Limerick Athletics - Weekly News Update

7 Jul 2024

Limerick Leader

Dromcollogher Festival 4-Mile

Many high calibre athletes from Limerick and the surrounding counties assembled in the West of Limerick for this popular and long running (pardon the pun) Dromcollogher Festival 4 Mile.

The end result was a maiden victory for Aaron Lynch, of West Limerick, who overhauled a 30-metre deficit on clubmate Karl Lenihan in the final downhill 800ms to cross the line first in 21:08.

Lenihan was just three seconds back with Niall O’Callaghan, who had been part of the leading group taking the ‘Bronze Medal’ in 21:20, fourth Killian Lynch 21:30.

UL Sports science graduate Carol Finn took the Women’s Crown in 24:18. Runner Up was Tanya Cox in 27:54 with her father
Gareth first M65 in 33:35. Lorraine Kirby took third place for the ‘hosts’ in 30:35.

Other times included Kevin O’Donoghue 26:59, Joe Chawke 27:34 and first M60, Tony McMahon 28:56, Claire Knight 32:52 and 1 st F60, Carmel MacDomhnaill 36:20.

Elisa Fahy, of West Limerick AC, was named best overall female athlete of the festival.

National Senior Track and Field Championships

The longest running national championships in the world took place last weekend in mostly damp conditions in Santry.

Congratulations go to Dooneen AC coach Olga Nedvede who broke two championship records on her way to victory in both the Weight for Height (4.70m) and Weight for Distance (7.88m).

Nobody got near Emerald’s Ciara Sheehy in the Senior Shot Put as she threw her way to gold in 14.20m.

The Emerald 4x100m Relay team, coached by Noelle Morrissey, earned a superb silver medal. The team featured Gavin Dillon, Luke Morris, Lorcan O’Connor and Jamie Mitchell who in the anchor leg moved the team up from third to second and the Silver Medal position in 42.95 secs.

Mitchell was earlier third in his 400m heat. Jenna Bromell was third (2:04.41) in a fast 800m final less than second behind Olympics bound Sarah Healy.

Dooneen’s Paul Costello challenged for a medal in the Senior 100m coming through his heat and semi-final in 10.84 and 10.53 respectively. A PB of 10.52PB in a final won by Israel Olatunde saw him take fourth place.

For West Limerick, Ide Nic Domhnaill followed up last year’s Gold with a Silver in this year’s Senior 5000m stopping the clock in 15:48.58. Aaron Lynch followed up his ‘midweek’ race victory with an excellent time of 9:05.96 in the U20 3000m.

Clubmates Declan Guina (15:45.75) and Killian Lynch (15:55.33) competed well in the 5000m.

In the U20 100m there was excellent times of for Luke Calitz (Limerick AC) 22.52 and Sizothini Ndhlovu (Dooneen) 22.70.

Sophie Meredith, of St Marys, took third in the Senior Long Jump clipping the sand after 6.03m. Aaron O’Connor (LAC) was fifth in the Triple Jump (12.85m).

Well done to Sarah Lavin who is National Champion for the 9th time taking the 100mh title in a time of CBP time of 12.79 and was also second behind Rashidat Adeleke in the 100m flat. We wish her well in Paris.

Limerick Community Games

Selected highlights from Mungret included the Cremin siblings from Newcastle West with Lily Ann Cremin taking Gold in the U14 Long Jump and her brother Leroy winning Gold in the Boys U12 Long Jump.

Anna Stack took Gold in the U12 Long Jump while Peter Szabo won the Boys U12 100m. Kilmallock Boys won the U16 Relay
and now go on to the All-Ireland finals.

Well done all who took part in the Hell of the West Triathlon in Kilkee last Saturday with the women’s event being won by Kathryn Fahy of Limerick Triathlon Club.

1989 Susan Murnane of Emerald AC knocked 11 seconds off the previous record on her way to victory in the U14 800m at the Munster Indoors championships in Nenagh. She continues to produce good times for Limerick AC today.

Limerick AC have made a generous donation of gear to Sanctuary Runners

Training Tip – “Train, don’t strain” (don’t exert too hard in training)– Joe Chawke

Fixtures

The National Juvenile T&F Championships take place next weekend in Tullamore featuring many of Limerick’s best young athletes.

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