The Long and Short of it and Success for the Club in the Indoor League

13/2/2022

Crusaders men's indoor track and field team

It was an action-packed weekend, both indoors and outdoors and Crusaders were in the thick of it making their presence felt.

We start with the final of the Indoor League in Abbotstown. Six clubs were contesting the event, covering a mix of track and field and our team of at least 10 athletes came home in 2nd place with 53 points, just behind Leevale (69) and ahead of Clonliffe (49) with the other places filled by Nenagh, GCH and DSD. Everyone contributed to the final outcome with several of our athletes taking part in at least 2 disciplines. Oisin Taylor with a win in the triple jump (13.46m) and 2nd place in the high jump (1.90m) along with Adam McMullen (2nd in the long jump (7.14m) and 1st in the weight for distance (5.85m)) took 12 out of a possible 14 points each, with Valantinos Goularas with a win in the 60mH (8.30) and 3rd place in the shot put (8.9m), taking 11 points. Fearghal O’Hare took the win in the 800m, crossing the line in 1:55.76 and Robert Ivers tackled the pole vault with a creditable leap of 2.4m and 3rd place. Hugo Magee picked up 3 points with his 4th place in the 400m (50.61), whilst Charlie Bastow (5th in the 200m (23:02)) and Shane Keane (6th in the 60m in 7.32), along with the relay team (4x200m) all recorded critical points. Many congratulations to the team.

Alongside the league final, several other races and field events took place. The 60m involved 2 series and Robert Ivers and Tadgh Galvin took part in heat 6 of the 1st series, placing 2nd and 4th in 7.34 and 7.68. In series 2, Tadgh placed 3rd in 7.61. Meanwhile, Matt Behan ran both series of the 60mH, where he placed 1st both times in 8.12 and 8.07. Valantinos joined him for the 2nd series and placed 4th in 8.27. Conal Gallagher ran in heat 3 of the 200m where he placed 3rd in 23.40, whilst Robert placed 3rd in the 6th heat in 23.33. Tadgh also took on the 400m where, in heat 4, he placed 4th in 53.25. Mary Horgan ran in the non-league 800m, placing 5th in a quality field in a great time of 2:08.82 (possibly an indoor PB). Finally, Adam competed in the non-league long jump, placing 3rd in 7.01.

Outside on Saturday we had Crusaders compete in several long-distance events. The major one was the national 50k championship held as part of the Donadea 50k in Co. Kildare. In damp, cold and windy conditions we saw some standout runs, covering 10 laps of a 5k loop on muddy trails. In a field of 261 and a race that produced two new national champions in Sean Hehir and Sorcha Loughnane, Joe Walsh recorded a PB time of 3:26:37 for 9th place and, because Gary O’Hanlon placed 2nd overall, would have been rewarded with second prize in the M45 category. Paul O’Meara found the going tough towards the end, but still came home under 4 hours in 3:56:23 for 35th place, whilst Olwyn Dunne also ran extremely well to take 2nd in the F50 category, 15th woman home and 72nd overall in 4:23:34. Joe Dunne was our last participant, successfully pacing runners to a sub-5 hours finish (running 4:59:19).

Further west, Enda Clarke recorded a PB time of 79:55 (his first time under 80 minutes) in the Colm Horkan memorial half marathon in Charlestown Co. Mayo. In a field of 110 runners, Enda placed 3rd in the race. Similarly, Maurice Kelter took 3rd place in his first 10-mile race. Maurice ran in Tralee with 129 other runners, crossing the line in a super time of 60:13.

In terms of cross-country, the national masters and senior intermediates XC championships took place down in Castlelyons in Cork on Sunday. We had only two athletes head down there and they both competed in the masters’ race on an undulating course. In a field of 211, men’s captain Ciaran Diviney placed 58th overall and 10th M45 in a time of 25:28 and Patrick Needham ran 32:56, placing 198th overall and 46th M40.
Back in Co. Dublin, the BHAA this weekend moved its events to ALSAA up in Swords next to the airport. On a flat course in soggy conditions, around a series of playing fields, there was the traditional 2-mile women’s XC race, followed by the 5-mile men’s event on Saturday morning.

37 women contested the 2-mile race and it was won by Crusaders’ athlete, Léa Braud in a time of 14:34. Léa was followed by Mairead De Faoite (6th in 16:18), Sharon Woods (11th and 1st F50 in 16:32) and by Mairead Cashman (33rd and 4th F55 in 20:21) following her usual parkrun earlier on during the morning. We had 12 athletes in the 87-strong 5-mile race, led home by Aaron Cashman with a fine 2nd place finish in 33:07. Michael Wycherley was next, in 7th and 2nd M45, in a time of 34:11 and he was followed by Joe McDermott (9th in 34:23), Jack Kennedy (23rd in 36:48), Ronan Moynihan (29th in 38:14), Karl Walsh (30th in 38:22), Enda Currid (33rd in 38:45), Robbie Moore (56th in 42:40), David O’Donnell (65th in 44:37), Tony Hackett (66th in 44:59), Neil Brown (67th in 44:59) and Michael McGovern (72nd in 45:48).

There was also a race in the mountains on Sunday, 13 February 2022. This was the IMRA-organised Ticknock Winter race, involving a big loop over Three-Rock and around Fairy Castle incorporating a climb of 320m over a distance of 8.8k covering difficult terrain. We had 5 Crusaders in the race in a field of 145 finishers. They were led home by Warren Swords who covered the distance in 43:58 for 7th place and 3rd M40. Warren was followed by Alban Coghlan in 10th place and 4th M40 with a time of 44:15. Next came Becky Quinn, 27th overall, 2nd female finisher and 1st F45, in 49:00, with David Carter (4th M45) taking 35th spot in 49:52. The contingent was completed by Brian McGuckin who finished in 43rd place and 2nd M50 in 52:12.

Finally, we have a round up of the results from Saturday’s parkruns, where yet again, we had some first finishers. Poolbeg saw 10 of our athletes take part. In a field of 145, they were led home by Cristian Vilchez Ceballos in 1st place in 17:21. Cristian was followed by Kenan Furlong (4th in 18:12), Cathal O’Hara (12th in 19:56), Esther Requena Ferri (13th and 2nd female finisher in 20:03), Kieran Finucane (27th in 21:44), Gillian Curran (82nd and 22nd in 26:00), Maureen McGinley (94th and 29th in 26:40), Una McCullagh (98th and 30th in 27:14), Mari Hansen (136th and 48th in 33:30), with Tara Murphy tailwalking. John Fahy was a first finisher in Brickfields. In a field of 84, John ran 19:06, with Brian , warming up for the following day’s IMRA race, coming home in 19th place in 22:40. Isabelle Cairns was first woman across the line in the 63-strong field in New Ross, where, in a time of 22:08, she placed 7th overall. In a field of 117 in Cabinteely, Dee Lawlor took 1st place in 19:09, followed home by Louise Dobbyn (15th and 2nd in 23:01) and Stephen Mulligan (29th in 24:53). Kate Murray ran in Bushy Park with 104 other runners, placing 37th and 7th in 24:47, whilst Tim O’Donnell took 6th spot in 19:33 in the 367-strong field in St. Anne’s. Colm Foley placed 15th in 23:00 in the 159-strong field in Griffeen Park, whilst Mairead Cashman took 30th and 11th in 28:32 in Tolka Valley along with 47 other participants. Gillian Lyons ran in Fairview, recording 29:13 for 47th and 9th in a field of 83, whilst Toby Benham placed 5th in Corkagh. Toby’s time was 22:00 and the field measured 165. Paul and Aoife Kelly ran 24:57 and 24:58, placing, respectively 40th and 41st (and 6th) in Donabate, alongside 128 other runners, whilst, in Shanganagh, Orlaith De Burca and Carina Davidson respectively ran 27:4 and 26:00 for 64th and 8th and 54th and 4th in a field of 121. Hannah Jones ran in Hackney Marshes in London, where, in a field of 284 she placed 181st and 51st in 27:51, whilst in Queensland, Australia, Kris Ryan ran in Paradise Point where, in a field of 253, she placed 61st and 11th in 24:05.

BHAA ALSAA 2-mile XC (37)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Léa Braud 00:14:34
Crusaders AC runners
1 Léa Braud 00:14:34
6 Mairead De Faoite 00:16:18
11 Sharon Woods 00:16:32
33 Mairead Cashman 00:20:21
Full results here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/15e8030f/files/uploaded/ALSAA%20RACE%20RESULTS%202022.pdf
BHAA ALSAA 5-mile XC (87)
Overall place Name Guntime
1 Ross Collins 00:32:30
Crusaders AC runners
2 Aaron Cashman 00:33:07
7 Michael Wycherley 00:34:11
9 Joe McDermott 00:34:23
23 Jack Kennedy 00:36:48
29 Ronan Moynihan 00:38:14
30 Karl Walsh 00:38:14
33 Enda Currid 00:38:45
56 Robbie Moore 00:42:40
90 Patrick Needham 00:32:14
65 David O’Donnell 00:44:37
66 Anthony Hackett 00:44:59
67 Neil Brown 00:44:59
72 Michael McGovern 00:45:48
Full results here: https://irp.cdn-website.com/15e8030f/files/uploaded/ALSAA%20RACE%20RESULTS%202022.pdf
Tralee 10 mile (130)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Derek Griffin 1 00:54:17
9 Niamh Clifford 01:04:08
Crusaders AC runner
3 Maurice Kelter 01:00:13 (PB)
Full results here: https://www.myrunresults.com/events/tralee_10_miler__5k/4362/results
Donadea 50k (261)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Sean Hehir 1 02:56:04
5 Sorcha Loughnane 1 03:20:33
Crusaders AC runners
9 Joe Walsh 03:26:37 (PB)
35 Paul O’Meara 03:56:23
72 Olwyn Dunne 04:23:34
184 Joe Dunne 04:59:19 (pacer)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/donadea50k-2022/
Colm Horkan Memorial Half marathon (110)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Chiptime
1 Enda Marren 1 01:12:21
19 Sinead Egan 1 01:32:23
Crusaders AC runner
3 Enda Clarke 01:19:55 (PB)
Full results here: https://www.popupraces.ie/race/colm-horkan-memorial-run-2022/
IMRA Ticknock Winter 8.8k race (146)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Enda Cloake 1 00:39:27
11 Sophie Daly 1 00:44:16
Crusaders AC runners
7 Warren Swords 00:43:58
10 Alban Coghlan 00:44:15
27 Becky Quinn 00:49:00 (2)
35 David Carter 00:49:52
43 Brian McGuckin 00:52:12
Full results here: https://www.imra.ie/events/results/id/2136/category/O/
Griffeen Parkrun (159)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jaroslaw Blacharski 1 00:18:50
8 Niamh Murphy 1 00:21:09
Crusaders AC runner
15 Colm Foley 00:23:00
Donabate Parkrun (130)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Jim McCafferty 1 00:19:22
10 Iveta Adamova 1 00:21:41
Crusaders AC runners
40 Paul F. Kelly 00:24:57
41 Aoife Kelly 00:24:58 (6)
Bushy Parkrun (105)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Tom Leguereau 1 00:18:41
3 Sarah Fitzpatrick 1 00:20:36
Crusaders AC runner
37 Kate Murray 00:24:47 (7)
New Ross Parkrun (63)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Thomas Moran 1 00:19:04
7 Isabelle Cairns 1 00:22:08
Crusaders AC runner
7 Isabelle Cairns 00:22:08 (1)
Fairview Parkrun (83)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Billy Mead 1 00:18:15
18 Orla Deighan 1 00:24:17
Crusaders AC runner
47 Gillian Lyons 00:29:13 (9)
Corkagh Parkrun (165)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Will Morris 1 00:19:37
13 Patricia O’Cleirigh 1 00:23:27
Crusaders AC runner
5 Toby Benham 00:22:00
St. Anne’s Parkrun (367)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Robert Switzer 1 00:16:52
9 Maria O’Sullivan 1 00:19:44
Crusaders AC runner
6 Tim O’Donnell 00:19:33
Cabinteely Parkrun (117)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Dee Lawlor 1 00:19:09
13 Joanne Ryan 1 00:22:44
Crusaders AC runners
1 Dee Lawlor 00:19:09
15 Louise Dobbyn 00:23:01 (2)
29 Stephen Mulligan 00:24:53
Poolbeg Parkrun (145)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Cristian Vilchez Ceballos 1 00:17:21
11 Miranda Spencer 1 00:19:43
Crusaders AC runners
1 Cristian Vilchez Ceballos 00:17:21
4 Kenan Furlong 00:18:12
12 Cathal O’Hara 00:19:56
13 Esther Requena Ferri 00:20:03 (2)
27 Kieran Finucane 00:21:44
82 Gillian Curran 00:26:00 (22)
94 Maureen McGinley 00:26:40 (29)
98 Una McCullagh 00:27:14 (30)
136 Mari Hansen 00:33:30 (48)
145 Tara Murphy 00:39:12
Brickfields Parkrun (84)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 John Fahy 1 00:19:06
29 Stephanie Hawkins 1 00:23:53
Crusaders AC runners
1 John Fahy 00:19:06
19 Brian McGuckin 00:22:40
Shanganagh Parkrun (177)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Niall Larkin 1 00:17:24
19 Aoibhe McCarthy 1 00:21:32
Crusaders AC runners
54 Carina Davidson 00:26:00 (4)
64 Orlaith De Burca 00:27:04 (8)
Tolka Valley Parkrun (48)
Overall place Name Cat. Place Guntime
1 Luke Rehill 1 00:20:01
6 Hazel Kenny 1 00:21:05
Crusaders AC runner
30 Mairead Cashman 00:28:32 (11)