Galway athletes set sights on National Championships
This weekend sees the highlight of the domestic athletics calendar take place, with the two-day National Senior Outdoor Track and Field Championships at the Morton Stadium in Dublin
Among the hotly anticipated events are the Men’s 400m, which will feature Cillin Greene of GCH as he chases another national title and an Olympics spot. Greene faces Chris O’Donnell of North Sligo and Jack Raftery of Donore among others as well as fellow GCH star Robert McDonnell.
McDonnell also goes for GCH over 200m, with clubmate Laura Nally one to watch in the Ladies 200m.
William Fitzgerald of Craughwell is on the 5,000m Men’s start list and Craughwell also have strong representation in the Men’s 800m with Kyle Moorhead a standout.
Others to watch include Conor Penney of Craughwell in the High Jump; Athenry’s Liam Shaw in the Shot Putt; and young Tuam walkers Matthew Newell and Savanagh O Callaghan.
Tailteann Games
The Tailteann Games Schools Interprovincial took place last weekend in Dublin, with some exceptional Galway performances a highlight. Galway had numerous top-two athletes across the programme who will now go forward to the Schools International.
Conor Penney of Calasanctius College and Craughwell AC was outstanding, as he smashed the Tailteann Games High Jump record with a huge 2.09 metre clearance. Penney cleared up to 2.05 metres clearing all heights on his first attempt, and then set the record initially by jumping over at 2.07 and added further to it when clearing 2.09 on his second attempt for an amazing victory.
Lauren Kilduff (Gort CS) excelled in the 300m hurdles to take the victory at a time of 43.45secs and sealed her first international vest when qualifying for the SIAB international. Emma O’Donovan (St Brigids Loughrea) raced superbly in the same race to take the bronze in a time of 45.25secs.
Pictured: Some of the Galway City Harriers athletes who represented Connacht at Tailteann Games at the weekend: Alvin Ngani, Angela Cielecka, Lucy Hounkponou, Gloria Felipe, Juno Hayes, Elisa Jaime Stapleton, and Daniel Sangodele.