Locals return with fine displays
Ray Flynn reflects on several good performances at home and abroad by Sligo competitors in recent days
WE ARE back in full stride in the athletics world and the last week has seen some great Sligo performances at home and abroad, on track and road. Closer to home we had the first local road race since Covid-19 struck, with a 5k in Calry.
The best and probably unluckiest performance of the week came in Birmingham from Sligo AC athlete Finley Daly, who ran a massive personal best when finishing second in a highclass 3000 metres steeplechase. His time was outside nine minutes but, heartbreakingly, just 0.03 seconds outside the qualifying time for the European Athletics U-23 Championships (which is 9:05.00).
Another man racing abroad on Wednesday night of last week was Christopher O’Donnell, who, despite getting left in the blocks, ran 46.90 seconds in Copenhagen to finish third.
John Travers was also abroad, running three minutes 40 seconds in a 1500 metres race to finish fifth.
Domestically, last weekend we had the Athletics Ireland Games in Santry, Dublin. Sligo’s star performance came from Aoife Killgallon with another great run on the track to finish second in the women’s 3,000 metres with another personal best of 9:20.05.
Matthew McMeekin also had a good run in the men’s 3,000 metres when clocking 8:53.19. We also had good performances from Amy Boland and Kate Hosey among others in sprints and long jump.
In Tuam, meanwhile, we had a festival of race walking which included the National
20k Walks Championships. In a supporting 5k race, Sligo AC’s Ruth Monaghan finished second to English athlete Natalie Myers. On Monday evening of last week we had the first Sligo road race since lockdown with a 5k race in Calry.
On the start line were 54 participants, with at least another 55 looking on as the runners made their way down Hazelwood on the out and back course. First home was Matthew McMeekin who kicked off a good week with victory in a sub-16 minutes time ahead of Master runner Seamus Somers, who was just outside the 16-minute barrier.
This coming weekend we have the Athletics Ireland National Junior and U-23 Championships at Santry’s Morton Stadium.
A large contingent of young Sligo athletes will make the trip. Top medal hopes in the Junior event will be on the shoulders of Michael Morgan and Ruth Monaghan, while at U-23 level Lauren Cadden will make her season debut with high hopes of a medal in the 200 metres.
Finley Daly is also a good bet for a medal in the U-23 grade, as is Eva Delahunt in the 3,000 metres race walk. Next Wednesday night Christopher O’Donnell will continue his Olympics preparations with a 400 metres run in the Czech Republic.
CALRY 5K WINNER: Matthew McMeekin,