Alice sets new national record

AT the All-Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships held in Tullamore on Saturday, a new national record was set by Alice Akers (Scariff Community College) with four throws were better than the (46.33m) record of Gabby McNally set in  2007.
She had throws of (47.09m), (48.09m), and (49.02m) in the first three rounds of the junior discus to record a great win. She followed that with another gold medal in the javelin with a throw of (34.15m).
Eoin Hanrahan (St Flannan’s) produced six fine throws in the shot putt to capture a bronze medal with a throw of (12.76m) and he also took bronze in the junior boys discus with a throw of (40.07m).
Darragh Lynch (St Flannan’s) captured a bronze medal in the senior boys’ 800m with a time of 1.55:60 with Niamh Markham (St Flannan’s) also taking a bronze medal in the intermediate girls’ 800m in (2.16:94).
Amy O’Donoghue (Meelick and Villiers Schools Limerick) won gold in the senior girls’ 800m with a time of 2.13:61 and in the 1,500m in 4.43:61.

Results
Junior girls
Hammer
1. Alice Akers (Scariff)  (49.02m) new national record.
Javelin
1. Alice Akers   (34.15m).
Intermediate girls 800m
3. Niamh Markham (St Flannan’s) (2.16:94).
Senior girls 800m
1. Amy O’Donoghue (Villiers Limerick) (2.13:61).
1,500m
1. Amy O’Donoghue (4.43:61).
3,000m
4. Imogen Cotter (Gael Choláiste an Chláir) (10. 41).

Junior boys
Shot putt
3. Eoin Hanrahan (St Flannan’s) (12.76m).
Discus
3. Eoin Hanrahan (40.07m).
Intermediate boys
100m
7. Cormac Lynch (St Flannan’s) (11.66).
200m
7. Cormac Lynch (23.83).
800m
6. Eamon Chesser (Rice College) (2.02:81).
2,000m walk
6. Fergal Conlon (Tulla) (10.58:42); 7. Seamus McMahon (St Caimin’s) (11.54:18).
Senior boys
800m
3. Darragh Lynch (St Flannan’s) (1.55:60).
1,500m
6. Aidan Kearney (St Flannan’s) (4.09:16).
5,000m
7. Jake O’Regan (Kilkee) (16.35:36).
Shot putt
3. Eoin Hanrahan (St Flannan’s) (12.76m).
Discus
3. Eoin Hanrahan (40.07m).

Liam Markham sets 1,500m time for European Junior

AS the track season gets busier, there were plenty of top-class performances by Clare athletes in the past couple of days. Last weekend, three runners posted European standards at the British Milers’ Club fixture in Manchester. Shane Quinn (Ferrybank AC) clocked 14.26:01 when finishing fourth in a 5,000m race, well inside the standard for the European Junior Championships. Another junior standard was achieved by Liam Markham from Kilmurry McMahon and Ennis Track Club who posted a time of 3.48:51, well inside the 1,500m standard.

Chesser and Crowe in European action

RORY Chesser from Ennis and Timmy Crowe from Sixmilebridge will compete in the European team championships in Turkey next week.
Timmy Crowe (Dooneen AC) will be seeking the European U-23 championships standard in the men’s 400m hurdles, having narrowly finished outside the qualification standard at the Woodie’s DIY/AAI Games.
Rory Chesser (Ennis Track Club), who recently set a personal best in 3,000m of 8.05:95 will run in the men’s 1,500m.
Derval O’Rourke (Leevale AC) and David Gillick (Dundrum South Dublin AC) will lead the Irish team in the first league at the European Team Championships in Izmir Turkey on June 18 and 19.
Ireland, who finished in eighth place of 11 teams last year, will compete against Belgium, Croatia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Slovenia, Switzerland and Turkey.

Colleran and Shannon shine at Lees Road

THE Clare Sports Partnership and Clare Athletics Association held its 5km summer series No 3 at the Lees Road Sports Complex on Saturday. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) and Frank Landy (Ennis Track) took the early lead going through the 1km in 3mins 10secs with Mike Cunningham (Bilboa) and Adrian Linehan (Duhallow) working hard towards the leaders and the 2km mark.
The next chasing group of Willie Devitt (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare), Liam McGuane (Ennis Track) and Eugene Moynihan (Marian) were making good progress and at the halfway point Michael Shannon had a few metres of a lead and, running his second race in 24 hours, he recorded a fine win with a time of 16.12 after a great battle with Adrian Linehan (16.55) with Mike Cunningham third just three seconds ahead of Willie Devitt.
The ladies’ race was dominated by Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track), setting a very fast pace from the start and going through the 1km in 3. 45. Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy), Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) and Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) were all together at the 2km mark with the leader Veronica Colleran well on her way to victory at the 3km mark.

Results
Senior ladies
1. Veronica Colleran (Ennis Track) (18.06); 2. Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (20.21); 3. Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) (20.27).
O-35
1. Lorraine Hayes (Ennis) (22.49); 2. Mags Malone (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (24.11); 3. Theresa Lahiffe (Ennis Meet and Train) (27.30).
O-40
1. Deirdre Cahill (Ennis Track) (20.45); 2. Niamh Ní Mhuiri (Ennis Track) (22.09); 3. Martina Martin (Ennis) (25.43).
O-45
1. Tracy Guilfoyle (Kilnaboy) (19.26); 2. Sue Garrahy (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (22.04); 3. Ita Doherty (Ennis Track) (23.54).
O-50
1. Rita Kierce (St Mary’s) (21.51); 2. Marian O’Loughlin (Ennis Track) (23.53); 3. Gráinne McCormack (Ennis Meet and Train).
O-55
1. Kitty Henchy (Ennis) (38.27).
Female walker
1. Patricia Sheehan (Marian) (35.36); 2. Ann Forgary (Doonbeg) (42.42); 3. Noreen Gallagher (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (42.42).
Senior men
1. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) (16.12); 2. Adrian Linehan (Duhallow) (16.55); 3. Willie Devitt (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (17.38).
O-35
1. Liam McGuane (Ennis Track) (17.42); 2. Brian Spring (Ennis Track) (18.15); 3. Frank Landy (Ennis Track) (18.22).
O-40
1. Patrick Healy (Marian) (19.11); 2. Tom Geraghty(Marian) (20.01); 3. Seamus McNamara (Kilkishen) (20.10).
O-45
1. Mike Cunningham (Bilboa) (17.35); 2. Terry Hennessy (St Cronan’s) (18.04).
O-50
1. Eugene Moynihan (Marian) (17.56); 2. James Kenny (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (18.13); 3. Aidan Cabey (Ennis) (21.18).
O-55
1. James Sexton (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (20.26).
O-65
1. Pat Rutherford (Ennis Track) (25.07).
Junior men
1. Eamon Lenihan (Marian) (21.46).

Miles more action in Ennis

THERE was another fine turnout for day two of the Clare Athletics Association Open Track and Field Series at the Lees Road Sports Complex last week.
The first race was the Open Mile with Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) winning the title in 5mins 58.20secs with Erin Murphy (Limerick) winning the 200m in 27.4 after a mighty battle with Angela Hogan (Borrisokane AC).
The master ladies O-35 mile went to Rosemary O’Brien (Ennis Track) and she also captured the 200m with Hilda O’Connor (Ennis Track) winning the O-40 Mile and Rita Kierse (St Mary’s) recording a great win in the mile with a time of 6.18:80.
In the men’s mile, 16 competitors went to the start and Ian Slobody (Kilmihil AC) took this race out at a very lively pace with Seamus Gilhooley (Athenry) and three Galway City Harriers athletes all closely packed. Eddie Costello (Galway City Harriers) captured the title in 4.37:55 from Ian Slobody in 4.46:80.
Martin Brooks (Marian) won the 200m with Lunga Bulman (Marian) taking the javelin.
In the masters O-35, Brian Spring (Ennis Track) scored a double, winning the 200m and javelin.   

Senior ladies’ mile
1. Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) (5.58:20).
200m
1. Erin Murphy (Limerick AC) (27.4); 2. Angela Hogan (Borrisokane) (27.9); 3. Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) (32. 6).
Javelin
1. Becky Coughlan (Ennis Track) (11.27m).
Master ladies’ mile
O-35
1. Rosemary O’Brien (Ennis Track) (6.31:32secs).
200m
1. Rosemary O’Brien (Ennis Track) (37.2).
O-40
Mile
1. Hilda O’Connor (Ennis Track) (6.27:57).
O-50
Mile
1. Rita Kierse (St Mary’s) (6.18:80); 2. Marian O’Loughlin (Ennis Track) (6.56:77).
200m
1. Marian O’Loughlin (Ennis Track) (39.9).
Javelin
1. Mary Barrett (Loughrea) (23.50m).
High jump
1. Mary Barrett (Loughrea) (1.25m).
Junior ladies mile
1. Aoifa O’Gorman (Kilmihil) (6.08:90secs; 2. Emer Hillery (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (7.11:10).
200m
1. Rachel Finnegan (Craughwell) (27.5); 2. Aoifa O’Gorman (Kilmihil) (27.7); 3. Emer Hillery (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (30.4).
High jump
1. Rachel Finegan (Craughwell) (1.35m)    ; 2. Emer Hillery (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (1.35m).
Javelin
1. Melissa Barrett (Loughrea) (23.13m); 2. Emer Hillery (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (15.54m); 3. Rachel Finnegan (Craughwell) (12.55m).
Senior men mile
1. Eddie Costello (Galway City Harriers) (4.37:55); 2. Derek Murray (Galway City Harriers) (4.48:40); 3. Alan Kelly (Galway City Harriers) (4.49:93).
200m
1. Martin Brooks (Marian) (25.6); 2. Dariusz Karanda (Ennis Track) (26.5).
Javelin
1. Lunga Bulman (Marian) (42.91m); 2. Dariusz Karanda (Ennis Track) (28.68m).
Junior men mile
1. Ian Slobody (Kilmihil) (4.46:8); 2. Tola Alade (Limerick AC) (5.17:08); 3. Eamon Murphy (Kilmihil) (5.39:74).
200m
1. Emmet Craven (Loughrea) (24.4); 2. Roland Pike (Limerick AC) (24.9).
High jump
1. Roland Pike (Limerick AC) (1.70m); 2. Caoimhin Conaghan (Loughrea) (1.70m); 3. Emmet Craven (Loughrea) (1.60m).
Javelin
1. Tulla Glade (Limerick AC) (23.48m).
O-35 mile
1. Jason Moloney (Ennis Track) (5.27:80).
200m
1. Brian Spring (Ennis Track) (28.4).
Javelin
1. Brian Spring (Ennis Track) (21.88m).
O-40 mile
1. Tom Geraghty (Marian) (5.50:90); 2. Michael Canty (Clare Crusaders) (7.13:30secs).
200m
1. Mike O’Brien (Limerick) (24.7); 2. Fintan Lahiffe (Kilnaboy) (30.7); 3. Michael Canty (Clare Crusaders) (32.6).
Javelin
1. Michael Canty (Clare Crusaders) (19.71m).
O-45 mile
1. Terry Hennessy (St Cronan’s) (5.12:40); 2. Richard McArthur (St Cronan’s) (6.21:59).
200m
1. Richard McArthur (St Cronan’s) (26.8); 2. Tommy Greene (St John’s) (28.9); 3. Terry Hennessy (St Cronan’s) (38.4).
High jump
1. Tommy Greene (St John’s) and Richard McArthur (St Cronan’s) (1.45m); 3. David Courtney (Ennis Track) (1.40m).
Javelin
1. David Courtney (Ennis Track) (41.25m); 2. Tommy Greene (St John’s) (27.29m); 3. Richard McArthur (St Cronan’s) 23.25m).
O-50
Javelin
1. Martin Fitzpatrick (St Mary’s) (20.10m).
4 x 400m relay
1. Limerick AC (Roland Pike, Tola Alade, Mike O’Brien, Erin Murphy) = (4.07:47); 2. Clare (Becky Coughlan, Brian Spring, Michael Canty, Fintan Lahiffe) = 4.35:07).

Final series
THE third and final outing of the open track and field series for senior, masters and junior athletes, will take place this Thursday. The first event on the track will be the 5,000m followed by the 400m, 2,000m walks, discus, 56lbs for distance and 4 x 100m relay. The starting time is 7pm.

Fixtures
June
9. Clare AAI Open Track and Field Series plus Clare Championships (Day 3) at Lees Road Sports Complex starting at 7pm.
10. Wolfe Tones Féile team and Shannon 10k road race and fun walk starting at Wolfe Tones’ GAA Clubhouse at 6.30pm.
11 and 12. June Munster Juvenile U-9 to U-11 team plus U-12 and U-13 Track and Field Championships at Lees Road, Ennis starting at 11am.
17.  Fourth annual Gerard Mullane Memorial and the 11th Annual Bilboa AC 10k Road Race at Cappamore, County Limerick starting at 7.30pm with walk and road race at 8pm.
18 and 19. Munster Juvenile U-14 to U-19 Track and Field Championships at Castleisland starting at 11am. 
22. Clare Community Games U-16 5km marathon in Kilmurry McMahon
starting at 7pm.
25. Sixth annual Clare 10kM Mini Marathon starting at the Lees Road at 10am.
26. Golden Vale Clare Community Games finals in Lees Road.

Carmody and Roche win in Sixmilebridge

THE first Sixmilebridge Summer Festival 10k road race and 5k fun walk was held in very hot weather conditions and almost 500 competed.
A group of three athletes made an early break,  Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy), Michael Carmody (Limerick), and the local man, Jason Fahy (Olympic Harriers) and going through the 1km mark in 2mins 53secs. Lorcan Hassett (Quin) was leading the next chasing group along with James Liddane (Olympic Harriers), Mike Cunningham (Bilboa), Dermot Kearns (West Limerick), John Hannon (St Cronan’s) were all chasing down the leaders and the trio went through the 2km point in 5.52. Michael Carmody was starting to pull away at the 3km point with Jason Fahy 10 seconds adrift at the 4km mark.
Michael Carmody looked very strong at the 5km mark and he came home a very comfortable winner in 31.11with Jason Fahy second in 32.36 and Michael Shannon third in 33. 07.  
In the ladies’ race Tracy Roche (Dooneen AC)  set a fast pace with a 5.50 at the 1km point. At the 3km mark, she was starting to open up a big lead and at the halfway stage, she was two minutes clear of Marie Carey who was well clear of local athlete Michelle O’Mahoney.
She made light work of the very hot conditions to cross the finish line in eighth place overall with a time of 37.36.

Results
Senior ladies
1. Tracy Roche (Dooneen AC (37.36); 2. Marie Carey (Ennis Track) (39.18); 3. Michelle O’ Mahoney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (42.29).
Senior men
1. Michael Carmody (Limerick) (32.11); 2. Jason Fahy (Olympic Harriers) (32.36); 3. Michael Shannon (Kilnaboy) (33.07).