While many of his Mayo AC club mates prepare for the Westport 5k, John Walkin will be heading to the Odyssey Arena in Belfast. The AAI National Senior Indoor Track and Field Championships take place over Saturday and Sunday this weekend. Walkin, who specialises in sprinting, will be rubbing shoulders with many big names when he takes part in the 60 metres event. Over the years he has represented the club with distinction and led the Mayo AC relay team to national silver a number of years ago.
Road race league comes to a conclusion
It all began with the Carramore 10k last May. After eight races at various distances and venues around the county, the ninth and final race of the Mayo AC 2010 Road League comes to an exciting conclusion with the Westport 5k on Sunday next at 11am. This is the 12th year of this increasingly popular series and the fifth time to be supported by the C and C Cellular group. Over the years, many runners have been 'discovered' and quite a few have gone on to achieve success at national and international level. This year some of the league prize winners are already known, having gained enough points in six of the eight races so far. However there is still a lot of running to be done in Westport before the prize presentations for the 5k race itself and the league at Hotel Westport after the race. In addition prizes will be presented to the most improved male and female runners from the league series.
Mayo AC’s Mary Gleeson is already a winner having clocked up 150 points so far over a number of events and will be crowned the women’s champion. In the men’s section Ballina AC runner Roger Barrett is the man to stop and he currently sits on top of the league ahead of his nearest rival and club mate Michael Canty. Entries for the race cost €15 for adults and €10 for u19 and will be taken beside the track in Westport from 9.45am.
Byrne wins Cloonacool 5k
Mayo’s John Byrne won the second annual Cloonacool GAA 5k race last weekend in a time of 15.57, he finished well ahead of team-mate Anto Devaney who came home in second place in a time of 17.28. In the women’s event it was a Mayo two -three with Sarah Syron finishing in second place behind winner Mari Johnston in a time of 20.42. Ann Murray came home in third place in a time of 21.11. Other Mayo competitors who finished the race were Dave Huane, Tom Hunt, Christy O’Malley, and Jimmy Donnelly.
