every possible athlete is on the start line of every cross-country race, culminating in the club winning the Novice team championship for the first time in many years.
The hall of fame award went to Sinéad Cummins, a superstar of road and cross-country running for many years for St. Joseph’s.