Fast Track in Tullamore, Rich Pickings in Galway

14/8/2023

L-R: Maeve Lochrie, Amy McGuinness, Claire Mooney and Sinead Moloney

It was an important weekend in the racing calendar, with the final of the National Track and Field League and the National Masters T&F Championship, both taking place in Tullamore. Further west, a small contingent this year from the club took away some of the spoils from the Galway City Harriers-organised Streets of Galway 8k on Saturday evening.

The Masters Championships took place on Saturday and we had 10 athletes participating, bringing home 4 medals between them. The standout results came from Mary Horgan and Amy McGuinness in the F35 800m, where Mary, not unexpectedly, took the win in 2:16.07, with Amy seizing bronze in 2:32.06. Then, Tessa O’Neill, in one of the two events in which she competed, won gold in the F45 400m in a time of 66.24. Her other event was the 200m where she placed 6th in 28.90. Our 4th medal was won by Liam Lyster in the shot put, where he took silver with a throw of 9.51m.

We had a few near misses for podium places. Liam took 4th place in both the M65 100m and 200m races, respectively in 14.63 and 31.90, whilst Enda Clarke also finished in 4th place in the M35 1500m in a time of 4:22.54. Donal Swift was also one place off the medals in the M70 400m in 99.32, whilst Paul Francis and John O’Loughlin finished in 5th and 9th places respectively in a bunched finish in the M55 200m, where Paul ran 27.39 and John, 27.93.

John also ran in the M55 100m where he placed 6th in 13.68, and 6th place was also recorded by Donal in the M70 200m in 41.52. We had three 6th places in other events too. Edna placed 6th in the M35 800m in 2:05.09, with Gary Park running 2:20.28 for his 6th place in the M45 800m, whilst Donnacha McCarthy and his guide were guest Senior runners in with the M40s in their 5000m, Donnacha effectively placing 6th in 17:06.86. Finally, John also ran in M55 400m where he placed 7th in 67.04.

On the same track on Sunday, the club was once again represented in the finals of the club league. Both men and women were this year in Division 1 as we had not fielded a team for the last year. Both were bidding for promotion to the Premier league, but, at time of writing, with a few queries potentially remaining, it looks like it is not to be this year. With only the first two places available for promotion, the men came agonizingly close in 4th place, one point off third and only two points off second, whilst the women placed either 5th or 6th in their competition. Nevertheless, it was a highly noble effort put in by our clubmates. Chapeau to them!

A maximum of 9 points was available for the win in each discipline (with 2nd places gaining 7 points) and this was achieved by the men in the 4x100m in a time of 44.40 by Matt Behan, Charlie Bastow, Luke Timlin and Liam Beaumont. Ciaran Donnelly also took the win in the hammer with a throw of 40.52m. Sinead Moloney showed how to multi-task by winning the weight for distance competition with a throw of 5.99m. Matt also won the 110mH in 15.02.

2nd places were recorded by Gary Park in his favourite discipline, the 3000m steeplechase, where he recorded a time of 11:26.82, and by Fearghal O’Hare in the 800m with a time of 157.49. John O’Connor also excelled with his 2nd place finish in the 56lb weight for distance, where he threw it 4.77m. The team of Sinead Moloney, Claire Mooney, Amy McGuinness and Maeve Lochrie took 2nd place in a time of 4:21.76 in the 4x400m relay, whilst Orla Drumm’s contribution was also a second place in 10:52.35 in the 3000m.

With a huge captain’s performance, Rebecca Fleming, with minimal preparation for the event, ran in the 2000m steeplechase where she placed 3rd in 9:05.52, whilst 3rd places were also recorded by Matt (22.99 in the 200m and 1.5m in the high jump), Charlie (53.66 in the 400m), Luke (11.28 in the 100m), James Quinn (26.36m in the discus), Amy (2:32.47 in the 800m) and Lisa Shine (8:58.79 in the 1500m walk).

Other results were recorded by Barry McCarthy (4th in the 1500m in 4:06.72), Colm Parnell (4th in the 5000m in 15:37.56), the team of Fearghal, Luke, Liam and Leo Gormley in the 4x400m relay where they placed 4th in 3:38.84, Luke (6th in the long jump with a leap of 5.03m), John (4th in the shot put with a throw of 8.52m), Paul E. Kelly (5th in the 1500m walk in 13:26.65), James (7th in the javelin with a throw of 9.16m), the team of Tessa O’Neill, Amy, Laura Garcia Gonzalez and Maeve in the 4x100m relay (6th in 62.48), Laura (5th in the 1500m in 5:36.51), Emer Kenny (6th in the 400m in 87.34), Sinead (5th in the 200m in 27.33), Tessa (6th in the 100m in 14.32, 7th in the shot put with a throw of 5.07m and 6th in the long jump with a leap of 3.73m) and Karen Conway (4th in the hammer with a throw of 29.18m).

We enjoyed some success on the roads over the weekend. Kathryn Gibbons took part in the Monaghan 10-miler where, in a field of 330 and in wet conditions on an undulating out-and-back course (with a headwind on the return), she recorded a PB time of 67:15 for 52nd place overall and 5th female finisher. A smaller group than of the past made its annual pilgrimage to Galway for the 37th running of the Streets of Galway 8k which took place in strong winds on Saturday evening. A large field of 2,423 contested the race and we had 8 runners competing with them. On a course that has its fair share of twists and turns as well as a few steady hills, Patrick Conlon was our first runner home. He placed 41st in a time of 28:54. Rory Goldsmith was next, interrupting the second day of a wedding he was otherwise attending, drawing attention from the other guests after emerging from the bathroom of a local pub in running gear, having entered in a suit (and returning to continue the festivities immediately after the race). Rory placed 81st in 31:12. He was followed by Ciara Regan running in her first 8k and who recorded a super time of 32:08. Ciara had run closely behind James Cottle for the first 5k and was at that point lying in 9th place in the women’s competition. However, she felt really strong in the last 3k and took full advantage of a strong tailwind in the last 2.5k to reel in two of the women in front of her, placing 109th and 7th female finisher. Unknowingly, she had put herself in for a prize which were awarded to the top 8 women. James was next, placing 131st and 1st M65 in a time of 32:44 and he was followed by Áine Kenny who travelled over from deepest Galway an hour’s drive away, to take part. It turned out to be a lucrative call as she placed 144th overall, 11th female finisher and winner of the F40 age category in a time of 33:13. Behind Áine came Áine Crotty (176th and 18th in 33:41) and, together with Ciara, the three women won first place in the team competition. The contingent was completed by Gian Piero Allerta who ran the race at his marathon pace (773rd in 40:25) and by Amy Forde (1,133rd and 329th in 43:57). Members may be interested to learn that Catherine Thornton, an ex-Crusader who trains with us from time to time, was operations director for the race.

Further afield over the weekend, we had at least six Crusader exiles in Australia take part in Sydney’s City2Surf 14k race with an enormous field of nearly 69,000 finishers. The women’s event was actually won by Niamh Allen in 47:29, Niamh placing 46th overall. She was followed by Maurice Kelter (81st in 48:40) and by Katie Rogers (588th and 38th (4th in her 30-34 age cat) in 54:52), Marta Imaz (7938th and 1,225th in 69:56), Lisa Sheanon (21,052nd and 5,606th in 88:01) and Deirdre Kennedy (26,109th and 7,921st in 88:01). Another of our Australian exiles, based in Brisbane, Steven Walker, took part in the Sunshine Coast half marathon where he ran 1:26:58 for 157th place in a field of 2,792 finishers.

Earlier in the week, Esther Requena Ferri, in Spain, won yet another race. This appeared to be a 6k trail run (the Subida a Colmenar) where Esther ran 29:01 for the distance. Cristian Vilchez Ceballos also ran in the race where he recorded a time of 26:39. A result we missed from last weekend was that of Italo Giancaterina who won the 90-strong Stramaforno 10k in Italy in a time of 32:54. Congrats to all our overseas runners.

One of the latest IMRA races took place last week and was a handicapped Summer season closer, called the Meitheal Mountain Fundraiser. In a field of 90 in the Dublin mountains on an out-and-back course near Lough Tay and Ballinastoe, we had 3 runners taking on the 10k event with its climb of 480m. Gavan Doherty placed 33rd in 68:57 and he was followed by David Timony (64th in 80:01) and by Gerard Moore (66th in 80:04). Then, on Sunday, there were two races with Crusader participation. One, a race in the southeast league, took place in the Slieveblooms, Co. Laois, involving a big loop over 12.5k on difficult terrain and a climb of 450m to the top of Arderin. In the field of 34 runners, we saw Brian McGuckin placing 6th in 1:35:57, followed closely by Niall McGeorge, over from the UK, in 7th spot in 1:36:23. Also on Sunday, Jason Kehoe joined 40 other runners in Co. Tipperary for a race in the Munster and Irish Championships. On a course described as extreme and unmarked over 13k and a climb of 1300m, the event involved a race to the top of Galtymore and back over the peaks of Cush and Galtybeg. Jason placed 11th in a time of 1:45:39.

We finish the report, as usual, with a round-up of the parkruns. Numbers seemed to be slightly up on last week’s events and we had at least one first finisher and a couple of podium places.

Sarah Lyons placed 11th overall and first female finisher in a time of 24:02 in the 55-strong field in Tolka Valley. In the same event Diarmuid Byrne ran 23:06 for 7th place. Dee Lawlor took 3rd spot in Shanganagh in a time of 18:55. He was followed among the 177 runners who took part by Eoghan Corrigan (22nd in 22:21), Carina Davidson (80th and 18th in 27:45) and by Orlaith de Burca (107th and 32nd in 29:33). Ross Neill placed 3rd in Poolbeg with a time of 18:13. In a field of 133, Ross was followed by Rob Glascott (33rd in 23:53), Josie Ward (37th and 5th in 24:25), Russell Murphy (39th in 24:29), Anna Hernick (65th and 19th in 27:01), Mía Zoladz (73rd and 25th in 27:46), Una McCullagh (98th and 38th in 30:16), with Cynthia Perucci tailwalking.

Stephen Hurley ran in the 112-strong field in Faelledparken in Denmark, taking 4th place in 18:06, whilst Michael O’Conor ran in Brickfields, also recording 4th place in a time of 20:11 in a field of 69. Kate Murray was also just off the podium in Bushy Park. In a field of 151, Kate placed 29th and 4th in 23:38, closely followed by Sharon Woods (29th and 5th in 24:10) and by Mairead Cashman further back (115th and 34th in 31:39).

Andy Deuser joined 114 other runners in Fairview where he placed 8th in 21:42, whilst John Lohan and Tara murphy ran alongside 131 other participants in Gorey, John taking 6th spot in 21:43 and Tara, 42nd and 11th in 26:27. Mark Browne, just coming back from injury, placed 9th in 24:42 in the 101-strong field in Bere Island in Cork, whilst Barry O’Neill placed 135th in 25:51 in the 385-strong field in Marlay Park. In Corkagh, with its field of 149, Paul F. Kelly ran 27:39 for 57th place, whilst Máirín Shine ran in Sligo, placing 71st and 22nd in 29:08 alongside 130 other runners. Lisa Shine ran in Cabinteely where she recorded a time of 34:47 for 111th and 30th spots in a field of 145, whilst, finally, Helena O’Keeffe ran in Tralee. In a field of 268, Helena placed 79th and 12th in 26:23.

Streets of Galway 8k (2423)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 David McGlynn 1 00:24:07
11 Ide Nic Dhomhnaill 1 00:26:48
Crusaders AC runners
41 Patrick Conlon 00:28:54
81 Rory Goldsmith 00:31:12
109 Ciara Regan 00:32:08 (PB) (7)
131 James Cottle 00:32:44
144 Áine Kenny 00:33:13 (11)
176 Áine Crotty 00:33:41 (18)
773 Gian Piero Allerta 00:40:25
1133 Amy Forde 00:43:57 (329)
Full results here: http://redtagtiming.com/results/SOG2023.html
The Monaghan 10-mile (330)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Gavin Corey 1 00:54:07
29 Nadine McIntyre 1 01:04:09
Crusaders AC runner
52 Kathryn Gibbons 01:07:15 (PB) (5)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/the_monaghan_10__5_mile/4898/results
IMRA Mountain Meitheal Fundraiser (90)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Corrigan 1 01:04:12
9 Maeve Flynn 1 01:05:46
Crusaders AC runners
33 Gavan Doherty 01:08:57
64 David Timony 01:20:01
66 Gerard Moore 01:20:04
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2299/
IMRA Galtymore 13k (41)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Anthony Forristal 1 01:24:03
18 Ide Kelleher 1 01:53:57
Crusaders AC runner
11 Jason Kehoe 01:45:39
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2327/
IMRA Arderin - Clear Lake 12.5k (34)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Barry Minnock 1 01:10:57
11 Kate Connolly 1 01:40:01
Crusaders AC runners
6 Brian Mc Guckin 01:35:57
7 Niall McGeorge 01:36:23
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2337/

Bere Island Parkrun (101)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen Crowley 1 00:19:23
5 Michelagh Murphy 1 00:23:14
Crusader AC runner
9 Mark Browne 00:24:42
Tralee Parkrun (268)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tadgh Connolly 1 00:17:33
23 Mary Fitzsimons 1 00:21:36
Crusaders AC runner
79 Helena O’Keeffe 00:26:23 (12)
Gorey Parkrun (133)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Ruben Bartelink 1 00:17:50
23 Ursula Frawley 1 00:24:07
Crusaders AC runners
6 John Lohan 00:21:43
46 Tara Murphy 00:26:27 (11)
Corkagh Parkrun (149)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 George Brady 1 00:19:18
3 Grace Kennedy-Clarke 1 00:19:49
Crusaders AC runner
57 Paul F. Kelly 00:27:39
Marlay Parkrun (285)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Canaan St. Lewis 1 00:17:34
27 Anne O’Donovan 1 00:20:51
Crusaders AC runner
135 Barry O’Neill 00:25:51
Brickfields Parkrun (69)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Golden 1 00:19:25
10 Stephanie Hawkins 1 00:22:56
Crusaders AC runner
4 Michael O’Conor 00:20:11
Cabinteely Parkrun (145)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Abdirahmaan Ali Maow 1 00:16:42
38 Ciara Drew 1 00:25:13
Crusaders AC runner
111 Lisa Shine 00:34:47 (30)
Poolbeg Parkrun (133)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Stephen McGuinn 1 00:17:34
26 Bláithín Sheil 1 00:22:38
Crusaders AC runners
3 Ross Neill 00:18:13
33 Rob Glascott 00:23:53
37 Josie Ward 00:24:25 (5)
39 Russell Murphy 00:24:29
65 Anna Hernick 00:27:01 (19)
73 Mía Zoladz 00:27:46 (25)
98 Una McCullagh 00:30:16 (38)
132 Cynthia Perucca 00:49:20
Sligo Parkrun (131)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Seán Brereton Hurley 1 00:18:28
16 Jane Dever 1 00:23:12
Crusaders AC runner
71 Máirín Shine 00:29:08 (22)
Fairview Parkrun (115)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Seán Byrne 1 00:19:15
22 Alma O’Donnell 1 00:24:25
Crusaders AC runner
8 Andy Deuser 00:21:42
Tolka Valley Parkrun (55)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Paul Bowden 1 00:19:51
11 Sarah Lyons 1 00:24:02
Crusaders AC runners
7 Diarmuid Byrne 00:23:06
11 Sarah Lyons 00:24:02 (1)
Bushy Parkrun (151)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Shane O’Neill 1 00:19:42
3 Clara Kinsella 1 00:19:55
Crusaders AC runners
21 Kate Murray 00:23:38 (4)
29 Sharon Woods 00:24:10 (5)
115 Mairead Cashman 00:31:39 (34)
Shanganagh Parkrun (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 James Doran 1 00:18:25
7 Sarah Healy 1 00:20:15
Crusaders AC runners
3 Derek Lawlor 00:18:55
22 Eoghan Corrigan 00:22:21
80 Carina Davidson 00:27:45 (18)
107 Orlaith de Burca 00:29:33 (32)