Hugh Armstrong, Ballina Athletic Club, qualified for the International Youth Mountain challenge at WMRA Youths Trial in Glendalough, Wicklow, back in April and tomorrow (Saturday ) in Gorenja Vas, Slovenia, he will compete in the International Youth Mountain Challenge This is great honour for this quiet unassuming young man whose attention to training is admirable. He never questions his coaches just gives 100 per cent to all that is asked of him. Ballina Athletic Club wishes him all the best in the competition tomorrow.
Marathon success in Portumna for Ballina women
Portumna in Galway was the location for 50km and 100km ultra marathons last weekend and Ballina women were among the prize-winners.
Ballina AC’s Sandra Finnerty, running in her first 50km event, came in third place in a tremendous time of 4:34:41. Indeed she finished in 10th place overall and all the more remarkable as she has returned to training relatively recently. A 50km race is a full marathon with more than five miles on top of that. It is a true test of stamina and mental fortitude. Stamina and mental fortitude in endurance events is something Ballina based Finn O’Mara has in abundance. Having completed the world famous Comrades ultra marathon in South Africa recently, O’Mara did enough to secure second place in the marathon event in Portumna!
Ballina athletes excel at the Connaught outdoor championships.
Ballina Athletic Club athletes performed very well at the Connacht Outdoor Track and Field championships last weekend. Patrick Mills perfected his javelin throwing and won a gold medal in the u13 event. Eric Connolly put in some great performances and took home bronze medals in the u14 80m sprint and long jump. John Timlin was in great form and won a silver medal in the u14 800m and a bronze medal in the 1500m.
Anthony Neville continues to improve and won a bronze medal in the u15 200m. His sister Natasha was in fine throwing form and won a bronze medal in the u16 javelin and finished in fourth place in the 200m. Simon Gillespie got the upper hand of his rival Dylan Carty of Sligo when he won the u16 3,000m walk. Daragh Quinn hurdled his was to silver in the u16 boys’ 250m hurdles and won a silver also in the 3000m. Hugh Armstrong had a great race and went on to win the u18 3,000m. Aaron Murtagh continued to impress when he won both the u19 long and triple jump. Other athletes who put in great performances but were not among the medals were: Emma Loftus, Mark Brennan and Keith Harney.
