World Relays Selections
Ireland achieved great success and double qualifications for the World Championships at the World Athletics Relays in Guangzhou, China, held last Saturday, May 10th and Sunday, May 11th. The Women’s, Men’s and Mixed 4x400m relay teams travelled to China aiming to seal all-important qualification for September’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo, Japan. The top fourteen teams in each event qualify for the World Championships. Cillín Greene of Galway City Harriers raced on the Mixed relay quartet (pictured below) alongside Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), and Conor Kelly ( Finn Valley AC), and the foursome excelled, placing a fine second in their heat and securing automatic qualification for the Worlds. A lot of squad changes were made ahead of the final, and that brought an opportunity for University of Galway athlete Aaron Greene to race the final and place the team eighth overall. The women’s 4x400m relay team of Rhasidat Adeleke (Tallaght AC), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport AC), Sophie Becker (Raheny Shamrock AC) and Rachel McCann ( North Down AC) combined superbly to guide the team to World Championship qualification, winning their heat on Sunday. Cillin Greene raced again on Sunday along with a strong men’s quartet including Conor Kelly, Jack Raftery and Chris O Donnell. Still, the squad were up against a world-class field, placing seventh overall and missing out on selection. Overall, it was a very successful weekend for the Irish teams, and Greene of GCH was hugely impressive in getting the Mixed squad to the World Championships- all roads lead to Tokyo now for him and the Irish squad.
Galway 5km Series
The 2025 Galway 5k series sponsored by EY continues in earnest, with leg three held last Tuesday in Abbeyknockmoy. Once again, Evan O'Rourke was first home for Maree AC in 15.49, with Tuam stars Paul Kearney and Ger Hartnett in second and third. First lady was Grainne Ni Uallachain in 18.35, with Caron Ryan in next for Craughwell and Nora McMahon of GCH third. This week’s event is hosted by Loughrea AC, with Maree AC and Athenry AC holding the final two legs.
Galway County Track and Field Championships
Two days of Track and Field competition were held in glorious summer weather at Dangan track last Saturday and Sunday, as the Galway County Juvenile Track and Field championships took centre stage. Saturday featured the U13-U19 age groups, with Sunday’s event showcasing a huge attendance of U9-U12 competitors. Among the highlights on Day One was Craughwell’s huge haul of medals. One of their stars was Matiss Ozolins, was possibly the most successful athlete of the entire meet with no less than 4 gold medals, racing to a PB of 11.26 to take the Galway title in the U13 Boys 80m sprint and repeating that feat with 4.65m in the long jump and 1.45m in the high jump before helping the U14 Boys relay team to the Galway 4x100m title in an excellent time of 53.79. In the older age’s hurdles, Conor Penney raced to a blistering gold in the U18 Boys 110m Hurdles. Lauren Kilduff had an impressive run in the 100m Hurdles, taking gold in 14.59. Declan O’Connell took gold in the U18 Boys 800m in 2:00.17. In the High Jump, two of the day’s top athletes, Conor Penney and Darragh Kelly, both entertained the large watching crowd with some spectacular jumps in the U18 and U19 Boys High Jump. Kelly leapt a series of fine first-time clearances over 1.75m, 1.80m and 1.85m before nailing a new PB on his 3rd attempt at 1.88m. Penney opened his jumps with a first-time clearance of 1.87m and followed it up with majestic clearances over 1.92m and 1.97m – the latter breaking the Galway Championship Best for victory. Athenry AC secured 4 golds in the older ages via Gold for Rian Collins U18 in the 1500m in a PB equaling time of 4.17. Eva Carroll showed her speed, taking home gold in the 60mh in a time of 10.58. In the U14 Boys 75m hurdles, Harry Melia took them well, going over each one with speed and aggression to secure the gold medal, while in the U15 Boys, Matthew Broderick took home Gold in the Shot Putt.
Clare River Harriers travelled in numbers and again topped the podium in many events - Elise Day set the tone from the get-go by claiming gold in the 1500m. She later went on to claim silver in the 800m and was just pipped at the line by clubmate Aoibhe Daly, who claimed gold. At U15 level, Stephen Toner claimed 3 individual medals - gold in the Triple Jump and bronze in the 100m and long jump. Sean Howley won the 1500m gold, with Patrick Lee winning over 800m. Tuam AC secured a whopping 24 gold medals on Saturday, including double wins for Lincoln King in the U15 100m and 200m and Rachel Treacy over the short and long hurdles, as well as securing 7 Walks medals, including three via the O Callaghan siblings. West Coast AC won 13 golds with notable wins via Michelle Nnadi at U16 level, the Galway champion over 100m and 200m, as was Angela Cielecka at U18 level over 100m and 200m. Ben Moran secured triple gold across the 400m Hurdles, Long Jump and 60m. West Coast also struck gold via Jayden Montes at U18 200m, Caleb Ike in Shot and javelin, Daniel Sangodele in the Triple Jump, Inga Cielecka over 400m and at U19 Leon Ewere in the 200m. Notably also for West Coast, Angela Cielecka (cover photo) raced last week on one of the two Irish 4 by 100m Relay squads who recently achieved the qualifying standard of 46.10 required for an Irish team representation in the U20 European Championships being held 7-10 August, Tampere, Finland. Galway City Harriers put on a fine event as organisers, and were well represented across the two days, with notable wins for Fionn Law over Hurdles and High Jump at U15 level, Jennifer McCarthy winning the U17 400m and medalling in mid distance, Keilah Murray won over 3000m at U17 also as did Justin McCarthy. In the field, notable wins came via Paulina Navicke on the throws at U14 level, and Caoimhe Cavalieri with a massive throw to win the U13 Javelin.
Castlegar AC saw notable golds via Elly Turner over 1500m, Ciara Madden in the U13 80m, and Dylan Madden in the U13 Boys Walk. South Galway AC had some fantastic performances via Claudia Coyle winning the 800m and 1500m double at U17 Girls level, Ciara McGuane likewise won double gold at U13 level, in the 600m and Long Jump, Brendan McGuane and Cathal Walsh also struck gold. Loughrea AC's Darragh Fahy continued his winning form with gold across the 100m, Long Jump and Triple Jump at U19 level. Next up are the Connacht Championships on June 7th, also in Dangan
Belfast Milers meet
Several Galway athletes travelled to Belfast for an elite track and field meet last weekend. Among the highlights was a superb win over 400m for David Mannion of South Galway AC, clocking 47.2 seconds. Kyle Moorhead of Craughwell AC also set a personal best of 1.50.96, winning the Men’s B 800m. Oisin Davis ran 3.49.75 for a Craughwell record over 1500m, while Aimad Belayd clocked a super 8.35 over 3000m for Castlegar. Emma Moore of GCH continues her good run of form, placing second in the Ladies A 800m in 2.04.26, while Fiona Everard of UG AC clocked an impressive 9.13 over 3k.
Cover Photo: Angela Cielecka, West Coast AC, Galway champion and on Irish Relay U20 squad, which qualifies for the U20 European Championships.
