Sligo’s fittest family among highlights of Sligo City Sports
FAMILIES such as the Sweeneys of Ballymote, Bolands of Skreen and Walshes of Tubbercurry are competing for the honours of Sligo’s Fittest Family as part of Sligo City Sports. The major athletics event being organised by coach Dermot McDermott and his Believe and Achieve team is taking place in IT Sligo on Wednesday, June 21st.
Novel events such as Sligo’s Fittest Family will be held prior to the elite athletes taking to the track hoping to smash some records.
Caoimhe Ní Mhurcú, one of the organisers, said it’s an action- packed athletics calendar with the aim being to encourage young people to take up athletics.
Last year saw thousands of people come out to support Mary Cullen in her bid to qualify for the Rio Olympics. This time around and its Ciara Mageean and Mark English who are among the elites competing in the 800m and 500m respectively.
Record holders in these events, such as Rose- Anne Galligan, will also be there to make the racing extremely competitive.
Caoimhe said there is so many different categories on the day that should bring crowds of spectators and participants alike.
She said: “We are holding the preliminaries this Wednesday which is low- key enough.
“This is where the kids will be racing adults and Dermot has asked a lot of parents to take part.
“In those categories, it could be someone U10 racing a senior with the goal of reaching the final.
“Say for example in the 800m finals, there could be a senior men’s 40- year- old racing an eightyear- old and to even it up they are given a handicap.
“It’s about the feel- good factor in the middle of the serious races,” Caoimhe added.
Sligo’s Fittest Family, an invite only event, is taking place on the same day as the elites on June 21st.
“Dermot was hoping to bring more families into the event, there are eight families involved in this.
“As there are eight lanes on the track, we said we might as well use them all.
“Some are taking it quite seriously,” she laughed, saying it’s about a fun element of running.
“We have some really fit families involved. Johnny Kenny from Riverstown, the former Sligo Rovers player, will be taking part along with three of his sons.
“There are other families from Carn in south Sligo who are also competing.
“Other fit families include the Bolands from Tireragh AC and the Lavins from Ballymote who are really fast too,” Caoimhe explains.
Despite there being fit families involved, Caoimhe says it’s about novelty and bringing more fun to the athletics day.
The serious business will be when the elite programme begins.
“There’s a lot of athletes competing in a whole variety of races.
“Ciara Mageean will be racing the 800m and this includes RoseAnne Galligan, who is the current record holder.
“She will not want to give up her record too easily. It is a good field of runners, including many up- and- coming athletes as well.
“There is a pacemaker too in Aisling Drumgoole, overall it should be a very competitive race.”
The men’s elite event, the 500m, sees Mark English and a number of other top athletes hoping to break records.
“Mark is the one hoping to do well in that and there are other really good athletes such as Karl Griffin, who is his training partner, Elliot Slade from Wales, Ben Kiely and Harry Purcell are also really good, while another runner Niall Tuohy is also taking part in that race and he is really competitive.”
The early calendar in the IT on the 21st is focussing on the younger athletes around the region.
Children from primary schools will be competing in relays and these races should by finished by 6pm.
Then it’s onto open meets and the 5k starts.
After that, it will roll into the elite programme, there could be a 1k or a 1500m in there too, the full programme will be announced closer to the time.
Caoimhe says the main aim is to get more people involved in athletics.
“What we are trying to do with the novelty events is encouraging people to come along.
“Unfortunately athletics doesn’t have the same appeal as some of the other sports, what we are trying to do is encourage as many people as possible to get involved.”
Last year, Drumcliffe’s European medallist Mary Cullen was the centre of attention and she is back again this year in a special Run a mile with Mary event.
“The kids can take part in this and race along with Mary. It’s about giving them a chance to be a part of it.”
This Run a mile with Mary race will be held in the middle of the elite programme. The main thing is people knowing they don’t have to be experienced athletes. “It’s open for everyone to come down.
“With the ultimate athlete challenge, it takes the form of a mini- decathlon, whereby people are scored over four events.
“If you are not a great runner, then your throw could make up for it.
“The winner may not be some- one who is good at athletics, there are some people training hard in the gym who are fit and strong who could be the winner,” Caoimhe says. She adds: “We’re hoping for good crowds on the night and that people will come along and enjoy this athletics extravaganza.” For entries and enquiries call 086 2028769 or email info@ believeandachieve. ie