Galway rising middle-distance runner Keith Fallon claimed two national titles at the weekend’s All Ireland Indoor Junior and Under 23 Championships in Athlone.
The Galway City Harrier took gold medals in both the u-23 800m in a time of 1.56, and in the 1500m in four minutes flat. Fallon took on both races early on, and won from the front in an impressive display of middle distance running.
Fallon was one of several athletes to star for the local club. Evan McGuire won the junior men’s 400m in a new indoor personal best of 49.78, with Robert Meagher finishing fourth in the same event. Sprinter Laura Ann Costello won silver in the junior women’s 200m new indoor best for her of 7.69, while Maebh Brannigan finished second in the junior women’s 400m, in which Alanna Lally took bronze. There were also impressive performances from GCH sprinters James Mitchell, who made the 60m final, and Simon O’Shaughnessy
Cathriona Farrell of Craughwelll AC took the national u-23 high jump title with a fine leap over 1.75m, while Athenry AC's Sinead Touhy won the silver medal in the same event.
Peadar Harvey, also Craughwell AC, sliced another second off his 800m best and came very close to breaking the two-minute barrier for the first time with a time of 2.00.43 to take the bronze medal behind Fallon.
Coldwood four mile road race
Almost 190 hardy souls braved the elements on a windy and cold day for Sunday’s second annual Coldwood four mile race.
Jason Broderick of Craughwell AC was first home in a time of 22.01, a new course record by 33 seconds. He finished 15 seconds ahead of GCH’s Fintan Hyland with Jerome DeBize also of GCH third, a further two minutes back.
The ladies’ race was won by Sharon Cleere in 25.47, a massive two minute chunk off the course record from last year. She was followed home 30 seconds later by Helen Corbett of GCH, with Lisa McTigue a further minute back
National Masters All Ireland Indoor Championships
There were four medals for Galway City Harriers athletes at the national masters event with road race supremo Matthew Bidwell, taking to the track for the first time this year, winning the 3000m O40 category with relative ease in a 9.15. Clubmate Eamon Hornibrook won bronze in the O40in the O40 1500m in a season’s best 4.30. GCH sprinter Killian Dooley won the O40 400m silver medal in a time of 61.20, while long serving GCH man Dick O Hanlon won the shot put bronze with a throw of 10 metres
Peter O Sullivan of Loughrea AC won silver in a great battle in the O35 1500, just being pipped by Niall Sheil on the line for the win, O Sullivan ran 4.06.
In the ladies’ events, Katrin Antweiler of Tuam picked up gold in the O35 60m hurdles and bronze in the long jump.
Mary Barrett of Loughrea AC won gold medals in the O55 shot put and long jump, while clubmate Judith Roche won the 060 3000m, and took silver in the O60 800m. Corofin’s Margaret Higgins, competing in the O60s events, took gold in the shot put and long jump and silver medals in the 60m and the 200m, a superb haul of four medals.
