Galway City Harriers’ Robert McDonnell continues his excellent season, having claimed a top five place at the European Under 20 Championships in Tallinn, Estonia.
McDonnell, who raced over 200m at the prestigious event, placed fifth overall in a top-class final, clocking 21.19 behind UK winner Derek Kinlock.
The talented Galway athlete, who is part of the Irish Olympic team heading to Tokyo, made it through the heats, winning his first race, and then progressed to the semi-finals to reach Saturday’s final..
Galway track and field championships
Galway Athletics Board will be holding Galway senior, masters, and junior track and field championships over two days, July 22 and 29 next, at the Regional Sports Centre track in Dangan, Galway. Events will be held from 7.15pm each evening.
The Connacht Juvenile Championships in track and field events were held last weekend over two days in Athlone IT and included qualification for the national championships next month.
Among the Galway winners at U12 level were Sarah Donald of GCH in the long jump, while Alan Hallinan of Craughwell AC claimed a superb triple gold, in the 60m hurdles, 600m and long jump. There was a joint first via Dara Breathnach of GCH and Oisin O Donovan of Craughwell AC in the high jump.
In the U13 section, Rachel Warde of Craughwell won the 80m and short hurdles, Hazel Fahy of Loughrea AC won the 600m, and in the field, Lauren Morgan of Craughwell AC took long jump gold. Tuam AC's Rebecca Moynihan won high jump gold, while Annalysse Nally took gold in the turbo javelin and Tom Henry of Tuam won the 60m. Sam Casey of Craughwell won the high jump.
At U14 level, GCH 's Angela Cielecka claimed a superb triple gold, winning the long jump, the 80m and the 200m, while clubmate Lucy Hounkponou of GCH won the 75m hurdles. Savanagh O'Callaghan was first in the 2k walk for Tuam. In the field, there was a dead heat in the high jump with Craughwell's Emma O'Donovan and GCH's Katie McGeehan claiming gold, while Juno Hayes, also of of GCH took shot put gold. Caltra and District's Katie O'Shaughnessy won discus gold.
There was also triple delight for Sean Hoade of Craughwell AC, with long jump, 200m and hurdles victories, while GCH clubmates Daniel Sangodole won the 80m sprint, and Matthew Neill the race walk. In the field, Connor Penny of Craughwell AC jumped 1.65m for a great win in the high jump, and there were wins over 1500m for Declan O Connell of Craughwell in a fast 4.31, and Niamh Mannion of Castlegar AC.
At U15 level, double winners abounded. Craughwell's Ella Farrelly won the 100m and long jump, while Amy Rose Kelly of South Galway AC claimed 200m and 80m hurdles gold. In the 250m hurdles, Tuam's Orlaith Mannion emerged victorious, and in the field, her clubmate Danielle Moynihan won high jump gold, while GCH's Tara Keane took victory in the shot put. GCH's Ronan Duggan was another triple victor, take gold in the hurdles over 250m, the 100m and the 200m, while Caouilin Murphy of Conamara AC took hurdle’s victory. In the field Darragh Kelly of Craughwell AC won the high jump, GCH's Shane Meagher took the long jump honours, and double throwing gold went to Jack O'Shaughnessy of Caltra in the shot put and discus.
The standout athlete in the 16s was Margaret Nnadi of GCH , who won gold in the 100m and 200m sprints, and also won the shot put. Clubmate Nicole Duffy won over the 80m hurdles , with Sara Duffy of South Galway AC taking the 250m hurdles event. Craughwell's Grace Keaveney claimed gold in the long jump, and clubmate Adara Salvo won the triple jump. Tuam's Danielle Fitzpatrick claimed discus gold, GCH's Eva McLoughlin took victory in the javelin, Sinead Maher of South Galway AC won the race walk.
U17 honours went to Sophie Farrell of South Galway AC in the 100m, Alix Joyce of Tuam AC in the 400m, Isabella Burke with a fine double gold over 800m and 1500m for GCH, and clubmate Ava McKeon with double hurdles gold. In the field events, Craughwell's Jade Moorhead took the high jump honours, Erin Kelly won the triple jump, and Aoibhe Fahy won javelin gold. There were sprint victories for Sean Duggan of GCH over 100m and three golds for Stephen Mannion of South Galway over 200m, 400m and the long jump. There were more wins for South Galway via Torin McGuire over 800m, and David Mannion in the 100m hurdles. Mathieu Madden of GCH won the 300m version and the high jump also, while in the field, Athenry's Liam Shaw won both shot put and discus gold, while Evan Quinn of Craughwell claimed the triple jump.
GCH's Emma Moore impressed at U18 level, winning the 400m and 800m, with clubmate Ciara Dolan winning the 200m. Craughwell's Emily Miskella took 1500m gold, Saoirse Moore the high jump, and Sophie O'Brien the long jump gold. Ella Rafferty of Tuam AC won shot put and discus gold with an impressive series of throws. Robert Urquhart was the 400m winner, and his GCH clubmates William McDonnell impressed, winning the 800m and 1500m double with ease, and Conor Hoade the 400m hurdles gold. In the field, GCH's Oisin Keane won triple gold in the throws, winning shot put, discus and javelin, while Craughwell's Lukas Schukat took high jump and triple jump victories. Tuam's Jack Hession was first in the long jump, while Ross McGuinness of Craughwell AC won the 3000m in a fast 9.45.
At U19 level, there were golds for GCH via Eimear Rowe of GCH over 400m, Andrew Egan in the 200m, and Paschal Walsh in the 400m. Aoife Kelly of Craughwell in the triple jump, while clubmates Oisin Davis won the 800m and Sean Cotter the 1500m.
