Matt Bidwell of GCH made a winning first appearance at the final event in the 2016 Galway 5km series in Athenry on Tuesday.
Bidwell outclassed the field of more than 600, taking a clear win on 15.32. Owen Byrne was second in 16.32 and Philip Niland was third.
Regina Casey of GCH produced her fastest time of the series, clocking 17.24 for victory in the women's section, with Grainne ni Uallachain, also of GCH, in second, and Dee Brophy of Athenry third.
The 5k series, which was first started 10 years ago, has seen phenomenal growth in numbers, and is now an established fixture on the Galway athletics calendar. Two Athenry AC members, Mick Rice and Alan Burke, who have been instrumental in managing the series for the past decade, were recognised at a special end-of-series function in the Raheen Wood Hotel.
Irish Schools Athletics
Galway athletes returned home with a large haul of medals from the Irish Schools Athletics Track and Field championships in Tullamore.
Irish sprinter Cillin Greene, competing for Presentation Athenry, had a great day, winning the senior boys 200m and finishing second in the 100m.
Seren O'Toole took silver in the 200m junior girls, and Laura Ann Costello secured a well-deserved bronze in the senior girls 200m for Yeats College Galway. Lydia Doyle took silver in the intermediate 80m hurdles for HRC Mountbellew.
There was a tremendous win in the senior girls 3000m by Aisling Joyce of Yeats College Galway, who clocked 10:00.23 for gold and a PB in the process.
Brendan Lynch took gold in the intermediate triple jump for St Brigid's College in Loughrea with a huge leap of 13.17m.
St Joseph’s College (The Bish ) in Galway also won gold in the intermediate boys relay, with a superb anchor leg by Sean Kilmartin, taking the team from fourth to gold on the home straight.
St Mary’s athletes also secured a number of medals with a double for Kelvin Samson who took bronze in the intermediate 400m h hurdles and the triple jump events, while the school took silver in the senior 4x100m relay, clocking 44.13
There was also a silver medal win in the junior shot putt for Chloe Casey of St Raphael’s Loughrea, who threw 12.32m.
At other events, Jane Ann Meehan of Athenry AC placed a fine eighth overall in the women's Mini Marathon in Dublin on Monday, while Neasa Be Burca of GCH made the top 10 in the women's section of the Cork Marathon, also on Monday, running 3.22
Keith Fallon of GCH clocked 1.54 in the 800m at the Irish Milers Club meet in Tullamore.
Fixtures
This weekend sees the Connacht U9-11 team championships in Dangan, while the national track and field league round one takes place, with the Galway women's squad and GCH men’s team both competing in Athlone. Team managers Sarah Finnegan and Brendan Glynn will be hoping to emulate last year's successes and reach the league final again.
Killeeneen 5K
Killeeneen National School will hold its third 5km road race on Thursday, June 16. The 5km which is chip timed, will kick start at 7pm from the historic Liam Mellows 1916 Commemorative monument located in the heart of Killeeneen.
The annual event will also feature a 1km Primary School Run (6.15pm ) and a 2.5km walk (6.30pm ). Refreshments and prize giving will take place afterwards.
Éadaoin O’Callaghan from Killeeneen National School, is "delighted the race has become an annual event".
"While it is very popular among race enthusiasts, it’s also a great event for the community in general.’’
Funds raised from the event go towards the Killeeneen National School Building Fund. To register for the main 5km race, visit www.runireland.com by Wednesday, June 15. Registration will also take place at Killeeneen National School on the evening of the event from 5.30pm to 6.30pm. The registration fee is €15.
