Competitive action at Galway track & field championships
DAY two of the annual Galway Track and Field Championships took place in scorching conditions in the NUI Galway track at Dangan last Thursday with temperatures nudging 30 degrees. A packed programme of events included junior, senior and masters championships.
The first event of the evening saw the sprinters in action with a series of 200m races. In the junior men’s event, Conor Duggan won gold for Craughwell with the fastest time of the evening 23.13. Ben Cooney GCH was second in 23.67 with Janic Schulte Loughrea in third.
The 200m senior men’s county title was won by Ronan Coyle GCH in 23.57, from Ivor Geoghegan and Peter Mannion, both of GCH, in the silver and bronze places
The 200m masters over 50 event was won by the evergreen Peadar Nugent, Athenry, in a time of 35.46. The 200m masters 35 heats were won by John King and Richard Ashe, with the final taking place next week.
In the women’s events, the 200m junior race was won by Sinead Treacy of Craughwell in 25.81 while the senior title went to clubmate Rachel Finnegan in 28.55. In the 200m masters over 35 category Yvonne Knight of Athenry took the honours, while in the masters 50 section, Majella Ni Chriocain, GCH, won gold. Fastest time of the day was from guest Louise Holmes in 24.93.
It was a tough evening for the distance runners, with most athletes needing water en route due to the humid conditions, but it did not stop 5000m winner Matt Bidwell from gaining yet another senior title with a time of 15.53. Second was GCH clubmate Owen Byrne in 16.19 with guest Donal Hanratty third in 16.33
Masters over 35 winner was Gerry Carty of GCH in 17.24, followed by Athenry’s Ray Somers and Eddie Corban. The M50 category was won by Pat Sherry GCH, with silver going to Tommy J Whyte of Tuam AC.
The 3000m women’s Galway championships saw a win for Regina Casey of Galway City Harriers, in a time of 11.03, with Caroline Whiriskey of Loughrea in second and Gabrielle Donnellan, East Galway AC, third. The race itself was won by guest athlete of Alvy Carragher with a strong run of 10.30, leading from gun to tape. The Masters 3000m titles were won by Esther O’Flaherty of Athenry (over 35) in a time of 12.06 and Majella Ni Chriochain of GCH (over 50) in 14.05
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune