Galway City Harriers claimed five titles at the National Juvenile Relay Championships, breaking three All-Ireland records in the process.
The U13 girls’ 4x100m squad of Sinead Duggan, Sarah Agboola, Emma Moore, Eimear Rowe and Chellene Trill took gold in a time of 52.63 - the same team that broke the Irish indoor record earlier in the year.
The U19 boys’ 4x100m quartet of Eoghan Dobey, Shane Trainor Canavan, Dylan Neary and Cillian Greene stormed home to victory in an Irish record time of 43.88, dominating the race from the start.
The U18 boys also were impressive with Eoghan Dobey, Sean Kilmartin, Shane Trainor Canavan and Cillian Greene taking the honours and claiming a third record of the day for the city club, in a time of 43.53.
The U17 girls’ 4x100m race ended dramatically in a photo finish for the top three teams but Sally Ann O’Malley’s dip on the line was enough to secure the gold, and she was ably assisted by Lydia Doyle, Roisin Flynn and Laura Nally.
The girls’ U16 squad of Eadaoin Langan, Laura Nally, Laoise Geraghty and Lydia Doyle also won their final in emphatic style in a great time of 50.29 to make it a fifth gold for GCH.
GCH’s U18 girls, Clodagh O’Hanlon, Roisin Flynn, Sarah McDonnell and Nicole King, took silver in their race, while the U17 boys, Sean Kilmartin, Luke O’Shaughnessy, Casper Poniatowski and Darren Costello, claimed bronze. The U12 girls, Gillian McGrath, Hannah O’Grady , Emma Moore and Aoibhinn Costelloe, pulled off an amazing bronze.
Also taking place on the day was the Juvenile ‘B’ Competition. Kara McCleane of GCH won silver in the 600m in a great time of 1.48, Joanna Healy finished sixth, Hannah King finished fifth in the final of the 60m and Ava McCleane finished third in her heat, narrowly missing the final.
Duggan runs for Ireland
Conor Duggan of Craughwell AC competed on the Irish Junior Men’s 4x100m relay squad, which made the final in the European Junior Championships in Sweden, placing seventh in the event overall.
National League
Galway county ladies and GCH men’s teams competed in round two of the National Track and Field league in Athlone, with a top eight finish needed to make the final.
The women’s team made the final, with a fifth place overall finish. Those competing were Maeve Curley, Sinead Treacy, Dearbhala Walsh, Sinead Gaffney, Aubree Piepmeier, Alanna Lally, Maebh Brannigan, Sarah McDonnell, and in the field, Mary Barrett and Sarah Finnegan, all of whom picked up valuable points.
GCH men’s squad also performed well and totalled over 100 points on the day, with wins in the shot and discus for Sean Breathnach and Evan Maguire respectively. There were second place finishes for walker Seamus Leddy, Brendan Staunton in the hammer, Keith Fallon in the 1500, and Cillin Green in the 200m, and other strong performances from Henry Griffin in the jumps, Igor Muntean in the high jump, and Owen McDonnell and John Moroney on the track.
East Galway AC races
East Galway AC held both an 8km and 5km race, which was a UHG Cancer Care Unit Fundraiser on Sunday in Castleblakeney. Damien Larkin of Craughwell AC won the 8k in 29.25, ahead of David Meehan in 29.42. Fergal Walsh of Athenry AC was the 5k victor, coming home in 18.43 ahead of Brian Burke of Ballinasloe and Daniel Folan of Ennis Track AC.
Mick Clohisey from Raheny Shamrock AC set a new course record of 29:44 in Sunday’s SSE Airtricity Fingal 10k in Swords. Mark Kenneally (Clonliffe Harriers ) also posted a sub 30 minute time in second place with 29:48. Third home was Gary Thornton (Galway City Harriers ) in 30:23, a good run for the city man as his preparations for the national half marathon and an autumn marathon continue.
