Kilmurry-Ibrickane’s King crowned in Cork

KEITH King of Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare came away from the Munster Senior, Junior and U-23 Track and Field Championships at Cork IT with two gold, one silver and two bronze medals.
His first gold came in the high jump over six great rounds, with 1.85m on his last jump. Ten minutes later, he cleared 6.01m in the long jump to capture another gold.
Pat O’Connor (Tralee Harriers) looked to have won the javelin competition but with one round to go, Ennis Track’s David Courtney got in a massive throw of 42.80m to snatch the gold medal, with Keith King taking the bronze medal with a throw of 38.12m.
King, now on his fourth event of the day, also took silver in the triple jump with 11.33m, before capturing the bronze medal in the discus with a throw of 25.64m.
In the U-23 ladies’ 1,500m, Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) ran a very steady race to take this title in 4.21:70, while Irish international Rachel Akres (Marian AC) gave a fine performance to take gold in the senior, setting a new championship record of 51.29m. Later in the afternoon, she came away with another Munster title, this time in the discus with a throw of 34.91m.
Eamon Chesser (Ennis Track) had to work hard on the home straight of the junior 800m to take the silver medal in 2.00:94 and in the 1,500m, while club mate Aidan Kearney made up for his disappointment in the 3,000m junior race last year where he finished second. This time, he took the gold in 9.00:31.
Irish international athlete, Tim Crowe from Sixmilebridge and running with Dooneen AC, captured the gold medal with a fine performance of 53.96 in the senior men’s 400m hurdles. In the senior men’s 5,000m, Michael Maher (Ennis Track) finished very strong to take the bronze medal in 15.36:47 after a mighty battle with club mate Brian McGinley, who finished fourth in 15.42:64.
The big showpiece of these championships is the 56lbs and 35lbs for distance. Two Clare athletes, Richard Pilkington (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) and Michael O’Brien (Tulla), with Gearóid Kelly (Ballincollig) produced six of the finest rounds at a Munster championship. Richard Pilkington and Gearóid Kelly both threw 6.39m on their final rounds with the Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare man winning on a countback. Michael O’Brien was a close third with 6.24m.
Ennistymon man, David Tierney, throwing with Leevale AC in Cork, is the new man on the up in the 35lbs for distance for junior and U-23 competitors, where he threw 10.66m, setting a new championship record. He also took gold in the shot putt with 12.36m.

Results

Ladies
U-23 1,500m: 1. Sharon Rynne (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) (4.21:70).
Junior long jump: 4. Suzanne Kelly, Kilnaboy (4.81m).
Senior hammer: 1. Rachel Akres (Marian) (51.29m). Championship record discus: 1. Rachel Akres (Marian) (34.91m).
1,500m: 4. Noreen Mackey Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) (6.09:95).

Men
Junior 800m: 2. Eamon Chesser (Ennis Track) (2.00:94).
1,500m: 5. Darragh Lynch (Ennis Track) (4.14:24); 6. Eamon Chesser (Ennis Track) (4.20:82).
3,000m: 1. Aidan Kearney (Ennis Track) (9.00.31).
Senior 400m hurdles: 1. Tim Crowe (Dooneen) (53:96).
800m: 5. Micheal Keane (Ennis Track) (2.04:20).
1,500m: 9. Micheal Keane (Ennis Track) (4.19:20)
5,000m: 3. Michael Maher (Ennis Track) (15.36.47); 4. Brian McGinley (Ennis Track) (15.42.64); 10. Brian Murphy (Ennis Track) (16.47:31).
High jump and long jump: 1. Keith King (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (1.85m and 6.01m).
Discus: 3. Keith King (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) (25.64m).
Javelin: 1. David Courtney (Ennis Track) (42.80m); 3. Keith King (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) (38.12m).
Triple jump: 2. Keith King (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) (11.33m).
56lbs for distance: 1. Richard Pilkington (Kilmurry-Ibrickane/North Clare) (6.39m); 3. Michael O’Brien (Tulla) (6.24m).
U-23 35lbs for distance: 1. David Tierney, (Ennistymon) (Leevale – 10.66m).
Shot putt: 1. David Tierney (Ennistymon) (Leevale) (12.36m).