Galway youngsters enjoyed another medal haul on the first weekend of the National Juvenile Indoor Championships in the Athlone IT Arena.
Robert McDonnell of GCH was hugely impressive winning double gold, taking victory in the U18 400m in a cracking time of 49.98, and following up on Sunday with the 200m victory in a fast 22.07.
Ava McKeon also won gold for GCH, claiming a superb victory in the U13 60m hurdles, while Ronan Duggan won bronze in the boys' event. In field events, Mathieu Madden won high jump gold for GCH in the U15 competition.
Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC came home with three medals, long jump gold with a best jump of 4.77 metres, and double silver in the 60m hurdles and 60m sprint on Sunday, capping a super weekend for the young star at U13 level.
Craughwell AC struck gold via Ella Farrelly, who won the U13 long jump with a best of 4.56 metres, and Darragh Kelly who won U13 high jump gold. Craughwell girls took silver and bronze in the U12 long jump via Emma O'Donovan and Keevagh Barry, while O'Donovan also won a bronze medal in the high jump. Conor Penny continued Craughwell’s great jump performances, winning silver in the high jump.
On the track, Fauve Aylmer of Craughwell won bronze in the U15 800m in a time of 2.22, while clubmate Sean Cotter of Craughwell took bronze in the U17 1500m.
David Mannion of South Galway also impressed, winning gold in the U15 60m hurdles, while Liam Shaw of Athenry AC won silver in the U15 shot putt after a great battle with Karlis Kaugars of Dunleer AC who eventually took gold after a hard-fought event in which four national records were set in the competition.
Danielle Moynihan of Tuam AC won the U13 high jump silver clearing 1.48 metres, and clubmate Myah Gallagher won bronze in the U13 600m.
World Masters Indoors Championships
The World Masters Championships concluded on Saturday in Torun, Poland, with some of Galway’s top veteran athletes claiming medals at the highest level.
The outstanding GCH thrower Sean Breathnach took World Masters gold in the discus, throwing 48.28 metres for victory, and won silver in the shot putt with a season best 17.12 metres to cap off a great competition.
Mary Barrett of Loughrea AC also became World Masters champion, winning gold in the V60 javelin throw.
Castlegar’s Ian Egan claimed a team silver medal in the Masters V50 category in the 8km cross country, along with teammates Shane Healy and Robbie Maher.
Galway Athletics Awards
The Galway Athletics Award Winners for 2018 have been announced in recognition of their superb achievements in the 2018 season, and for their services to athletics over the years in respect of the Hall of Fame and Outstanding Contribution categories. The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday in the Meadow Court Hotel in Loughrea.
Category Winners
U12-15 Girls, Emma Moore GCH; U12-15 Boys, Joint winners Darragh Jennings GCH and Darragh Fahy, Loughrea AC; U16-19 Girls, Laura Cunningham, Craughwell AC; U16-19 Boys, Robert McDonnell GCH; Junior Women, Aoife Sheehy GCH; Junior Men, Jack Dempsey GCH; Senior Women, Nicole Walsh GCH; Senior Men, Sean Breathnach GCH; Master Women, Mary Barrett, Loughrea AC; Master Men, Ian Egan, Castlegar AC; Team of the Year, South Galway U14 Boys Relay Team, Andrew Horan, David Mannion, Ruairi Dillon, Stephen Mannion, Shane Cassidy and Rian Dunne Leavy. Coach of the Year, Brendan Glynn GCH; Outstanding Contribution, Eamonn O'Donnell GCH and Andrew Talbot, Clare River Harriers; Hall of Fame: Mick Molloy (Irish Olympian in Mexico 1968 Olympics ) and Christine Kennedy (Irish international marathon runner and multiple National champion ).
New Inn 5k
Cathal O'Reilly of Loughrea AC was first home in the annual 5k New Inn Road Race held Sunday March 31, clocking 16.32 for victory. The first woman over the line, and second overall was Laura Shaughnessy in a time of 17.14. Hugh McArdle of Roscommon Harriers was third home, with Aoife Fallon of Castlegar AC impressing as second woman home in 18.45.
Fixtures
University Outdoor Track and Field championships: The Intervarsities Track and Field competition will be held on Friday and Saturday at the outdoor track at Athlone Institute of Technology. NUIG and GMIT will both field strong squads, with NUIG featuring sprinters Sarah Quinn and Nicole Walsh, Finlay Daly in the steeplechase, and Aengus Meldon over 800m.
