Entries still open! Two former Olympians, Jerry Kiernan who placed 9th and David Matthews will be on the start line for the annual Ballyhaunis 8km Road Race which takes place on Saturday afternoon (4pm), September 24th.
Jerry Kiernan, who delivered a brilliant place performance in the 1984 Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles, will travel to Ballyhaunis with his former Clonliffe Harriers team mate Padraig Keane who will also run in the event. David Matthews, who still holds the Irish 800 meters record of n 1:44.82, set back 1995, will be a guest of Ballyhaunis native Frank Greally who has edited Irish Runner magazine for the past 30 years.
Race day in Ballyhaunis will be something of a trip down memory lane for Padraig Keane and Frank Greally- two original members of the Ballyhaunis Athletic Club of the late 1960s. Both Keane and Greally went on to represent Ireland at international level and they both represented Ireland in the World Cross Country Championships in Cambridge in 1972 as senior team members.
Padraig Keane competed with distinction for many years in the colours of Dublin club Clonliffe Harriers and Frank Greally competed with Donore Harriers in the early 1970s before taking up an athletics scholarship in East Tennessee State University.
“We are looking forward to a great day in Ballyhaunis on September 24th- one that is sure to be laced with a good bit of nostalgia, “ Frank Greally said. “We are hoping that Michael Joyce- another member of our original Ballyhaunis A.C team- will also arrive in town for this year’s race and it will also be nice to be able to welcome two Irish running legends- Jerry Kiernan and David Matthews to our town.” Frank Greally has also made a commitment to complete the 8km course and his son Conor,- a new convert to distance running, will also run in the event.
The Ballyhaunis 8km Road Race is open to Walkers, Joggers and Runners. Online entries are now available at www.runireland.com and there is a race website at www.ballyhaunis8k.com This is also the final race in the Mayo A.C Summer Road League- see www.mayoac.com Further information from Martin Fitzmaurice- Tel: 087-2455989 It promises to be a great evening in the East Mayo town where a great Ballyhaunis welcome will be extended to all participants.
ENTER NOW:
www.runireland.com/events/ballyhaunis-8k
