At the end of the Track: Graded Meet and National Senior T&F Championships

4/8/2025

Cai Lewis

It was another week dominated by track and field, the last of the season for most of our athletes not involved in any remaining European competition.

We had several athletes take part in the last of the Dublin Athletics graded meets, the eighth of the season, held in the Morton Stadium on Wednesday evening. Juliette McCloskey won the grade C race of the women’s 100m in a time of 13.35, whilst Karen Hughes placed 2nd in the grade D event in the same mixed heat in a time of 13.64, in a photo finish with the grade D heat winner who was given the same time. In heat 2 of the mixed two grades, Meabh Murphy ran 14.28 for 2nd place in the D grade in that heat. Then, in the men’s A grade of the same distance, Luke Timlin contested the first qualifying heat, winning it in 10.64, whilst Charlie Bastow won the second in a time of 11.21 with Andrew Hooke placing 6th in the same heat in 11.69. Luke then went on to win the final in 10.66, with Charlie placing 6th in 11.21. Meanwhile, Dan Sheridan placed 2nd in the 2nd heat of the 100m D grade in 12.42.

Then, in the longer distance events, young Cai Lewis put on a stellar performance to place 3rd in heat 2 of the 1500m A grade race in a super time of 4:02.97, followed by Alex Ainsworth with an equally solid run, placing 6th in 4:07.12. Masters athlete, Gary Park, contested the grade D 1500m, placing 14th in heat 1 in a time of 4:49.14.

In the field, Harry Moylan took 2nd place in the 1.5kg Discus, a throw of 34.92m which he reached with his 4th of 6 attempts. Finally, in the long jump, Juliette placed 3rd with the last of her 6 jumps achieving a distance of 4.54m.

The Bank Holiday weekend was dedicated to the National Senior Track and Field Championships, also, naturally, held at the Morton Stadium. On Day 1 we had several athletes take part in heats of various distances, with two of our runners qualifying for Sunday’s finals.

In heat 3 of 3 in the women’s 200m, Eva Griffin placed 5th in 27.25, whilst in heat 4 (of 8) Victor Michalak placed 7th in 27.25. In the women’s 400mH (0.762m), Emily Lyne placed 2nd in heat 2 (of 2) in a time of 60.65 to qualify for Sunday’s final, where she placed a gallant 4th in 60.83. Hugo Magee also qualified for the final of the men’s 400m by placing 2nd in heat 4 (of 5) in a time of 47.44. In Sunday’s final, he placed 8th in 47.85.

To complete Day 1, we had runners in the women’s 800m qualifying heats. In heat 1 (of 3) Annie Hughes placed 6th in 2:18.68, just ahead of Saoirse McGrath who placed 7th in 2:21.95. Members may be interested to know that Doireann Hughes, who will soon be returning to the club, ran in the 1st heat of 2 in the women’s 1500m, placing 12th in 4:56.79.

Sunday saw a few more of our athletes competing. Eva ran again, this time in the 100m semi-final, where she placed 9th in 13.43, whilst, in heat 1 (of 7) in the men’s 100m, Masahiro Watanabe took 7th spot in 11.76. We had athletes in 2 more heats. In heat 5 Leo Foster placed 7th in 12.37, whilst, Victor ran in the 6th heat, placing 9th in 13.12.

Finally, Colm Parnell joined the field competing in the men’s 5000m B final, where he placed 5th in a substantial field, finishing in a time of 15:06.73. A good way to round off the season.

On the roads last week, Michael Wycherley took part in the Streets of Athboy in Co. Meath on Friday evening. In a field of 403, Michael distinguished himself with 13th place in 16:20 and first M50. On Saturday morning, Dee Lawlor ran in the inaugural Querrin 10k, a fundraiser for the Querrin Schoolhouse, and won it in a time of 37.09. Unfortunately, however, the results of the event were not published. Then on Sunday, Kieran Martin and Alby Allan were competitors in the Limerick Half marathon, where Kieran placed 21st in 84:42 and Alby placed 36th in a field of 546 and in a time of 90:02. The course was apparently more than a little challenging on country roads with a hilly finish. Finally, we had at least 3 runners take part in the Banna Run 5k in Co. Kerry. In a field of 157, our Co. Cork-based runner, Ciaran Diviney, placed 3rd overall in 17:35 for the M50 runner, only 9 seconds behind the winning time, with Mags Foley placing 19th overall and 2nd female finisher in 20:46, followed by Ciaran’s partner, Ciara Lehane, who placed 25th and 4th in 23:33.

Another IMRA midweek run took place on Wednesday evening. This time it was the Seahan 9.8k that took place near Butter Mountain in the Dublin hills. With a climb of 510m and a field of 150, Donatas Jocius placed 8th in 54:36 (2nd M40), followed by Becky Quinn (27th and 2nd in 61:30), Clare Sullivan (46th, 6th and 1st F40 in 66:02) and Paul McNamara (52nd in 67:03).

There were lots of Crusaders in action in parkruns at the start of the bank holiday weekend. We had one first finisher. Kenan Furlong headed the entire field of 230 in a time of 17:30 in Poolbeg. He was followed by Jan Manschot (5th in 18:36), Joe Murphy (7th in 19:31), Adrian Groarke (10th in 20:01), Jade Murphy (28th and 3rd in 21:23), Pat Quill (33rd in 21:43), David Timoney (37th in 21:59), Sharon Woods (50th and 7th in 22:54), Kabir Sala (52nd in 23:03) alongside Saketh Ravuluri (53rd in the same time), Neil Brown (62nd in 23:38), Tanja Narancic (78th and 16th in 24:34), Bo Chicoine (86th in 25:13), Tara Murphy (105th and 23rd in 26:15), Russell Murphy (120th in 27:16), Alan Martin (134th in 28:06), Fanny Trébouet (152nd and 43rd in 28:56), Maureen McGinley (187th and 66th in 31:01), Kevin Kenny (193rd in 31:32), Cynthia Perucca (196th and 73rd in 32:03) and Darren Kelly (204th in 32:58).

Elsewhere, we had a good number of podium places. Kev Moore and Mary Donnelly ran in the 82-strong field in Lees Road in Ennis, Co. Clare, where Kev placed 2nd in 19:50 and Mary ran 22:23 for 13th and 3rd. Meanwhile, in Oranmore, Ronan Walsh and Claire Reidy joined a field of 100 participants. Claire placed 12th and 2nd in 23:05, whilst Ronan placed 6th in 20:37. We had 3 runners in Avondale Forest. Joanne Carey led the contingent home in 14th and 2nd in 23:18, followed, in the field of 126, by Darina Scully (22nd and 4th in 25:10) and Carina Davidson (63rd and 19th in 32:32). Ian Kinsella ran once again in Gorey, where, in a field of 256, he placed 3rd in 19:51, whilst, in Narin Beach with its field of 73, Sarah Lyons placed 13th and 2nd in 24:27, just behind Phelim Murray who placed 10th in 22:45.

Dee Ni Chearbhaill ran in J.F.K. Park in New Ross, where she placed 25th and 2nd in 23:23 in a field of 140, whilst Alma Hanevy finished in 8th and 2nd places in 21:11 in the 99-strong Brickfields field. Kieran Martin was our lone runner in St. Anne’s where in a time of 20:21 and in a field of 419 he placed 20th, whilst David Carter joined 99 other runners in Navan, taking 4th spot in 19:15. Meanwhile, Darran Lovely and Anousheh Alamir joined 185 other runners in Fairview, where Darran placed 6th in 20:02, followed by Anousheh who ran 31:51 for 129th and 39th spots. Three members of the Shine family ran on the racecourse in Wexford, with Fiona placing 31st and 6th in 24:54, followed by Lisa (96th and 36th in 30:49) and Máirín (123rd and 49th in 34:02) in a field of 163.

Luke Haran ran once again in Limerick’s Mungret parkrun, where, in a field of 97, he ran 21:01for 7th place, whilst, in Cabinteely, with its field of 183, Niall O’Connell placed 6th in 21:06, followed by Olwyn Dunne (48th and 6th in 26:45) and Nina Holmes (113th and 41st in 31:28). Ross Neill headed up to Ormeau Park again, where, in a field of 645, he placed 8th in 18:48, whilst Scott Thomas ran over in the UK in Chelmsford Central, where, in a field of 830, he placed 6th in 17:31.

Down in Tramore Valley, Cork, Louise O’Riordan ran alongside 217 other participants where she placed 108th and 29th in 28:08, whilst, further along the coast, Ailish Hassett, coming back from injury, placed 127th and 52nd in the 206-strong field on Bere Island. Also, in Cork, we had two runners in Ballincollig with its field of 286. Helena O’Keeffe placed 174th and 50th in 30:33, followed by Aitor Arribas Velasco (185th in 31:02) and in Glen River, Mairead Cashman ran with 84 others, placing 65th and 26th in 34:11.

John Lohan took 16th place in 25:21 in Mountbellew Forest, with its field of 59, whilst Ciara Elligott joined 194 other participants in Killarney House where she ran 29:48 for 137th and 43rd spots. In Tolka Valley Park, Maria Pertl took 33rd and 14th places in the 59-strong field there, whilst in Sligo, Ellen Walsh placed 90th and 36th in 29:27 in the field of 180. Meanwhile, Martina White joined 141 other runners in Porterstown where she placed 112th and 46th in 32:53. In Marlay Park, Killian Barry ran 20:24 for 25th spot, followed, in the field of 446, by Ronan Moynihan (46th in 22:13) and Barry O'Neill (154th in 25:52).

Finally, we had runners in other parkruns in the UK. Luz Estevan paid a visit to Edinburgh where she ran in the Holyrood parkrun, placing 119th and 21st in 23:25 in a field of 625, whilst, Brian Regan joined a field of 534 in Fulham Palace, placing 192nd in 26:48. Finally, two of our London-based exiles, Rob Glascott and Eva Kennedy, ran on Clapham Common again, where Rob placed 242nd in 24:56, alongside Eva (243rd and 37th in 24:57). The field there measured 815.

Streets of Athboy 5k (403)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Kevin Kelly 1 00:15:07
22 Ciara Hickey 1 00:16;54
Crusaders AC runner
13 Michael Wycherley 00:16:20
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/streets-of-athboy-5km-2025/
Limerick Half marathon (546)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Doyle 1 01:08:11
29 Linda Grogan 1 01:28:14
Crusaders AC runners
21 Kieran Martin 01:24:42
36 Alby Allan 01:30:02
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/limerick_half_marathon_2025/5833/results
Banna Run 5k (157)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 John Glennon 1 00:17:26
14 Vulia Tarasove 1 00:19:49
Crusaders AC runners
3 Ciaran Diviney 00:17:35
19 Margaret Foley 00:20:46 (2)
25 Ciara Lehane 00:23:33 (4)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/banna_run_2025_10k_5k/5851/results
IMRA Seahan 9.8k (150)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daire Finn 1 00:48:51
22 Anna Michael 1 00:58:30
Crusaders AC runners
8 Donatas Jocius 00:54:36
27 Becky Quinn 01:01:30 (2)
46 Clare Sullivan 01:06:02 (6)
52 Paul McNamara 01:07:03
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2668
Mountbellew Forest Parkrun (59)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Martin Finn 1 00:21:47
7 Niamh Conway 1 00:23:43
Crusaders AC runner
16 John Lohan 00:25:21
Lees Road Parkrun (82)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Brendan Potter 1 00:19:40
7 Mary Cahill 1 00:21:29
Crusaders AC runners
2 Kev Moore 00:19:50
13 Mary Donnelly 00:22:23 (3)
Wexford Racecourse Parkrun (163)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Crann Moroney 1 00:17:46
16 Annemarie Doyle 1 00:22:26
Crusaders AC Runners
31 Fiona Shine 00:24:54 (6)
96 Lisa Shine 00:30:49 (36)
123 Máirín Shine 00:34:02 (49)
Oranmore Parkrun (100)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Sean Mulryan 1 00:17:34
8 Clare Rowe 1 00:21:11
Crusaders AC runners
6 Ronan Walsh 00:20:37
12 Claire Reidy 00:23:05 (2)
Poolbeg Parkrun (230)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Kenan Furlong 1 00:17:30
14 Kim-Ella Kenny 1 00:20:31
Crusaders AC runners
1 Kenan Furlong 00:17:30
5 Jan Manschot 00:18:36
7 Joe Murphy 00:19:31
10 Adrian Groarke 00:20:01
28 Jade Murphy 00:21:23 (3)
33 Pat Quill 00:21:43
37 David Timoney 00:21:59
50 Sharon Woods 00:22:54 (7)
52 Kabir Sala 00:23:03
53 Saketh Ravuluri 00:23:03
62 Neil Brown 00:23:38
78 Tanja Narancic 00:24:34 (16)
86 Bo Chicoine 00:25:13
105 Tara Murphy 00:26:15 (23)
120 Russell Murphy 00:27:16
134 Alan Martin 00:28:06
152 Fanny Trébouet 00:28:56 (43)
187 Maureen McGinley 00:31:01 (66)
193 Kevin Kenny 00:31:32
196 Cynthia Perucca 00:32:03 (73)
204 Darren Kelly 00:32:58
Mungret Parkrun (97)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ross O’Carroll 1 00:18:50
18 Hermione Oakley 1 00:22:41
Crusaders AC runner
7 Luke Haran 00:21:01
Avondale Forest Parkrun (126)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James Herterich 1 00:19:30
5 Anne Bromley 1 000:21:10
Crusaders AC runners
14 Joanne Carey 00:23:18 (2)
22 Darina Scully 00:25:10 (4)
63 Carina Davidson 00:32:32 (19)
Gorey Parkrun (256)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Simon Cattley 1 00:19:03
17 Ciara Foster 1 00:22:00
Crusaders AC runner
3 Ian Kinsella 00:19:51
Tramore Valley, Cork Parkrun (296)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Greg Whitely 1 00:16;54
15 Claire Madden 1 00:20:53
Crusaders AC runner
108 Louise O’Riordan 00:28:08 (29)
Brickfields Parkrun (99)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Maxim Bondarenko 1 00:18:25
7 Ava Rose Clarke 1 00:21:04
Crusaders AC runner
8 Alma Hanevy 00:21:11 (2)
Fairview Parkrun (187)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Francesco Hua Huang 1 00:19:02
9 Nicole Rafferty 1 00:20:58
Crusaders AC runners
6 Darran Lovely 00:20:02
129 Anousheh Alamir 00:31:51 (39)
Cabinteely Parkrun (183)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Robert Clougher 1 00:19:51
21 Rachel Jones 1 00:23:30
Crusaders AC runners
6 Niall O’Connell 00:21:06
48 Olwyn Dunne 00:26:45 (6)
113 Nina Holmes 00:31:28 (41)
Narin Beach Parkrun (73)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
2 Julian Good 1 00:19:16
6 Eimear Marie English 1 00:20:59
Crusaders AC runners
10 Phelim Murray 00:22:45
13 Sarah Lyons 00:24:27 (2)
New Ross Parkrun (140)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Daniel Peare 1 00:19:50
4 Kate Reidy 1 00:20:18
Crusaders AC runner
25 Deirdre Ni Chearbhaill 00:23:23 (2)
Navan Parkrun (100)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Gordon O’Rourke 1 00:18:37
3 Rebecca Tinnelly 1 00:19:30
Crusaders AC runner
4 David Carter 00:19:55
St. Anne’s Parkrun (419)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Clarke 1 00:18:10
5 Aoibhín O’Connor 1 00:18:47
Crusaders AC runner
20 Kieran Martin 00:20:21
Bere Island Parkrun (206)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Martin Bell 1 00:18:39
4 Michelagh Murphy 1 00:20:35
Crusaders AC runner
127 Ailish Hassett 00:37:15 (52)
Sligo Parkrun (180)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Peter Gallagher 1 00:17:01
11 Erin McMahon 1 00:21:29
Crusaders AC runner
90 Ellen Walsh 00:29:27 (36)
Porterstown Parkrun (142)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Sherlock 1 00:16:30
11 Caroline McCarthy 1 00:20:36
Crusaders AC runner
112 Martina White 00:32:53 (46)
Ballincollig Parkrun (286)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Damien Bourke 1 00:18:00
9 Niamh Cronin 1 00:20:15
Crusaders AC runners
174 Helena O’Keeffe 00:30:33 (50)
185 Aitor Arribas Velasco 00:31:02
Tolka ValleyParkrun (59)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Darragh Ward 1 00:17:36
9 Rachel Taylor 1 00:23:18
Crusaders AC runner
33 Maria Pertl 00:30:54 (14)
Glen River Parkrun (85)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Seán O’Rourke 1 00:18:50
17 Grace Leuenberger 1 00:24:15
Crusaders AC runner
65 Mairead Cashman 00:34:11 (26)
Killarney House Parkrun (195)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Hodgson 1 00:16:40
4 Lily Riordan 1 00:17:53
Crusaders AC runner
137 Ciara McElligott 00:29:48 (43)
Ormeau Parkrun (645)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen Connolly 1 00:16:57
23 Gabrielle Whyte 1 00:20:06
Crusaders AC runner
8 Ross Neill 00:18:48
Marlay Parkrun (446)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1Ethan Bramhill 1 00:16:24
7 Kate McDonald 1 00:18:32
Crusaders AC runners
25 Killian Barry 00:20:24
46 Ronan Moynihan 00:22:13
154 Barry O'Neill 00:25:52