The Galway Men’s Senior Track and Field team produced a stellar performance at the weekend’s Athletics Ireland National League Preliminary Round, securing a brilliant second-place finish overall to comfortably qualify for the upcoming National Finals.
Competing against the top teams across the country in Tullamore on Saturday (20th June), the Galway squad amassed an outstanding total score of 105 points (96 points after scoring adjustments), proving their depth across both track and field disciplines.
The track athletes led the charge with a spectacular trio of individual victories, claiming the maximum 9 points in each event.
Reakwon Lucciano (West Coast AC) dominated the field in the 200m sprint, crossing the line in first place. In the distance events, Galway was completely untouchable: Rian Collins (Athenry AC) put in a masterful performance to win the grueling 5000m, while Abaas Adam Edris (West Coast AC) powered his way to a magnificent victory in the punishing 3000m Steeplechase.
Galway’s consistency at the top of the field was further solidified by an incredible string of second-place finishes, racking up a massive 7 points per event. Throws powerhouse Liam Shaw (Athenry A.C.) put in a massive double-shift for the county, securing superb second-place finishes in both the Shot Putt (7.26kg) and the Discus (2kg).
On the track, Oisin Phelan backed up the sprinters with an excellent second-place finish in the 400m, while multi-talented master athlete Justin Lane (Craughwell AC) fought hard in the Pole Vault to secure a brilliant joint-second place finish (6.5 points).
The management team would like to highly compliment the entire squad on a super team spirit shown throughout the day. With many athletes selflessly doubling up on events or debuting in brand-new disciplines to guarantee the best possible points score for the county, it was a true display of collective determination.
Below is the complete roll of honor celebrating every athlete who stepped onto the track and field to secure Galway’s place in the National Finals:
Individual Event Victories (1st Place - 9 Points)
- Reakwon Lucciano (West Coast AC) – 200m Sprint
- Abaas Adam Edris (West Coast AC) – 3000m Steeplechase
- Rian Collins (Athenry AC) – 5000m
Second Place Finishes (2nd Place - 7 Points)
- Liam Shaw (Athenry A.C.) – Shot Putt (7.26kg)
- Liam Shaw (Athenry A.C.) – Discus (2kg)
- Oisin Phelan – 400m Sprint
- Justin Lane (Craughwell AC) – Pole Vault (Joint 2nd Place - 6.5 Points)
Third Place Finishes (3rd Place - 6 Points)
- Brian Fallon (West Coast AC) – 400m Hurdles
- Luke O'Sullivan (Craughwell AC) – 1500m
- John McGrath (West Coast AC) – Weight for Distance (56lb)
Top 8 Standard Finishes (Crucial Team Points)
- John McDermott (West Coast AC) – Long Jump (5th Place - 4 Points)
- Martin Curley (Craughwell AC) – Triple Jump (5th Place - 4 Points)
- Kamsi Okepegbuo (West Coast AC) – 100m Sprint (5th Place - 4 Points)
- Luke O'Sullivan (Craughwell AC) – 800m (6th Place - 4 Points)
- Martin Curley (Craughwell AC) – Javelin (800g) (6th Place - 4 Points)
- Anthony Ochana Dolan (Loughrea AC) – High Jump (Crucial Team Points)
The Relay Squads
- 4x100m Relay Team (5th Place - 5 Points): John McDermott, Kamsi Okepegbuo, Joseph Connor, Jayden Montes.
- 4x400m Relay Team (6th Place - 4 Points): Oisin Phelan, Joseph Connor, Jayden Montes, Luke O'Sullivan.
With qualification safely in the bag and the squad firing on all cylinders across the sprints, distances, jumps, and throws, the Galway Men’s Senior Team now turns their full focus to the National League Finals. It is onwards and upwards to Morton Stadium on Sunday, August 9th, where they will look to hunt down national title honors.
