All competitors were restricted to one event which was hard on multi-discipline participants, as well as those who would normally run two or three races over the afternoon.
Saturday's downpours made it difficult for the Juniors and u20s. Sunday was more benign with warmer and calmer conditions. Given the restrictions (200 maximum in Stadium at one time ), combined with one event policy and travel issues, some of the races and field events had very few competitors.
Here’s how the Mayo AC six fared: In the M65 high jump, Patrick Moran was the only competitor and he claimed gold with a 1:20 clearance. In the M70 javelin, Martin Peyton won bronze – second of two participants with a throw of 26:96 – 10 metres behind the winner.
In the women’s 3,000 metres, Norah Newcombe Pieterse competed in the first of two races with sixteen 35-49 participants. There were seven W40 in the field. She ran a very good race to finish third overall and win silver in her category in 10:25, behind race winner Ciara Hickey W40 (Brothers Pearse AC ) 10:05.
In the other 3,000 for W50-70, there were eighteen on the startline including nine W50. Colette Tuohy ran a very steady pace to finish 3rd overall and silver W50 in 11:02, behind winner Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrock AC ) in 10: 28.
Pauline Moran was also in this race and the only W60 in her category – winning gold with 11:57 and 13th overall. Women’s 800m metres:Paula Donnellan Walsh was one of three W40 in this category and she ran 2:57 to win bronze – best part of a minute behind winner Annette Quaid (Leevale AC ) in 2:10.
It was an excellent day for the six members who travelled to Santry – all coming home with medals. It made the long journey well worthwhile. Congratulations to them all.
Full Results are at www.mayoac.com
