Galway athletes enjoyed success at the recent National Masters Track and Field Championships in Tullamore.
Sean Breathnach of GCH again took top billing, claiming an incredible four national gold medals, winning the javelin, shot put, discus and weight for distance events, and also won silver in the hammer.
It was a good day also for fellow GCH thrower Linas Mitkas, who took national gold at O45 level in the shot put, discus, weight for distance and hammer events. Brendan Staunton took gold in the O35 discus, and claimed silver in the 035 shot put, hammer and weight for distance, while on the track, Jim Phelan claimed gold in the O45 400m.
GCH women excelled, with Majella Loftus winning two sprint medals, silver in the 100m and bronze in the 200m, while in the distance events, Sinead Foran won bronze over 1500m at O40 level and Majella Ni Chriochain won bronze over 3000m.
GCH women's relay squads won gold medals in the 4x400m relay, and silver in the 4x100m relay, with the team of Majella Loftus, Sonya King, Jean O Connor, Kathryn Casserly, Karen Quirke and Sinead Foran. GCH men’s relay squad claimed silver in the 4x400 , just ahead of Castlegar AC who won bronze.
Mark Davis of Craughwell AC continued his great season, winning silver at O45 level in the 5000m, clocking 16.17. Sprinters Ronnie Warde and John Walkin, also of Craughwell AC, both won silverware with some top class performances over 100m.
In the field, Mairead Welby of Corrib AC won three national medals, including gold in the shot put, silver in the discus silver, and a weight for distance bronze. Olivier Griseti won bronze in the shot put for Castlegar AC, while Justin Lane of Tuam AC and club colleague Leonie Hegarty both picked up medals in the throws.
