race report Orla O’Mahony and Seamus Power claimed individual gold medals in Athenry at the AAI National Championships last Sunday.
The women’s winner, in the colours of Raheny Shamrocks, was well clear of he nearest rival Caitriona Jennings, representing Rathfarnham, who was a minute and a half further back. Gladys Ganiel from Abbey AC was the bronze medallist. The men’s championship was a much tighter affair with Clare’s Seamus Power leading from the gun but never establishing an unassailable lead. His nearest rival was local favourite Paul McNamara of Athenry AC, twice a winner of this championship in the past, who gave chase throughout. Paul had narrowed the gap to just five seconds at the finish but could do no better. Cork native Alan O’Shea of Bantry AC who won this event twelve months ago had to settle for third place this time.
Race hosts Athenry AC attracted many compliments for their stewarding of the race and their strong representation in the competition itself. No fewer than forty-seven local runners took part in the colours of Athenry AC. There was also a strong entry from the other Galway clubs including Galway City Harriers, Craughwell AC, Tuam AC, Loughrea AC and Clare River Harriers, all of which contributed to the largest field ever in this event.
It had been fifty years since the East Galway town had hosted such a prestigious athletics Championship and a small number of the athletes who had competed in 1958 were there to witness events this Sunday all those years later. Derrydonnel AC’s Tommy Madden was able to swap memories with the evergreen Harry Gorman of Donore Harriers about that historic race in Mellows College fifty years ago.
Results Summary:
Individual Men
1. Seamus Power (Kilmurray/Ibrickane AC) 30:27
2. Paul McNamara (Athenry AC) 30:32
3. Alan O’Shea (Bantry AC) 31:14
Individual Women
1. Orla O’Mahony (Raheny Shamrocks) 35:20
2. Caitriona Jennings (Rathfarnham WSAF AC) 36:51
3. Gladys Ganiel (Abbey AC) 37:06
Senior Team Men
1. Rathfarnham WSAF AC
2. Raheny Shamrocks AC
3. Letterkenny AC
Senior Team Women
1. Donore Harriers AC
2. Sportsworld AC
3. Mayo AC
Download Full Results Here.
For more race details see www.AthenryAC.com
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