The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Athletes prove age is no barrier at National Masters finals
THE GloHealth National Masters Track and field championships took place last Sunday in Tullamore, Co. Offaly and Kerry athletes again proved that age is now and always will be just a number. These athletes not alone battled their counterparts but also the weather and did not let either get in their way of success.
Patsy O’Connor from Tralee Harriers AC was the stand out Kerry athlete of these championships. Patsy moved into the O-60 category recently and set his sights on making his mark in this group. He left Tullamore with three gold medals and set new national records in all three events: Shot Put 13.21m, Discus, 46.25m and Javelin 42.93m. Patsy lost out on a 4th gold in the weight for distance where he came second with just a 3cm deficit. He was joined on the top position of the podium by this team mate Martin Flaherty. Martin competed in the O-50 high jump and won gold with a jump of 1.45m.
The An Riocht men and women were in full action in a variety of events. The men claimed medals in both relays with gold in the 4x100 in 48.76 and bronze in the 4x400m in 3.53.87. Ger Cremin was a double gold individual medallist in both the O-35 100m in a blistering 11.63, clocked as the fastest athlete of the day, and the 110m Hurdles in 17.51. He was joined by his good friend Anthony Greaney who won gold in the O-40 100m in a time of 12.12, and John McGlynn ran a very fine race landing a silver medal for his efforts in the O-40 200m in 25.11.
Lios Tuathail’s Kevin Lynch returned to masters competition on Sunday following an injury he sustained at the Munster Indoor Championships and back on top is where we find Kevin today with double gold in his two events. He ran the O-40 200m in a new PB of 24.03 and the 400m in 54.36. Colm Lynch of Iveragh AC was also a double medal winner with gold in the O-35 200m in 23.80 and third in the O-35 400m in 54.48.
The Kerry women were also standing proud on the podium with the Gneeveguilla AC 4x100m gaining gold in 56.99, Catherine Moynihan O’Sullivan was double medal winner with 1st in the O-35 long Jump with a jump of 4.40m and 3rd in the O-35 100m in 13.77. Annette O’Brien was high jump champion with a jump of 1.30m and also finished 4th in the 100m. Niamh O’Sullivan An Riocht claimed gold in the O-50s 3000m in a time of 11.07.60. Ursula Barrett of St. Brendan’s AC was a gold medal winner with a time of 29.25 in the O40 200m, she was 4th in the 400m in 1.08.25.
Farranfore Maine Valley AC’s Jim O’Shea was the oldest Kerry athlete in attendance at the event. Jim won gold in O-70 long jump and high jump a silver medal in the 100m, his team mate Michael O’Connor was first in the O65 5000m Walk in a time of 30.00.17. Patrick Murphy from Castleisland AC came away with a gold medal in the O-55 5,000m Walk in 26.08.14. St. Brendan’s AC sent Patrick O’Riordan to compete in the O-60 Long Jump and he achieved a silver medal with a jump of 3.83m.
Other athletes in competition but just outside the medals were Tim O’Connor, Joe O’Connor and Neilus Lyons of An Riocht, Jerome Foley of Farranfore Maine Valley, and Norma O’Connor from Gneeveguilla AC.
Well done from all in Kerry athletics, you are all truly inspirational and continue to prove that athletics is not governed by age.