Tag Archives: athletics

Ennis Track’s Gabriel Kehinde sets his sights on being Ireland’s fastest man as he prepares to compete in the 60m sprint at the 123.ie National Senior Indoor Championships. Kehinde enjoyed a stellar 2023 in what was undoubtedly the best year of his fledgling athletics career. He was part of the Irish quartet that set two national records in the European Under 23 Championships, became Munster Senior champion and secured bronze in both the Indoor and Outdoor National Championships. Despite enjoying a decent start to this season, the 22 year old is keenly aware that despite the 60m discipline suiting his ability to get out of the blocks quickly, the race is unforgiving with any mistake likely ending his quest for gold. “For 60 metres you cannot get anything wrong. One wrong step and it is over. I find 60 (metres) to be ideal because the strongest part of my game is my start. If you get a strong start and …

Ivan Smyth speaks to Alex O’Neill about the Community Games, the importance of coaching and her ambitions for the coming season ALEX O’Neill may have been taking a winter break from her studies in the US but has continued to put in the hard yards back home in Quin as she aims to maintain her form in 2022. O’Neill, who moved Stateside in August 2019 on a scholarship to Providence College in Rhode Island has had to endure regular pandemic-related interruptions to the racing calendar. At the end of last year, however, the daughter of Conor and Carol O’Neill secured a notable win when she finished first in the 1,000m race at the Boston University Multi-Team Meet. O’Neill normally competes in 800m events but she moved outside her comfort zone last year as she was part of the Providence team that travelled to Florida to compete at the 2021 NCAA Women’s Cross Country Championship. She competed against the best middle …

CLARE athletes got back running last weekend at Lees Road for the County Track and Field championships. This event over two days was very well supported by all clubs in the county. Although modified to comply with current guidelines, there was a great atmosphere and some fantastic running and excellent performances in the field events. All athletes can now prepare for Munster Championships which are scheduled for each weekend in July. Under 8 Girls 60m 1 Mia Kelly Kib Nth Clare 2 Keeva O’Loughlin Tulla 3 Jessie O’Driscoll St Cronans Under 8 Girls 300m 1 Kate Quinlan St Cronans 2 Lillie Ryan St Cronans 3 Keeva O’Loughlin Tulla Under 8 Girls Long Jump 1 Lillie Ryan St Cronans 2 Ciara Reynolds St Cronans 3 Katelyn Cullinan St Cronans Under 8 Girls Turbo Javelin 1 Keelan Ryan Ennis Track 2 Leah Robertson St Johns 3 Molly Fahy St Cronans Under 8 Boys 60m 1 Tommy Considine WCSF 2 Fionn Hennessy St …

THE 49th Kilmurry Ibrickane-North Clare Athletic Club and Run the Banner 2019 Road Race Series number 2 and Michael Egan Memorial five-mile road race and 5km fun walk attracted a very high-quality field of runners and walkers to the start with Kenneth Rodgers, St John’s, having the field on a big chase when he set out on a very fast pace from the Quilty Tavern, along with Rory Chesser, Ennis Track, and Cian McDonald, Ballyroan/Abbeyleix and District AC. The group of three were together for three miles, until Rodgers made a decisive move with the wind to his back and on the Quilty-Kilrush Road, he had 20 seconds on Chesser with a mile remaining and he held that lead all the way to the finish to retain his title in 26.40 from Chesser (26.57) and McDonald (27.20). Ennis Track took the team title and the Michael Egan Shield, with a total of 28 points. Second were St John’s on 45 …

IN 1991, Ennis Track AC was a fledgling club. Last year saw the club celebrate its 25th anniversary and, to mark the occasion, a commemorative book, charting the club’s progress over 25 years, was launched and is on sale at various locations throughout Ennis. The Inside Track captures some of the highlights over the past two and a half decades of the club. The brainchild of Gerry Hayes and Tom Casey, the club was founded in O’Keeffe’s Bar, Lifford, in February 1991. Since then, it has grown and achieved great success at county, provincial and national level. Two of the founder members, Gerry Hayes and Vera Dullaghan, are still active on the committee. The current membership totals more than 100 senior and 150 juvenile athletes, from age seven upwards. The senior ladies have been well represented in All-Ireland Cross-country Championships, winning the All-Ireland novice, intermediate and the B section of the inter-clubs within the past seven years. In 2013, the …

WELL-known local and international athlete, Willie Keane, Kilkee has been selected by the Clare Association in Dublin as its Clare Person of the Year 2016. He will be presented with his award at the association’s annual dinner dance in Dublin on January 23. Willie was to the forefront of Irish athletics for many years and between 1969 and 1980, he won numerous medals in track and field, cross country and on the road. During that time, he accumulated 56 All-Ireland medals. He also distinguished himself at international level and was always proud to wear the Irish singlet when representing the NACA at international events. As well as promoting athletics among the youth of West Clare as a member of St John’s Athletic Club, Willie is also a great GAA supporter and is president of the local St Senan’s GAA Club. Clare County Council recognised Willie’s achievements with a civic reception in 2001 and he was also inducted into the Hall …

TULLA Athletics Club has suggested creating a rule that its members “will not walk” to its new proposed training facility and travel to training by car, according to planning documents submitted to Clare County Council. The proposal was made by the club regarding the athletics club’s application for a new training facility at Creamery Road in Tulla, after the council expressed concern about road safety at the proposed site. The application, which was submitted by Eugene Conlon, secretary of Tulla Athletics Club, proposes to construct an athletics training facility at Creamery Road in Tulla. The development, if granted, would include an all-weather running track with area lighting, a cross-country running track and a building incorporating a large indoor training area, public toilets, dressing rooms and club rooms. In addition, it would include an effluent treatment system, new entrance from the public road, all with associated site works. In November last year, the planning authority wrote to the club advising them …

Clare athletics was rocked this week with the news that long-serving official, James Sexton, had stepped down from his role as public relations officer for the county organisation. The decision was communicated in writing to the board secretary, Vincent McCarthy, at the weekend. It is expected to be discussed at a meeting of Clare athletics scheduled for Monday next. The Moy native, a member of Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare AC, took the decision because he is dissatisfied with the number of transfers that are going to Ennis Track AC. Speaking to The Clare Champion, Sexton expressed anger and disappointment that “athletes are being taken from the smaller clubs around the county and this isn’t fair. Nothing is being done about it”. Responding to a query from The Clare Champion, Clare athletics chairman Michael Lillis said, “We have received the letter and will be discussing it on Monday night. In Clare athletics we have been spoilt for many years because of the great …