Two Galway athletes have been named in the Irish squad that will compete at the World Masters Athletics Championships in Daegu, South Korea.
Sean McDermott of Castlegar AC and Ian Egan of Tuam AC headed to South Korea for this seventh annual indoor event which kicks off this week.
McDermott claimed a superb team gold medal on the Irish over 35s cross country team recently with fellow team mates Ronan Kearns and Paul Fleming of Rathfarnham AC, while Ian Egan placed a fine seventh overall in the O45 category in the cross country event .
Schools cross country
In other action Cillian Jordan of St Enda’s is the sole Galway representative at the international cross country event this weekend in Port Talbot, Wales.
Jordan makes his international debut on the Irish junior boys' team which pits Ireland against Wales, Scotland and England over a 4500m distance in the Schools International Athletic Board's international.
Also travelling will be Kathryn Casserly of GCH, who has been appointed as intermediate girls' team manager for the event, bringing her vast experience and athletics knowledge on a talented squad.
Back home Laura Shaughnessy of Dundrum South Dublin AC, and formerly of Loughrea, won the Craughwell AC hosted 10-mile road race held on Sunday.
Shaughnessy ran a well-paced race, tucking in behind the leading men early on, and then surging to victory in the second half of the race, clocking 58.01. Second home was the improving John Whiriskey of South Galway AC in 58.54, and third place went to Greg Lundon, also South Galway, in 59.06, both of whom have rapid gains under the guidance of their coach Matt Bidwell. The third man home was Tom Prendergast of host club Craughwell, while the second lady was Athenry AC’s Jane Ann Meehan in 63.01. Siobhan Egan of GCH rounded off a high-quality ladies’ podium with third in 66.01.
Fixtures
The popular Galway 5k series comprising six races returns again this year, sponsored by Bradley Renault.
A final reminder has been issused to all athletes and runners around the county that online entry will open at 8pm on Friday March 24 on Active.com, and the series is expected to sell out in the first hour.
The Irish Life Health National Juvenile Indoor Championships will be held at Athlone IT Arena next weekend over two days. Many of Galway’s top juveniles will compete, kicking off with relays and field events on the programme Saturday. The 1500m will be among the highlights on the Sunday, which also features the walks, high jump and long jump events.
Looking to impress over the 1500 metres will be Eanna Folan, Aaron Brennan and Michael Healy of GCH, while in the field events Craughwell have a number of athletes on the hunt for medals, including Chloe Casey in the shot putt, Laura Cunningham in the long jump, and Jerry Keary in the high jump.
Ballinderry National School will host its annual 5K road race fundraiser on Sunday (March 26 ) at 1pm.
The race is headquartered at the school, is AAI approved, and chip timed. Race entry is €15 for adult, €5 for child and €25 for family, and is open to all. Refreshments will be offered and there will be a raffle on the day.
