Olympian Robert McDonnell of Galway City Harriers was one of several Galway elite athletes to enjoy success on the international stage at the IFAM meet in Belgium.
McDonnell was hugely impressive, breaking the National U23 outdoor 200m record with a time of 20.51 while competing at the event on Saturday.
The 19-year-old takes the record from Steven Colvert (Crusaders AC ) who set the record 10 years ago, and moves him up the all-time rankings to fourth spot.
McDonnell has enjoyed a stellar year so far in the 200m, with a top spot podium finish at each race in which he has competed both indoor and outdoor. At the recent Belfast Milers Meet he set a previous PB of 20.61, as well as winning the Irish Senior Indoor 200m Championship title in February.
Sinead Treacy of Craughwell AC represented an Irish 400m quartet alongside Charlene Mawdsley, Sophie Becker and Nessa Millet to take second place behind a Belgian select team in a time of 3:37. Treacy clocked 56.41 individually to cap a great day for her.
Other NUIG athletes to compete included Sarah Quinn, Andrew Egan and Aaron Keane.
Galway 5k Series
Gerard Cuddy of GCH won the penultimate leg of the 2022 EY-sponsored Galway 5k Series in Athenry on Tuesday in a time of 16.27. He came in ahead of Adrian Grogan of Castlegar in second in 16.46 and Sean Burke of Tuam AC, just one second behind.
Jane Ann Healy of GCH won the women's section in a personal best and fastest time of the series of 17.40, ahead of clubmate Catherine Thornton in 17.45, with Julie Bradshaw also of GCH in third spot in 18.45
The Galway 5k Series concluded on Tuesday in Clarenbridge.
Galway County Championships
Galway's young athletes were in Dangan at the weekend for the Galway County Juvenile Track and Field Championships.
Saturdays highlights included Ava McKeon of GCH who secured double gold over 100m and 400m hurdles, as did Jade Moorhead of Craughwell AC over 200m and in the high jump.
In the U18 boys' events, Mathieu Madden of GCH, Evan Hallinan of Craughwell, and Liam Shaw of Athenry AC also struck double gold.
At U17 level, Caoimhe Kilkenny won double sprint gold over 100m and 200m for Ballinasloe and District AC, while in the U16 boys', Lamar Luciano also won the sprint double for Castlegar over 100 and 200m.
At U16 level Amy Rose Kelly of South Galway, Danielle Moynihan of Tuam, and Molly Smith of Loch Lurgan AC, won multiple gold medals.
Declan O Connell of Craughwell was hugely impressive at U15 level, winning the 800m and 1500m double in two superb time, while in the girls' events, Angela Cielecka of GCH impressed with double sprint gold over 100m and 200m and long jump gold. Conor Penney of Craughwell was another triple gold winning champion.
Sunday's events featured the U9-U11 paired competitions, with the top three pairs in each event progressing to Connacht championships in June, as well as the individual U12 events.
A huge entry of some 560 athletes competed in the six event programmes, which included sprint, middle distance, long jump, turbo javelin and relay, with all Galway clubs among the medals.
Fixtures
All Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships: This weekend sees one of the highlights of the Irish athletic season take centre stage, with the Irish Schools' Track and Field Championships on Saturday in Tullamore. Many of Galway’s top young stars will compete against the best in the country, including Liam Shaw of Athenry, David and Stephen Mannion of South Galway AC, and Ella O'Connor of GCH.
Galway County Junior, Senior and Masters championships: The Galway County Junior, Senior and Masters championships take place over three days, starting on June 2. Competition starts from 7pm, with the 100m and 110m hurdles, 100m, 400m and 1500m on the track and field events including shot putt, javelin and long jump
