International Notes
Two Galway athletes secured qualifying times for the upcoming European U23 Championships set for Norway in mid-July, at an international meet in Belgium last weekend
Andrew Egan of Galway City Harriers ran an exceptional PB of 45.86 over 400m, to win his heat and securing a European A standard for the Under 23 championships, stepping up from his fast 20.86 200m in recent weeks
There was another outstanding performance in the same race by David Mannion of South Galway, as he ran a super 400m in a new pb of 46.83 seconds, his first time to break 47 seconds.
Alix Joyce of Tuam AC also qualified for European U23 Championships In the 3000m steeplechase. Competing in Birmingham, Alix needed to run faster than 10.15.00 and came home with a time of 10.14.50 to finally achieve her dream of representing Ireland at a major championship, aided along the way by coach Dermot McDermott
Two Galway athletes travelled as part an Athletics Ireland team to the EYOF in Wetzlar, Germany last weekend. Angela Cielecka of West Coast AC placed 3rd over 100m clocking a personal best of 11.92 seconds, while Craughwell athlete Lauren Kilduff also placed third, over 400m Hurdles, again in a personal best time of 60.83 seconds
Connacht Track and Field championships
The Connacht Track and Field Championships for Juvenile athletes from U9 to U13 level were held in Dangan at the University of Galway last weekend and local clubs secured multiple successes across the programme of events.
All Ireland qualification was at stake for the top three pairs in each event, and top 4 at U12 and 13s over 600m
Castlegar’s up and coming Juvenile squad were rewarded in style as the U9 Boys secured a super gold in the 60m pairs sprint, as Mason Calvey ran a blistering 9.85, a new club record, taking individual Silver. His pair, Liam Garvey, ran a super 10.44, and when their times were combined, they took the Gold in the pairs.
Castlegar’s U10 girls also struck gold via Amelia Farragher and her pair Hana Fara Gheziel. In the U10 4 X100m Relay, Amelia Farragher, Hana Gheziel, Moya Kelly and newcomer Amy Hehir ran superbly in claiming team Gold in a new club record to boot.
Castlegar’s Alex Lomboto kicked off the day in style for the U12 boys with a gold medal performance in the 60m hurdles, clocking an incredible 11.02 seconds to set a new club record.
In the 60m sprint, five other athletes from Castlegar represented the team with determination and speed. Colm Garvey, a newcomer to the squad, ran a phenomenal race to take silver in a blistering 9.02 seconds. In the long jump, Garvey soared to gold once again, producing a massive leap of 3.93m for victory.
Finbar Sayers Salas led the charge for Castlegar over 600m, winning gold with a brilliant time of 1:49.61, setting another club record.
Traditionally stronger in older age groups, Galway City Harriers enjoyed one of their best ever showings at a Connacht’s for the under 9-13 ages last Saturday, topping the provisional Connacht medal table with 12 gold, 8 silver and 11 Bronze.
The club secured a host of gold medals, starting at U9 level, with wins in the U9 60m Pairs for Amy Devitt and Eleanor Duane, and also in the U9 300m Pairs via Amy Devitt and Roise Casey.
At U10 level, the GCH Boys Relay Team of James Langan, Rian McDermott, Donagh Chapple and Adriel Scott claimed victory.
In the U11 category, the U11 Girls Long Jump Pair of Zofia Clifford and Rachel Fennessy won Gold.
There was triple success at U12 level, with wins in the U12 Girls 600m for Maneli Fazaeli, and in the U12 Girls Long Jump via Sophie White, while the U12 Girls 4X 100m Relay squad of Katie McGlynn, Thea Lynch, Matilda McGlynn, Maneli Fazaeli and Elliana Magnetti stormed home to victory.
There was a superb double at U13 Girls level as Aoibhinn Van de Ven won both the High Jump and Long Jump with a great display of jumping.
Craughwell AC recorded some superb performances from their younger athletes at the Connacht’s, led by Matiss Ozolins who broke the Connacht Championship record with a 4.81m leap to take the U13 Long Jump title.
Connacht titles also in the individual events went to Katie Considine (U10 500m), Danny Mitchell (U12 Turbo Javelin) and in the relays for the U9 Boys and the U12 Boys teams and in the paired event for Daithi Colleran/Cian Monahan (U9 Boys 300m), Meabh Galvin/Aoife Hardiman (U9 Girls Long Jump) and Katie Considine/Lucy McGovern (U10 Girls 500m).
Athenry AC secured wins via the U11 Girls Relay squad in a winning time of 1:01.02, via the team of Alannah Coffey, Masie Ryan, Beth Okane, Bonnie Broderick, Georgia Joycea and Sophia King.
In the U13 Boys event, Noah Brady delivered a stellar performance, launching the Shot Putt to a massive 12.02m, landing him at the top of the podium with gold. In just his second ever hurdles competition, he also soared to a bronze medal finish.
Loch Lurgan’s Ollie Morris won gold in the U13 Boys 60m sprint, while Tuam AC secured gold via Annabelle Heneghan, who won the Connacht U10 long jump gold in Dangan today
For East Galway AC, Fiachra Barrett and Cillian Carrigy won on the double, taking individual Gold and Silver in the 500m and the Pairs Gold in both 60m and 500m, a superb day for both.
South Galway secured four golds via U12 girls Shot putt winner Grace Taylor, U12 girls High Jump Anna Huban, U13 girls gold in the 60m from Amelia Henry and the U13 girls relay team securing the victory via Amelia Henry, Hollie Carey, Holly O’Connor and Ciara McGuane.
It was a truly memorable day for Clare River Harriers as their U11 Girls sprinters won Connacht gold, along with the club's Emma O’Malley claimed individual gold in the U11 60m sprint with a best of 9.18 and along with Darcy Kearney’s impressive 9.57, this duo claimed a gold in the pairing’s competition.
All Athletes who have qualified now go forward to the National Championships at U12 and Children’s Games on June 22nd.
Galway 5km Series
The 2025 Galway 5k series sponsored by Ernst and Young concluded last week in Athenry, the final leg of the very successful six race series, organised by Galway AAI clubs across the county. 1,000 entries were made to the series, which was a roaring success.
Among the highlights of the series was a last leg series record time set by Oisin Davis of Craughwell AC in 14:52, with the ladies race a great battle with Eimear O’Leary of GCH just pipping clubmate Sarah Collins for the win, with both recorded as 18:14 timings, with Athenry‘s Jane Ann Meehan right behind in 18.17.
Galway County Board thanks all the organising clubs, and race directors Colm Byrne of East Galway AC and Colm McAllen of Craughwell, and John O’Connor, series photographer, for giving their time and help over six weeks of great racing.
