Limerick athletes impress at AAI Games in Carlow

IT WAS a busy week for Limerick athletes on the domestic scene and international scene as we saw six athletes receive international caps.

AAI Games:

The AAI Games, incorporating the national 10,000-metre championships and national combined event championships, took place in SETU Carlow last weekend with Limerick Athletes competing across a number of events. Larry O’Grady (Mooreabbey Milers) competed in the master men O60-69 heavy hammer finishing 3rd in a throw of 11.88 meters.

Larry also competed in the men's discus winning his age category with a throw of 33.12 meters. Kieran O’Connor (West Limerick AC) competed in the 200m running 22.79 seconds for 3rd in his heat. Paul Costelloe (Limerick Track Club) continued his return from injury running 10.80 seconds and 10.76 seconds over 100 meters.

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Jamie Mitchell (Emerald AC) ran in the 400 meters clocking 50.01 seconds. Aaron O’Connor (Limerick Track Club) competed in the triple jump claiming bronze with a jump of 13.22 meters.

European U23 Championships:

The European U23 Championships took place in Bergen, Norway this past week with Ireland taking home a record five medals. Victoria Amiadamen (Dooneen AC) and Darragh Murphy (Limerick AC/UCD AC) were both part of relay team which ran on the morning of day 4 of the championships.

Victoria was first up as part of the women’s 4x400 relay. Running the second leg, Victoria ran a strong, composed leg splitting 53.4 seconds for the 400 meters. The team finished 6th in their heat clocking a new national U23 record but unfortunately did not progress to the final.

Darragh ran the third leg of the relay running a strong bend in 9.84 seconds. The team finished 5th in their heat the second fastest performance by a Irish U23 relay team ever and narrowly missed out on the final.

Bob Burke 4mile:

The Grange Fermoy Bob Burke 4mile took place Friday evening with a handful of Limerick athletes making the trip to The Rebel County. Karl Lenihan (West Limerick AC) was the first Limerick man home in 5th overall in a time of 21.57 minutes.

Limerick woman Jessica Coyne came home 10th overall and 1st women. She was closely followed by Pamela Kirby (Bilboa AC) who finished 3rd woman overall. Also running was Karol Downey (West Limerick AC) in 29th, Martin Hennessy (Kilfinane AC) 37th and Brendan Hennessy (An Brú AC) 155th.

National 10 Mile:

The National 10 Mile championships took place in Phoenix Park Sunday morning. The National titles went to Ryan Creech and Megan Ryan with Dundrum South Dublin taking home both teams prizes.

There were two Limerick athletes in action. David Hill (West Limerick AC) ran it in 1 hour 36 minutes while Willie O’Donoghue (Mooreabbey Milers AC) finished in 1 hour 6 minutes.

FISEC Games 2025:

Emer Purtill and Megan O’Shea (Both Dooneen AC) competed for Ireland at the FISEC games in Budapest during the week. Emer won the shot put with a throw of 13.92 meters.

Emer also competed in the high jump, jumping 1.60 meters for 3rd. Megan finished 4th in her heat of the 100 meters running 12.91 seconds.

SIAB Track and Field International Championships:

Emer Purtill competed for Ireland, for the second time this week, at the SIAB’s in Derby in the Shot Put and Javelin. Emer finished second in both throwing 14.62 meters in the shot and 45.16 meters in the javelin. Emer’s performances helped Ireland to 2nd place finish overall.

London Diamond League:

Ciara Neville and Sarah Lavin (Both Emerald AC) were part of an Irish quartet that ran in the women's 4x100 meter relay in the pre programme events. They were joined by UL alum Sarah Leahy and Lauren Roy to run a new national record of 43.73 seconds.

West Limerick AC Club Notes:

Gas Networks Ireland 5k

Well done to Pádraig O'Donnell who was in action again on Wednesday evening in Cork City for the Gas Networks Ireland 5k, part of the Cork BHAA race series. Pádraig was 23rd overall with a time of 16.28. A great result!

Bob Burke 4 Mile

This race was hosted by Grange-Fermoy AC in Cork on Friday evening. Karl Lenihan and Karol Downey were running for West Limerick with great results from both.

Karl was 5th overall and 1st in his age category in 21.57. Meanwhile Karol was 29th overall and 3rd in age category in 24.49.

Well done both, great running as always!

Araglen Carnival Sports

On Friday July 18th Fanahan McSweeney AC held an open juvenile competition.

We had a number of club members in action on the night.

Laoise Quaid was 3rd in the U8 80m and 1st in the U7 80m.

Mia O'Sullivan ran in the U9 80m, 300m and threw in the Turbo Javelin.

Leyna Halpin Colclough was 1st in Turbo Javelin, 1st in 300m and 2nd in the 100m, all U11.

Elsa Fahy was 1st in the 600m, 1st in 100m and 3rd in high jump.

Amelia Nix was 3rd in U12 100m.

Ciarán Mcloughlin was 1st in 100m and 600m.

Sam Lynch was 3rd in 100m and 2nd in 600m.

Tadhg Lynch was 2nd in the U9 80m.

Ruairí Boyce was 3rd in U13 100m.

Alex O'Sullivan was 2nd in the U14 100m and 2nd in the U14 600m.

Nessa Halpin Colclough won the U13 100m , U14 600m and the U14 High Jump.

We had an U10 mixed relay team of Tom McLoughlin, Tadhg Lynch, Aoibhe Boyce and Mia O'Sullivan.

We also had a U12 mixed relay team of Sam Lynch, Amelia Nix, Elsa Fahy and Ciarán McLoughlin who won gold.

Our U14 mixed relay team of Nessa Halpin Colclough, Elsa Fahy, Ruairi Boyce and Alex O'Sullivan

Nessa Halpin Colclough won the Ned Hanley Cup for best Girl in competition.

National AAI Games

Well done to Kieran O’Connor who was 3rd place in his heat in the 200m at the National AAI games on Saturday

Biofreeze Irish Runner 10 Mile

This event was the final event in the 2025 Athletics Ireland Race Series and was held in the Phoenix Park in Dublin on Sunday morning.

Well done to David Hill who battled through the rain to complete the course in a time of 01:36:54.

Hyrox Kerry

Congratulations to Grace O'Donnell and her teammate Amy Been who won the Women's Doubles at this event in Tralee on Sunday morning with a chip time of 58.20. They were the only female team with a sub 1 hour result.