With the Olympic Games just a few weeks away there was an air of anticipation around Santry Stadium at the weekend. The event was Woodies DIY senior track and field championships held over the two days, Saturday and Sunday. Photographers and reporters were intent on recording the final achievements of some of our Beijing-bound stars.
Many young “stars of the future” sought autographs, and the stars obliged everyone. There were some great performances. Robbie Heffernan from the Togher Club in Cork and Ireland’s competitor in the 20K walk in Beijing, set a blistering pace in the 10K walk final. This he won in 38 minutes 27.57 seconds, the fastest time in the world this year. What a form to be in as he prepares to depart for the Far East!
Unfortunately a few of our Kilkenny athletes had to withdraw because of injury. Included in this category were Niall Sheehan, Gowran and Emily Maher and Joanne Cuddihy. Joanne, who is undergoing treatment for an injured calf muscle, hopes, as does everyone else does, that all will be well in time for the games. That aside, there were some sterling performances from local athletes. Kilkenny City Harriers made many visits to the podium for medal presentations while the throwers never faltered.
Eileen O’Keeffe was the first athlete on the podium on Saturday after a heart-warming display in the hammer. Her first four throws were in excess of the 70 metre mark, her winning throw being 72.75 metres. Then about one hour later she took the gold in the discus event with a PB throw of 46.44m, an event which according to herself, she does “for fun”. Eileen will have another warm-up competition against some world-class throwers at the Morton Memorial Meeting in Santry Stadium on Friday night.
Aoife Hickey, also paid two visits to the podium: A silver in the shot put with 12.95m and bronze in the hammer with 50.49m. All of Aoife’s throws were close to her best in both events. Such consistent throwing, at this level from a juvenile athlete, augers well for the future. Another juvenile who hit the top spot was Ciara Everard who ran a perfect 800m to take the gold in 2.13.35. Ciara led from the start and when her rivals closed in on her with 200 to go, she had the courage and the pace to take them on and beat them to the line. A marvellous result. Juraj Kubis put in a great performance in the men’s javelin. Second in 2007 he made no mistake this time with consistent sixty metre throws taking first place with 61.41 metres.
On the track there were some fine battles. Eoin Everard fought one of these in the men’s 800m final. Eoin won his heat on Saturday in the second-fastest time of 1.54.43. In the final the battle for 1st, 2nd and 3rd was between himself, Thomas Chamney ( heat time 1.53.54 ) and David Campbell (heat time 1.54.78 ). It was a tough battle with the latter two coming past Everard as they came down the finishing straight. Eoin finished with a bronze medal in 1m.52.01secs. Another hard fought battle which also resulted in bronze was that by Brian Maher in the 5000m. Brian tucked in at the back of the pack for the first few laps. As a leading group of six broke away he moved through the field. By the time he joined the front group the ultimate winner, Mark Christie, and Belfast man Stephen Scullion had got well away from the others. Maher pressed on and as Scullion faded, Maher made his move for second. The major battle was now on to hold the faster finishers Aidan Bailey, Clonliffe, and Emet Dunleavy, Sligo. He succeeded in holding Dunleavy and finished in third in 14mins 48.94 seconds.
Loughboy man, Eoin Kelly, competing with St Abban’s club, won silver in the triple jump. His winning jump of 14.34m was a mere two cms behind the winner.
Brow Rangers had two men in the medals. John Farrelly, a teacher in Kilkenny College who recently joined the Brow club, was third in the shot put with a throw of 12.48m. Then the combination of himself and Joe Kelly were victorious in the senior shot relay. A third member of the club, Eddie Byrne, came close when he finished 4th in the 56lbs for height with a best throw of 4.15meters.
All in all, this was a marvellous championship by the Kilkenny athletes. Those who didn’t make the medals still turned in good quality runs. Among those who come to mind are Gowran athlete’s Mick Kelly in the 1,500m, Tommy Evans in the 5,000m, Nathan O’Brien, Kilkenny City Harriers in the 200m. Some KCH athletes making their debut at this level can be proud of their achievements. Killian Everard was fifth in his 200m heat in 23.96secs; Jonathan Holmes came close to qualifying for the 100m final when he finished fourth in his heat in 11.01 seconds. Mick Dore had a double engagement in the 800m and in the 1,500m where he once again achieved a personal best.
As is customary on national final day, the AAI honour winners from the past. This year’s honours roll based on 1978 winners included long and triple jumper, Mick O’Flynn and shot and discus thrower, Marita Walton. It is interesting to note that Marita still holds the national shot put record which stands at 16.99 meters.
