AAI Summer Games 2021

The AAI Summer Games took place today in IT Campus in Carlow in glorious sunshine testing athletes even more than normal. Our crew of athletes included Conor Wilson, Aaron Tierney-Smith Clodagh Dunbar & Michael Deady.

Michael again outdid himself running 11.23 over 100m improving his recently set PB finishing 1st in his heat.

Clodagh ran 200m in 27.22 for 6th in her heat & over 400m ran 1:02.85 for 7th place.

Aaron stepped up to 110m hurdles finishing 3rd in 15.49 & over 200m was 4th in his heat with 23.18

Conor claimed a Season Best 11.30 over 100m & over 200m ran 23.35 for 5th in his heat.

Conor, Aaron & Clodagh had strong headwinds against them in their races making it even tougher.

Dedicated training again showing with these performances so we'll done to athletes and coaches for their hard work.

Fighting Cocks 5k/10k, Gaelforce, King of Greystones triathlon

On Saturday morning a group members travelled to Carlow to run the Fighting Cocks 5k/10k event. A very well organised event by all accounts under the guidlines. Well done to Finbarr Bradley & Oliver Stack who ran the 10k and Fran Power, Orla Redmond, Sinead Ryan & Maeve White who ran the 5k in heatwave conditions.

Also on Saturday morning Miriam Hill travelled to the West for the Gaelforce West adventure run. This involved running, cycling & kayaking her way around the course again in heatwave conditions.

Finally today John & Sharron Dier were in Greystones for the King of Greystones triathlon. They both loved the challenge of the swim, cycle, run event.

Well done everyone.

Juvenile County Championships July 2021

Sometimes Mam writes it best .....

"It was Darragh's turn to get back to competition last night. Boy was it hot! His smile didn't stop all evening, reunited with pals from other clubs. Bronze in the turbo javelin, PB in the long jump, ran well in the final of the 60m and came around the side in the 300m from a steady start to finish 6th. His Lincoln City Football Club shorts work perfectly with his Menapians Athletic Club vest! "

A sweltering day on and off the track this weekend as the Leinster U14-U18 took place at the fantastic venue that is Carlow.

Another good crew of athletes competing in club colours.

Grace White in her first ever Leinsters competed well in a fast heat over 100m and then moved to the long jump pit and just missed out on progressing to the final. Great experience gained for her.

Eimear Halpin competed well in the U18 discus and 100m hurdles for the first time competing well and finished 5th in both events with more to come next weekend.

Jack Halpin broke his PB while taking home a silver claiming 2nd place in the U16 discus.

Ailbhe White placed a brilliant 4th place over 400m and was unlucky not to grab a bronze with close times amongst the top few athletes.

Ruby Reynolds claimed a fantastic silver placing 2nd over 80m hurdles.

Overall a great event as each athlete performed well and was happy with their event.

Well done and thanks to our coaches for their efforts in preparing our athletes for competition.

Mr.Oil Senior Road Race

A sweltering evening on Friday evening saw the holding of the Mr. Oil Senior Road Race with Slaney Olympic again the kind hosts. The temperatures were at their highest of the year as Enniscorthy was the venue as athletes raced over the now familiar but just as challenging Old Dublin Road route. The distance was 5k for ladies and 10k for men this time out.

Ladies were first up at 7pm and we had 4 ladies proudly wearing our club vest. They performed well and finished as 5th team overall.

Alex Donohue 22.43

Paula Gondard 23.17

Sinéad Morris 23.29

Mary Gaynor 24.24

Next up the Men's race took to their start line as the temperature remained high. Two club members proudly wore the vest in this race and put in good performances on the night.

Gavin Hayes 44.26

John Dier 52.25

A well organised event once again and thanks to the County Board & Slaney Olympic. Congratulations to all winners especially on such a warm night.

At the Mr. Oil County U14/15/16 Championships we had a crew of athletes competing in Enniscorthy on Friday evening the 9th July.

Abbie Bolger competed at U14 100m, long jump & Shot putt.

Isabella Gondard competed at U14 long jump, 100m & Shot putt.

Holly Byrne competed at U14 long jump & 100m.

Jack Halpin claimed 3rd & bronze in the U16 Shot putt 🥉

Ciaran Meyler was busy collecting bronze over 100m, bronze over 800m and then showing his versatility collecting another bronze in long jump 🥉🥉🥉

Emmet Cousins wearing a club vest for the first time competed in long jump & took home a silver medal from the high jump competition 🥈

Well done to all our athletes and also thanks to the County Board for getting yet another competition complete under covid guidlines.

The Leinster Senior/Junior & Masters took place in the fantastic facilities of Carlow IT. Again our athletes did not disappoint as they all put their training to good use and performed to the best of their abilities on the day.

Shane O'Neill was an excellent 1st in 16.26 over hurdles. Aaron Tierney-Smith ran the Senior hurdles in 15.48 claiming 1st place on the podium and then ran 400m in 54.07 claiming 5th place.

Martin Kelly shows no sign of slowing as he claimed M65 gold over 1500m & also showing no signs of slowing was Catherine O'Connor who also claimed gold in W55 1500m.

Roisín O'Reilly was on a mission and led from start to finish taking gold in 3000m steeplechase (a tough energy draining event) with a PB of 10.59

Dedication to his training paid off for Michael Deady over 100m as he clocked 11.28 to qualify for the final, then smashed his PB clocking 11.19 taking a well earned 6th place.

Clodagh Dunbar ran a fine 400m race with a PB of 1:01 to claim 3rd place & Katie Lillis in her first Leinsters (and first run for the club) was 7th in 1:12 also over 400m.

Triini Jurisoo was back throwing and in Junior Shot threw 7.54 grabbing 3rd place and also in Weight for Distance took another 3rd with 5.80.

Ailbhe White was competing over Junior 400m and ran an great 1:04 in her race.

Adam Leahy was unlucky as he had to pull out on the day due to a muscle strain during the warm up, hard decision but the correct one.

Day 2 saw more action from club members. Eimear Halpin was 1st up and claimed 1st place over 400m hurdles in 1:09.78 in the junior race also competed in Junior Discus with an excellent 26.43. Clodagh Dunbar showing great form on the back of her training was 4th over 200m in a PB of 27.15 . Martin Kelly was back to run 800m and 2:45.42 got him 3rd in his heat and resulted in gold medal in M65.

Day 2 of the County Track Field Championships were held on Friday evening in Enniscorthy Sports Hub. A small crew of 3 Menapians were in action. Laragh Walsh showing hard work pays off won her under 13 600m race and took silver in the High jump. Stephen Conlon who has trained consistently well did well in the under 13 long jump while Rory Henderson showed his versatility by setting himself a new personal best in the under 12 high jump.

Well done to our 3 athletes and thanks to our coaches for getting athletes competition ready.

The evening of 30th June saw the first round of the Mr Oil Wexford County Championships in the DMP grounds.

Oisin Carroll won the under 15 hammer in his first ever hammer competition.

Jack Halpin took gold in the under 16 hammer and also gold in discus.

Ailbhe White won silver in the under 17 high jump and silver in long jump and finished with a bronze in the junior high jump.

Eimear Halpin won silver in the under 18 high jump, silver in hammer and silver in discus and finished with a bronze in the long jump.

Triini Jurisoo took gold in the under 18 hammer.

Fantastic results from these young athletes who worked hard on their training every chance they got. Thanks to their coaches for their efforts in preparing for this event and thanks to the County Board for organising this covid compliant event.

*Irish Life National Senior Championships*

A full weekend of athletics took place as the Irish Life National Senior Championships took place. On Friday evening Clodagh Dunbar stepped up to the 400m in Heat 3 finishing 7th clocking 1:04.40 showing her improvements in form after lockdown.

Saturday was a busier day for club members. Conor Wilson ran Heat 3 finishing 5th in 11.37 & Michael Deady ran Heat 4 also 5th in 11.40 over 100m. Roisín O'Reilly took to the start line in a very competitive 3000m steeplechase and finished in 11:05.60 posting a PB for herself.

On Sunday Conor Wilson was 3rd in Heat 5 23.06 over 200m & Leon Reid ran Heat 2 finishing 1st in 20.94, then in the final Leon ran 20.79 to claim a gold medal. In the 110m hurdles Aaron Tierney Smith was 5th in the final in 15.27.

Congratulations to all our athletes, they are showing great dedication to their training and showing excellent progress. Keep at it and thanks to all the coaches who work away in the background ensuring athletes are ready for competition.