Limerick athletes impress at wide range of events

ATHLETIC activity was quiet in the Treaty County last week as we await the start of the Cross Country season in September.

Several athletes from Limerick, however, travelled around the country and acquitted themselves well. The highlights were as follows: - 

Run Athy Half Marathon:

Congratulations to Dooneen’s John Whitaker who took the ‘Bronze Medal’ in a time of 1:19:52.

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Storming the Castle 10km

Dooneen’s Ben Emes returned home to Carrickfergus where he finished 5th from over 900 competitors in a time of 33:56, well done Ben.

Frank Duffy 10 Mile | Irish Life Race Series

Carolyn Hayes, of West Limerick AC, was 6th and 1st in her age category with a time of 1:04:05. In hot conditions clubmate Dave Hill finished in 1:15:16.

St Cocas Kilcock 10 Mile

West Limerick PRO Theresa Hughes travelled to Kildare for one of the flattest 10 mile races in the country last Sunday morning. On another very warm day she made it round the course in 1.28.27.

Cork City St Finbarrs 10km

The West Limerick duo of Declan Guina (33:20) and Karl Lenihan (34:16) were 9th and 10th respectively. Dooneen’s Kieran O’Brien was home in 36:57 while Marcella McGrath celebrated a new decade with a pb time of 42:36 for 2nd F50. This follows on from a first sub 20 minute 5K in Birr recently .

Rose of Tralee Festival 5k

Well done to the West Limerick trip of Jakub Winnicki (17.09) Jonathan Scanlon (21.47), and Alan Quaid (27.50).

Juvenile

Well done to all Limerick athletes who took part in the Lisacarroll Open Sports

Parkrun

Dooneen’s Maria Maher 21:36 and Risteard O’Flaherty 18:44 were respective first finishers at UL. Killian Coman, of Limerick AC, was 11th on 20:51.

Sean O’Rourke 17:41 and Kate O’Brien 21:31 were best in Mungret. Evan Fitzgerald visiting from Waterford blitzed the field in Newcastle West, first in 15:25 with Ewa Rugala first woman in 25:41.

International Selection

Well done to Limerick’s John ‘Toldo’ Kinsella who, at the age of 45 has been selected the represent Ireland at the Senior World Mountain and Trail Running Championships in Canfranc-Pirones in Spain next month.

Along with Rathkeale native Emmet McNamara he will also represent Ireland the at the `World Masters Mountain Running Championships in Meduno Valley, Italy at the end of this month.

Training Tip:

“Learning to run by feel is crucial for every athlete - listening to your body is the most important training metric of all" - Mike Carmody

Fixtures

The Community Games National Finals take place next weekend in Carlow

The Metis Ireland Run for Clionas 5K Fun Run takes place on Thursday, September 11 at 6:30pm from the Clayton Hotel at Steamboat Quay. Metis is a charity which provides support to families of seriously ill children so please do support. Enter on-line through Eventmaster

The Limerick County Senior Cross Country and Juvenile Even Age Cross Country Championships take place on Sunday,  September 28 at the Newcastle West Showgrounds.

The Charleville Half Marathon on September 14 is focal point for a lot of Limerick athletes at present.

The Limerick Mini Marathon takes place on Sunday, October 5 at UL, now open to Men and Women, 5K or 10K, enter through Eventmaster