David McCarthy
On Friday last at a meeting in California, David McCarthy of West Waterford AC and Providence College, Rhode Island, opened his outdoor season with a brilliant performance. Competing in his first ever 5000 metres race in the USA he was the most impressive winner in a fine time of 13.42.11, and this could have been much faster if he had been pressed. The Ballinamult man finished well clear of a Mexican in second place and a Japanese who was third. His time is the fourth fastest by an Irish athlete in the past three years, only bettered by Alastair Cragg, Mark Carroll and Martin Fagan.Next week David competes at the famous Penn Relay meeting running for Providence College in the 4×1 Mile Relay.
Though the 5,000m isn’t a distance David runs too often, certainly in the recent past, here he decimated a quality field. For non-athletic fans out there, how good is that? Well, I can tell you that only a handful of Irish athletes have run anywhere near this time in the last few years, as mentioned above by Fintan.
David, who is on scholarship at Providence College under the watchful eye of head coach Ray Treacy from Villierstown has in the past year-and-a-half really set the Collegiate circuit alight over the cross-country and indoor seasons and now has continued that vain of form onto the track.
In February he became the first Waterford man to break the four-minute mile barrier when he recorded a time of 3:57.75.in the final of the NCAA indoor mile. We will keep you posted!
Mt SAC Relays Walnut, CA 5,000m
1 McCarthy, David Providence 13:42.11
2 Borrego, Diego Alberto Mexico 13:44.62
3 Sato, Yuki Japan 13:48.71
4 Bateman, Damien Unattached 13:52.51
County Championships start on Sunday
On Sunday next at the RSC with an 11am start the first section of the County Track and Field Championships begin and there will be a long day of competitions.
First track events of the day are the 60 metres for under 9 and 10, and walks for girls u18, junior and senior. First field events are again at 11am and all clubs now have copies of the full day’s programme. They should make their athletes aware of what events are on at their training sessions this week and have photocopies available for all their coaches.
Again a reminder to have athletes well prepared for the technical events, especially the hurdles. It is hoped clubs will have all their athletes competing; there’s no point in bringing them to training sessions and then forgetting about them for the competitions, regardless of their standard.
Again this year clubs are asked to provide officials for the various events to ensure a smooth running of the championships.
Butlerstown 10km on Fridayhe second race in the Ger Wyley Sports Summer Series goes ahead this Friday, April 24th at 7.30pm, starting at The Holy Cross Lounge, Cork Road, Waterford. It’s the Annual Butlerstown 10km which is in aid of the Alzheimer Society again this year, and there will also be a 5km fun run. Entries from 6.30pm at the Butlerstown GAA Centre close to the start.
Schools Championships
On Wednesday of this week, April 22nd, at the RSC at 12.30pm, the Waterford Secondary Schools Track and Field Championships for boys and girls will be held.
Please note that there will be no Discus or Javelin competitions on the programme due to the fact that an International soccer match is at the venue later in the week.
National Road Race
On Sunday next at 2pm the National 10km road race championship is in Navan and there is also an open 10km run near Rockwell College, New Inn, at 2pm . On Thursday, April 30th, at the RSC the Waterford City Primary Schools Sports have a 5.45pm start; full details from Brid Golden on 087-6889330.
Bralitis wins Marine Climb;
Ladies’ course record
On Friday last the first race in the Ger Wyley Sports Summer Series was held from Dungarvan to the “Marine Bar”, a distance of six miles. There was a record entry of 215 and a new course record was set in the ladies section. Siobhan O’Doherty from Borrisokane was timed at 37 minutes 48 seconds in winning, while Pauline Lambe Tullamore was second in 38.16 and Corina Walsh, West Waterford, was third in 39.38.
Sandis Bralitis was the overall winner in a time of 31.59. Ravis Zakis was second in 34.27 and Sean Stillwell was third in 34.41 – all three from West Waterford AC.
First man over 40: Johnny O’Connor, and over 45 Martin McCarthy, both West Waterford; o50: Larry Lacey, St Josephs; o55: Joe Gough, West Waterford; o60: Chris O’Driscoll; Junior: Alan Lane, WWAC; Ladies o35: Brea Cooke, Waterford AC; o40: Ann Dunford, West Waterford; o45: Eiblis ni hAodha, do; o50: Ann Fitzgerald, Waterford; o55: Hillary Collins, Coolquill; Junior: Adele Roche, West Waterford.
The Marine Bar were the sponsors on the evening and West Waterford AC were the organisers.
Kilmacow Sports
The re-fixed Kilmacow Open sports went ahead last Sunday in excellent weather conditions.
Waterford winners at the fixture were as follows:
Claire Morrissey, KCK, junior sprint and long jump; Ann Corcoran, Ferrybank, sprint and 700 metres u11; Denise O’Connor, Tramore, sprint and long jump u12; Emma Power, KCK, sprint u 8; Lauren Gillane, Tramore, sprint u13; Orla Queally, Ferrybank 700 metres u13; Kelly Meade, do, sprint u14; Niamh Brett, do, sprint u15; Vanessa Ogbonna, Tramore Shot u15; Marie Murphy-Griffin, Waterford AC, senior 1500m; Brigid Coffey, West Waterford, o35 1500 metres; Shane Murphy, Tramore, u10 sprint; Liam Reilly, An Gaeltacht, 700 metres u12; Ryan Philips, KCK, sprint u14; John Halley, do, sprint u16; Brian Swaby, Waterford AC, senior 3000m.
