The finals
of the uneven cross county championships were held in Navan on Sunday 3rd
December. The club was privileged to have 2 athletes running in the Boys U-15
both representing Kerry and Munster. A huge field of nearly 150 runners were on
the start line. The large crowd meant that both Conor McCarthy and Ryan Vickers
had a difficult first 400 metres. After that both picked off the runners ahead
of them and moved well up the field. In a strong finish Ryan finished a very
impressive 6th in a time of 12 minutes 11 seconds. In a very bunched
field Conor finished in 60th just 1 minute behind, both recording
very fast times over the hilly 3.5 kilometre course.
Munster
comfortably won the provincial award with Kerry finishing a very creditable 6th
place. Well done to both athletes who are due a well-deserved break after a
long year that started in last February with the Indoor season. Huge thanks to
Jerome Foley for all his coaching of these athletes this year in what has been
one of the most successful the club has ever had at provincial and National
level.
The same
day in Killarney Samuel Scroope won the Junior Parkrun in his first run with
Tomas Lynch right behind him. Ethan and Amelia O Sullivan along with Liam and
Matthew Smyth were in the Tralee run.
On the 17th December David Kenny had another magnificent
performance in the 20K walk in the World Race Walking Tour 2023 which was held
in Dublin. This event attracted almost 250 athletes from 27 countries. David
finished 4th and was the first Irishman home. David who currently
works as an engineer in Middleton trains every morning at 5.30 AM and a time of
1 hr 21 minutes is exceptional in these circumstances. His mentor Michael O
Connor also competed in the National Masters 10K walk and finished first in the
O70 category with a very fast time of 63 minutes.
The 62nd
running of our annual St Stephens day road races took place last Tue.
Conditions were near perfect as it was calm and dry. The 2K run for children
under 12 and their parents took place first. Over 40 children and parents took
part in this which was almost double last years entry
A very large crowd of 293 runners took to the
start line of the 5K event. Oisin Spillane was the clear favourite and he took
the lead early.
Climbing up
the hill before the 1 K mark he had Tommy Arthur from Kenmare former winner
James Ledingham from Kilkenny, Oisin Murray from An Riocht and local athletes
David Kenny, Ryan Vickers and Conor McCarthy all in touch.
Hannah
Steeds was in the lead in the ladies section closely tracked by last years
winner Niamh O’Mahony. As the race reached the half way stage the race was
still in the balance on the hill before the railway crossing Oisin Spillane
started to assert his authority and slowly pulled away to win by 40 metres to
cross the line in 14 minutes 44 seconds. This is an improvement of 40 seconds
from last years time.
With this
rate of improvement Mark Hanrahan’s record time of 14.38 will be under serious
threat next year. Oisin Murray of An Riocht ran brilliantly to finish 8 seconds
behind. Local athlete, Olympic Race Walker David Kenny ran a sensational time
of 15.09 to finish in 3rd. This was David’s first time running a
race in over 7 years so his achievement is all the more remarkable. James
Ledingham from Kilkenny finished 4th in a time of 15.18 which would have won last
years race. Tommy Arthurs came 5th and was the first Junior across
the line.
In the
ladies race Bridget Dennehy ran a storming second half of the race to take the
title in 16.42 ahead of Hannah Steads with last years winner Niamh O’Mahony
having to settle for 3rd this time round.
Tomas Kiely
from North Cork win the U 17 event in 16.56.
Emma Flynn
won the girls U 17 in an exceptionally quick time of 18.32 seconds.
Other
category winners were
Ella Murphy
ladies U 20
Jan Swiechowicz O 40
Aislinn NiDhomnnaill O 45
Emer McAuliffe O 50
Caroline Murphy O 55
Ann O’Leary O 60
Carmel Mac Domhhnail 0 65
Joe O
Connor O 40
Karl Linehan
O 45
Gearoid
Pierse O 50
Robert
Purcell O 55
Kevin
Griffin O 60
Michael
Mangan O 65
Michael O
Connor O 70