Heaslip sets PB at Finland meeting
Tessa Dennison
THE last weekend saw a mixed bag of athletics action, at home and abroad, as only the mid-outdoor season can bring. Kerry had three athletes selected for the European Team Championships League 1 in Vaasa, Finland.
Shona Heaslip (An Riocht) finished fourth in the women’s 3,000m, clocking a new PB of 9:15:32 in the process. Club mate Denis Finnegan took part in the men’s triple jump, and Clare Fitzgerald (Tralee Harriers) competed in the women’s discus.
Last Saturday saw the highly contested Tailteann Games take place in Santry. Contributing to Munster winning the overall boys and girls titles were Shona O’Brien (Gneeveguilla and Presentation Milltown) who took silver in the 1,500m, and Ciara Kennelly (Killarney Valley and St. Brigids Killarney), whose leap of 1.68m earned her the bronze medal in the high jump and a place on the Irish team for the Celtic Games later in July.
Aaron Malik (St. Brendan’s and Mercy Mounthawk) placed 5th in the discus and there was also a 5th place finish for Katelyn Reid (An Riocht and PS Corca Dhuibhne) in the Javelin.
Also competing were Cathal Fitzgibbon (Tralee Harriers and Mercy Mounthawk) in the 1,500m, schoolmate Oisín Spillane in the steeplechase and Leanne Cronin (Farranfore Maine Valley and Presentation Milltown) in the hammer.
The Irish Health Juvenile Games took place last Saturday and there were bronze medals for the combined team of Ajay Barrett and Odhran Buckley (Lios Tuathail) in the U-9 long jump, and both boys were part of the club’s U-9 relay team, along with Steve Reidy and Joseph McElligott, who won silver medals.
In the U-11 girls team event for the turbo javelin the pairing of Stephanie Reid and Robyn Cahill took fourth place.
Aonghus Ó Maicín @AonghusOMaicin
I had to laugh at Jim Gavin’s use of the term “media campaign” when addressing Connolly’s ban. #ShortMemories #ThingsLeeDid
Nathan Murphy @nathanmurf
Jim Gavin attacks Pat Spillane’s good name for attacking Diarmuid Connelly’s good name. WHERE WILL IT END.
Malachy Clerkin @MalachyClerkin
Of all Jim Gavin’s achievements,
Michael McCarthy @McCarthyMick
Edel Hughes @Edel15
ConorMcKeon @ConorMcKn
Round one of the National League was held last Sunday which saw the Kerry Women’s team and An Riocht Men’s team travel to Athlone for the Division 1 competition.
The Kerry Athletics Women’s team finished the day in third place on 99 points, only 6 points behind leaders Laois County on 105 points. Gaining maximum 9 points for the team were Elinor Dennison (Kenmare) in the long jump, Rachel Bowler (Tralee Harriers) in the triple jump and Maria McCarthy (Farranfore Maine Valley in the 3,000m).
Also finishing in the top four and gaining valuable team points were Christine McCarthy (Kenmare) in the high jump, Elinor Dennison in the 100m, Rachel Bowler in the 200m, Elaina Norris (Farranfore Maine Valley) in the 110m hurdles, Lauren O’Grady (St Brendan’s) in the discus and javelin, Suzanne Neilan (An Riocht) in the 1500m, Aoife Mahony (Lios Tuathail) in the 400m and 800m, Mairead O’Neill (Gneeveguilla) in the hammer, Leanne
making people feel sorry for Pat Spillane has to be right up there.
Who wants to hear from Jim Gavin anyway? Has never said one thing of interest.
Fair play to Jim Gavin! The treatment of @dermoc123 by the panel was a disgrace, they are inconsistent and unjust! Up the Dubs
Cronin (Farranfore Maine Valley) in the shot and Solange Diego (Tralee Harriers) in the 4 x 100m relay.
The An Riocht Men’s team, also had a good day, finishing in fourth place with 91 points and all to play for in round two on July 30.
Adam King was in great form, gaining automatic qualification for the European under-23s in Poland with an A standard throw of 64.30m in the hammer. Also gaining the maximum 9 points was PJ Galvin in the 400m hurdles. Galvin also competed in the pole vault and high jump.
Making up the team were Ger Cremin 110m hurdles, Sean O’Sullivan 1,500m and 5,000m, Corey Kissane 200m triple jump and long jump, William O’Connor 400m, Conor O’Mahoney 800m, Anthony Greaney 100m and weight for distance, Rossa Foley shot and javelin.
On the other side of the pond, competing in the British Masters, Jim O’Shea (Farranfore Maine Valley) won gold in the long jump and high jump.
swirling a brandy and laughing maniacally to himself. #dublingaa #dermo
Kevin Taylor @KevTaylorSport
Jim Gavin owes nothing to the media. There’s no responsibility on him to provide us with headlines. And he’s dead right on Spillane.
Gavin Barton @gavinbarton8
Jim Gavin would want to get over himself. Media have highlighted incidents for years and will continue to for years to come. #poordermo