Local athletes take to Morton Stadium for nationals
The Irish Life Health National Track and Field Championships took place over the weekend with a number of local athletes competing at Morton Stadium in Santry, Dublin.
Carraig na bhFear AC saw four of the club’s ‘emerging talents’ participating at the Morton Stadium venue for the Junior U20 and U23 championships over the weekend.
Two U23 athletes brought back the first national medals of the year for the Carraig club, when 400 metre hurdlers Katie Walsh and Ciarán Nugent, took the silver and bronze respectively in their races.
“It’s great to see these two buddies still competing at national level after over a decade jumping the barriers in one of athletics toughest events,” said Carraig na bhFear AC PRO, Willie Walsh.
Sprinter Sam Judd pulled on his spikes on both days of the event, June 19 and 20, for the 100 metre and 200 metre junior races.
Sam was third in his heat of the 200 metre race on Saturday last, but missed out on a place in the final with the 10th fastest time of the day. While in the 100 metre heats on Sunday, Sam ran well in the fastest heat of the day but didn’t make one of the 8 lanes in the final.
The Junior A 1,500 metre race saw Carraig na bhFear AC's Daire O’Sullivan racing to the finish, clocking a time very close to his personal best, taking 12th position overall out of the 31 participating athletes.
SENIOR P.B. FOR DÁIRE
Only one Carraig na bhFear athlete made the journey to Santry for the senior championships last weekend. Dáire O’Sullivan raced again in the 1,500 metres and this time was up against some of Ireland’s premiere athletes, according to club PRO, Willie Walsh. He ran a personal best in the third heat of 4:08:9 but unfortunately didn’t advance to the final of this prestigious event.
“To go to the nationals and produce your best-ever run is all that can be asked of any athlete and Dáire did this in his first appearance at a senior national race,” Willie added.
The coming weekend will see the beginning of the Munster underage track and field championships for under 12 to 19 year olds.
According to Willie, Carraig na bhFear athletes will be competing and hoping to get through to qualify for a place in the national finals.
VEALE SHOWS HER CLASS
Kate Veale of West Waterford AC won the Women's 5,000m Walk during day three of the Irish Life Health National Senior Championships in a time of 24:14.64, comfortably ahead of her nearest challenger.
Also involved was Lismore local and West Waterford AC member, Pat Hennessy who ran in the Senior Men’s (B&C) 5,000 metre race. Fifteen competitors faced the starters' gun, with Pat running a solid 16.27.39 in the 5k track race.