Summer racing heats up
Week two of the South Munster Schools started with field events taking place in Midleton for the javelin competition and Kilworth for the throws. Timmy Colbert (Coláiste an Chroí Naofa) had an excellent season opener in the senior boys javelin competition winning gold with a fine effort of 42.58m and progresses to the Munster finals next week in good form.
In the inter boys competition Josh Judd (St Colmans CC Midleton) had a comfortable win in the discus with a best throw of 28.92m. Josh followed this up with a silver medal in the boys’ hammer with a throw of 26.38m.
On to day 2 in the Mardyke UCC track and another medal in field events, Caoimhe Geoghegan (St Marys, Midleton) building on last week’s performance in counties with an excellent jump of 5:04m to take the silver medal in the senior girls long jump. Rian O’Luasa (Bishopstown CS) won silver in the senior boys high jump with a best jump of 1.65m. There were outstanding performances by our racewalkers in the junior girls 1200 race walk competition. Aoife Martin (Coláiste an Chroí Naofa) won gold with a championship best performance of 6.12.40!
Not too far behind Aoife was Robyn Maher (Loreto Fermoy) in 2nd place with a time of 6:19.4 and Anna Mullins (St Angelas, Cork) winning the bronze medal in 6:34.40. Outstanding results from Martin Hurley’s group! In the inter girls’ competition, Lucy Lynch (St Aloysius Carrigtwohill) was competing in the 300m, a strong finish and a pb of 41.1s earned Lucy a silver medal and one of the two qualifying slots for the laned events in the Munster finals. Lucy was in action again in the 4 x 300m senior girls relay with her team running a fast 3:08 to take gold. Ruaidhri Boyle (Coláiste an Phiarsaigh) was first home in the inter boys 400m hurdles in a time of 61.90s and qualified comfortably for the Munster finals.
In the inter boys steeplechase Aidan Maher (St Colmans Fermoy) had a good pb time of 4:43.4 to win the gold medal. Finally, in the senior boys steeplechase, an unusually large and competitive field meant the three Munster qualification places were at a premium.
Timmy Hawkins (Bruce College) came through safely in 3rd place with a season-opening race of 6:38m, David Maher (Coláiste an Phiarsaigh) had a creditable 5th place finish, just outside the qualifying places.
Well done to the lads, a super effort in warm conditions! Best of luck to all our athletes heading to Castleisland on Saturday 20th for the Munster Finals.
COUNTY TRACK AND FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS DAY 2
Carraig na bhFear AC had another great turnout of athletes for Counties Day 2 at the UCC track. A damp start gave way to improved conditions and there were good performances and PBs to keep us entertained.
U16 TO 19
The 3k races got proceedings underway at 10am. Laura Moore ran a steady race early on in the U17 girls’ race having competed in the 1500m schools the previous day, before an impressive injection of pace in the final laps won silver for Laura. In the boys’ mixed ages race Brian Hawkins also showed a fine finishing kick to take 3rd place in the race with Bobby O’Riordan winning the silver medal U18. The middle-distance races concluded after lunch, Peter Hawkins claiming silver in the boys U17 800m followed by a bronze medal from Cathal Whooley in the boys U18, Luke Mullins running a good pb in this race also. Eoin Quirke won the gold medal in the U19 boys 800m following an epic battle in this mixed-ages race.
At the sprint distances Abbie Akinkoulie won gold in U19 sprint hurdles, Abbie also winning silver U19 girls 200m behind Caoimhe Geoghegan in the gold medal position. Lucy Lynch and Leah Dunne both won silver in the U17 and U18 girls 200m respectively. Further impressive performances in the field events followed with a fine jump of 5.94 for Ruaidhri Boyle in the U18 boys long jump, Abbie Akinkoulie completed a hat-trick of medals with a jump of 8.99m in the triple jump and Bobby O’Riordan won gold in the U18 shot put with a throw of 8.04m.
U13-U15
Another positive outing for this group who competed so well at county level. Well done to Jessica Akinkoulie who won silver in the U15 sprint hurdles. Our racewalkers were in action again, doing brilliantly on a second consecutive day of racing. Robyn Maher and Anna Mullins were first and second respectively in the girls U15 2k distance with Aoife Martin finishing first in the U16 2k race. A big shout-out and well done to the following athletes: Allie Phillips, Emma Johnson, Aoibhe Dunlea, Mary-Kate Dawson, Hannah Coffey, Aoileann Boyle, Laila Olutu and Lucy Davis.
SUMMER RACES
The BHAA Pfizer 6-mile race in Ringaskiddy made a welcome return to the BHAA calendar following its absence due to the pandemic. Starting in Raffeen, the new course took in the Haulbowline Island Park before the traditional uphill finish in Ringaskiddy village. Good running from Darragh O’Keefe (39:35) and Rachel O’Callaghan (48:47) finishing well up the field of 357 finishers, both athletes using the distance to prepare for the upcoming Cork City Marathon and looking in great form!
The Youghal AC 5k race took place on Thursday 11th, 272 finishers taking on this flat, fast course. Eileen O’Riordan dipped under the 22-minute mark running 21:57 to finish 2nd in her category. Orla O’Gorman finished in 23:27, another excellent time, well done to both athletes, consistent training paying off! Conor Kelly made to trip to Tipp for the Tipperary Water 10k on Saturday night, a great result for Conor finishing 14th overall in a fast time of 38:29, congratulations.
SURF, TURF AND TAR ROSSCARBERY
This multi-terrain race in West Cork always seems to be blessed with good weather and Saturday morning was no exception with a great turnout of runners once again. Brian Hawkins ran a steady paced 45:38 as prep for Counties the following morning, his time still good enough to finish as 2nd junior and 18th overall from 491 finishers. In the half-marathon Richard Hawkins finished 29th overall in 1:47:08 and retained the M50 title from last year! In the Run Killarney Half-Marathon, Carraig na bhFear AC was also represented, well done to Aidan Cooney finishing in 2:04:59, well done!
LOOK AHEAD
In Championship competition, the Munster Schools finals will take place in Castleisland on Saturday 20th with the Club Relay Competitions the focus for Day 3 of the County Championships in the Mardyke on Saturday 21st. The club will be well represented next Thursday 18th in Fota Wildlife Park for the annual 5k and Children’s 1-mile races which are always great events.