On Saturday last in Dudince in Slovakia at the European Permit Race Walking Festival saw an outstanding performance by West Waterford athlete Jamie Costin in the 50km race – by far his best ever effort in this gruelling event.
Competing against a lot of top class International walkers he finished third overall in a new Irish Record time of 3hrs 50 minutes and 51 seconds, and into the bargain the Ring man was well inside the qualifying time for the world championships later this year.
The race was won easily by the European Champion Yohann Diniz from France in 3.38.45 – a new French record and also a course record – with Matej Toth Slovakia second in 3.41.42, also a new Slovakian record.
Four All-Ireland Juvenile titles
In Nenagh on Saturday and Sunday last the All-Ireland Juvenile Indoor Championships proved quite successful for athletes from Ferrybank as they won four titles and also silver and bronze medals.
Ciara Giles Doran had an under 15 double in the Hurdles and Long Jump; Ann O’Shea won the 60 metres under 15 and she was also second in the Long jump.
Another winner was Nicola Power in the Triple jump under 18, while Megan Kiely had a second in the long Jump under 16 and was third in the High Jump.
Cormac McCann was second in the 60 Metres under 12, and third placings were secured by Cara Kennedy in the under 17 Shot Putt, Jade Power in the same competition under 16, and Kate Daniels in the Under 14 High jump.
Cork winner of City Road Race
On Sunday morning last 170 competed in the Alfie Hale Sports/ Mizuno sponsored 4 Miles Road Race in Waterford organised by Waterford AC.
Mark Hanrahan from Leevale in Cork led from the start and ended up a clear winner in a time of 18 minutes and 55 seconds. In second place was Killian O’Leary from Raheny Shamrocks in Dublin who was timed at 19.38 and the holder Pat Byrne was third in 20.07.
Pauline Curley, Tullamore was first lady home in 22.53 and she was followed by Corrina Walsh, West Waterford, in second place in 24.03 and Angela McCann, Clonmel, third n 24.07. Sylvia Malone, Waterford, was fourth.
Waterford AC won the men’s and women’s team prizes. First Junior man was Michael Dowling; Over 40 Jim Baldwin, O45 Pat Heffernan, O50 Larry Lacey, O55 Joe Gough.
Ladies categories – Junior, Siobhan Heylin, O35 Suzanne Deegan, O40 Liz Nolan, O45 Eiblis ni hAodha, Ann Fitzgerald.
Waterford AC wish to thank all involved with the organisation of the event and the Gardai in particular for their help all around the route.
Schools Cross Country
On Saturday last in Bangor in Wales, St Augustine’s College student Kate Veale (WWAC) competed for Ireland at the Schools Cross Country International in the intermediate race and she finished 20th overall.
All Ireland Juvenile Indoors again this weekend
Underage athletes from Waterford clubs will be in action this weekend in Magherafelt, Co Derry at the final section of the All Ireland Juvenile Indoor Championships.
The championships will be on Saturday and Sunday and the full programme and order of events has been with all clubs for some time, and also can be found later this week on the Athletic Ireland Website.
We wish all our competitors a safe journey – which is a very long one – and hope they have an enjoyable and at the same time successful competition.
Other fixtures this weekend are the Bupa 10Km run in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Sunday at 1pm and again on Sunday there’s a 4-mile road race in Quilty, Co Clare, promoted by Kilmurry/Ibrickane at 1.30pm; details from 087-2472623.
