The 150th edition of the Irish Life National Track & Field Championships took place in Morton Stadium over the weekend. A most prestigious event for all track athletes to compete at. Very windy conditions on the track made the events even tougher and times reflected the tough conditions.
On Saturday Clodagh Dunbar was drawn in the outside lane in her 200m heat finishing just off her pb in 26.70 seconds in 4th place for an overall 10th place
Conor Wilson ran in Lane 6 in his 200m heat and after a brilliant run in 22.70 seconds to finish 2nd in his heat agonisingly just missed the final by 0.03 seconds.
Aaron Tierney-Smith was in lane 4 for the 400m and came home in 50.33 seconds for 3rd place in his heat.
Eimear Halpin took on the 400m hurdles running in a tough lane coming home 5th in her heat in 1:10.13
On Sunday day 2 saw more Menapians competing, Conor Wilson & Michael Deady were back to race the 100m with Conor running 12.16 & Michael running 12.45 in the heats.
Well done to Orla Dolan who was our Ambassador representing the club so well in the celebratory parade and ran the 150m run with club members from clubs all over the country.
As with all events they cannot be held without volunteers and Michael McKeon, Mags Malone, Kate Wilson, Steve Wilson and Padraig Kelly all gave their time helping in various roles ensuring all events ran smoothly.
Well done to Sinead Ryan who today travelled to Waterford and completed the unusual distance of a Quarter Marathon.
Well done Sinead
In 2019 the last race held pre covid was Glynn 5k and yesterday the ever popular race returned to the calender. Some of our road racing crew travelled the short distance to take part and thankfully the heavy rain showers didn't show up.
Gavin Hayes 21.54, Fran Power 23.30, John Dier 25.00 & Brian Reilly 29.35 were all happy to get back on the roads of Glynn.
Well done folks.
An enjoyable evening of athletics was held last night Friday the 17th at the Enniscorthy Sports hub where the Mr Oil County B Championships were held. There was a good turn out of athletes representing the club participating in U9,U10 and U11 events. Athletes participated in sprints, middle distance, long jump and turbo javelin. Well done to the Oisin Moran, Benny Longeran, Conor Donovan and Chloe Carroll in U9 events, Callum Redmond in the U10 events and in the U11 events Amy Conde, Faye Carthy, Elijah Donegan, Max Gilhooley, Nico Losec, Sophie Fortune, Abbie Donovan and Este Longergan represented the club.
Well done to all our competitors
The Leinster Track & Field was the event for our athletes at the weekend as they hit the road to Tullamore for 2 days of competition.
On Saturday Josh Nolan took bronze in u14 javelin throwing a pb at his first Leinsters. He also ran the 80m finishing 7th.
Lukas Page-Redmond had a 6th place finish in the u16 100m.
Elijah Page-Redmond also threw a pb to take silver in u14 javelin and ran really well taking silver in u14 80m sprint. He also ran the u15 Inter County Relay claiming a bronze.
Ailbhe White was in action over 400m pushing really hard but had to settle for a 5th place finish.
On Day 2 Elijah was back to take a bronze over 200m u14.
Eimear Halpin was busy as ever collecting silver in the u19 hammer, discus and the 400m hurdles.
OisÃn Carroll was at his first Leinsters throwing a pb in the u16 hammer and going home with a gold medal.
Lukas Page-Redmond finish a well placed 5th in the final of the u16 200m.
Great results from 2 days of competition after a lot of hard work at training.
Special thanks to all the coaches involved with our young athletes.
Our County and Leinster u16 hammer thrower OisÃn Carroll.
Well Done Oisin.
Sunday morning the 19th our club members met up to launch our 5k Road Race by running the route ourselves. As with every other event we were unable to hold our race in 2020 or in 2021. This year we are back on the same fast route with the same welcome tea n buns afterwards.
Please support our Road Race on July 1st and all monies raised are re-invested into the club. We cater from age 8 upwards in a multitude of events and all abilities are catered for.
A special word of thanks to our sponsors -
Arachas Corporate Insurance Brokers,
Doyle Mahon Insurance Brokers,
Dulann &
Aston Lark Ireland.
And also to Clayton Whites for their provision of race packs.
Something a little different for club member Tadhg Henderson at the weekend of the 11th, as he competed what was to be a triathlon but due to strong winds the decision was taken to replace the swim with a run so it was the Hook or by Crook Duathlon.
Well done to you Tadhg.
Mary Cronin was in Cork City over the weekend taking part in the Cork Half Marathon. Well done Mary
A busy day for John & Sharron Dier on Sunday the 5th as they both competed in different counties. John was first into his gear as he swam, cycled & ran his way around Athy Co. Kildare in 1:17.52
Next up Sharron was amongst the 20,000 or so ladies who completed the 10k Women’s Mini Marathon in Dublin City. Well done to Sharron who ran 1:02 as she beat her PB for 10k.
Each athletics club was recently asked by Athletics Ireland to nominate a Juvenile member to act as an Ambassador and to participate in a parade celebrating the 150th edition of the National Track & Field Championships at the end of June. A very prestigious opportunity for any young athlete and a huge honour to be part of these celebrations representing our club. After the parade they will take part in a 150m run on the track in front of all Athletics fans.
Our chosen Ambassador is someone who at aged 7 joined our Fundamental Athletics group training in the Presentation. She has consistently attended training with a smile as she progressed on to the Secondary School training group. She has attended many club events, Winter Leagues and County Championships over the years and always gives her all with a smile on her face.
Best wishes from everyone at Menapians AC to Orla Dolan pictured at training with her training crew and coaches. We hope you and your family have a great day.
Anyone interested in attending the National Championships can bring U16's free of charge to the National Track & Field event, full details on Athletics Ireland website.
The Leinster Championships was the place to be over the weekend as athletes basked in the beautiful weather awaiting their event call then seeking out some shade to cool off at the fantastic grounds of Carlow IT.
On Saturday Michael Deady was in his own words 'not at the races' today as he competed over 100m finishing 7th in his heat with 11.98, better to come in the races ahead from Michael.
Clodagh Dunbar was hitting her first outdoor 400m of the season and was delighted with a very creditable 4th place in a tough competitive race, claiming a 400m PB in the process of 1:01.30
Liam Berry was busy in long jump and 400m. He ran a really well in 56.43 which gave him a 7th place overall and also jumped 5.56m for 6th in the long jump which we believe is a new PB for him. An athlete who is consistently improving.
Ailbhe White stood up and raced the 400m and posted a great time of 1:03.56 showing steady improvement every time she races. Another athlete whose consistency shows every times she races.
On Sunday there was more club vests on show.
Eimear Halpin raced the energy sapping 400 hurdles grabbing a brilliant bronze in 1:08.13 another great run over hurdles.
Clodagh returned for day 2 racing the 200m in 27.07 another outdoor best for her capping a good 2 days for her.
Congratulations to all our athletes and thanks to all club coaches for their time and efforts getting athletes to these events.
Tara Bishop Memorial 5k.
A warm sunny Sunday welcomed everyone to Ballymurn for the return of the Tara Bishop Memorial 5k today. As usual a good crew of club members turned out.
Dermot Foley 20.09, Gavin Hayes 20.46, Fran Power 22.09, Rob Casey 22.59, John Dier 23.09, Michael Kinsella 23.25, Oliver Stack 28.31 & Sharron Dier 32.58 all completed the 5k route.
Well done to everyone .
At the National League 3 members were entered as guests at the weekend in Templemore. Not a great day weatherwise for athletics but nothing we can do about that. Damp and breezy all day.
Conor Wilson was in great form running 11.39 into the wind over 100m winning his heat then stepping up to run the 200m in 23.30.
Clodagh ran the 200m but there was an issue with the timing equipment so no time but she finished 4th.
She ran the 100m into a strong headwind finishing 4th place.
Michael Deady ran 12.03 for the 100m finishing 5th in his heat.
Great stuff from our 3 athletes, still more to come from you all.
Our next crew of coaches competed the AAI coaching hosted by Colin Byrne on Sunday the 22nd of May in Rosslare Strand.
Well done to our Ollie, Fran, Chris, Paul Tracey, Tadhg & Liam and looking forward to the sessions in the future.
On Saturday he 21st of May, the venue was Santry for the Leinster Schools and Ailbhe White & Eimear Halpin headed up the now familiar N11 to compete.
Eimear was competing at Senior discus and Senior 400 hurdles claiming a well earned 4th over the hurdles in a competitive field.
Ailbhe was competing over 400m and finished strong also in a very competitive field coming home in 6th place.
Great work from both girls who still have another year in this event next year.
Well done to you both.