Connacht Indoor Track and Field Championships
Last weekend’s athletics action featured the Connacht Indoor Track and Field Championships with two days of competition in Athlone. Day 1 – Saturday, 21 February featured the U12 - U14 events (plus race walks for all ages), while Sunday, 22nd saw the U15-19 and Senior and Masters programme take place.
Craughwell AC topped the medal table after two exciting days of competition with 28 gold medals and a total of 67 medals. Galway City Harriers also excelled with 28 gold and 58 medals. Tuam, South Galway and West Coast AC all took 30 medals plus, and Athenry, Castlegar, and Clare River Harriers also excelled
Individually at U12 level, Athenry A.C. opened their account with victory in the U12 Girls 4x200m relay and added individual wins for Emma O’Malley (Girls 600m, 1:56.14) and Beth O’Kane (Girls Shot Put, 6.56m). Galway City Harriers posted a double from Dylan Devitt—Boys 600m (1:48.01) and Boys 60m Hurdles (10.64)—while Rachel Fennessy claimed the Girls 60m Hurdles (11.19). Tuam’s Kate Morris took the Girls 60m in 9.18.
In the U13 Age group, Maneli Fazaeli (GCH) completed a superb 600m (1:43.67) / 60m (8.32) double, and GCH added the Girls 4x200m relay title. The Girls High Jump (saw a tie for gold at 1.30m for Olivia Rooney (Craughwell) and Anna Huban (South Galway). South Galway also claimed victory via Anna Mannion in the Girls 1km Walk (5:32.73).
In the Boys, Castlegar won the Boys 4x200m relay; Athenry’s Eoghan Shryane took the Boys 600m (1:47.82); Tuam’s Dylan Roddy captured the Boys 60m Hurdles (10.50). Craughwell completed a field double via Rhylan Cannon (High Jump, 1.30m) and Danny Kieran (Long Jump, 4.24m). South Galway’s Iarla Keane added another gold for the club in the 1km Walk (5:27.45).
At U14 level, Athenry star Noah Brady won on the double in the 60m Hurdles (9.54) and Shot Put (11.80m), while Owen Gannon won the 1km Walk (5:09.43). Tuam’s Ryan Donnellan leapt to Long Jump gold (4.73m). In the U14 Girls Clare River Harriers’ Ava Dinkin took the Girls 1km Walk (4:47.60), and South Galway’s Amelia Henry sprinted to the Girls 60m title (8.24).
In Sunday’s competitions, Tuam’s Aoibheann O’Malley delivered one of the performances of the day, at U15 level, completing a memorable U15 sprint–jumps treble with victory in the 60m (8.32), High Jump (1.53) and Long Jump (4.66). Craughwell added the U15 Girls 4x200m relay and 60m Hurdles (Lauren Kelly, 9.79), while GCH took the U15 Girls Triple Jump through Kaelyn Browne (8.72).
Athenry struck twice, courtesy of the U15 Boys 4x200m relay and a 60m Hurdles win from Harry Melia (9.10). Craughwell’s Halle Feerick completed a double victory in the
60m (7.83) and High Jump (1.55), while South Galway’s Anthony Kenny claimed the Long Jump (5.08).
In the U16 Girls category, Siún Ní Chonaill delivered Castlegar A.C. a Connacht title in the 1500m (4:58.10), while Craughwell AC swept the 4x200m relay, 60m (Grace Drysdale, 8.39) and High Jump (Faye Whelan, 1.45).
At U16 Boys level, Craughwell took the Boys 4x200m relay and Long Jump (Koshi Tamura, 4.90), while Stephen Toner took Clare River Harriers to the Triple Jump title with 10.18.
In the U17 event,s West Coast’s Michelle Nnadi sprinted to the U17 Girls 60m crown in 8.06. Craughwell dominated the boys’ programme with victories in the 4x200m relay, the U17 Mixed 4x200m relay, the 60m Hurdles (Oisín O’Donovan, 9.25), Long Jump (Charlie Daniels, 5.66) and Shot Put (Killian Burke, 9.65). GCH added two golds via Charlie O’Malley in the 60m (7.50) and Kevin Sangodele in the Triple Jump (11.24).
At U18 Girls level, Claudia Coyle delivered a superb double for South Galway A.C. in the 1500m (4:46.93) and 800m (2:24.13), bookending South Galway’s win in the Girls 4x200m. GCH took the 200m through Katie O’Haire (27.33), while Craughwell’s Aeveen Kelly claimed the 400m (1:05.11) and Rachel Warde the 60m (8.09).
In the U18 Boys, GCH secured a 200m title courtesy of Hugo Lynagh (23.11), added the 4x200m relay, and captured the Triple Jump with Majus Ogulevicius (10.38). Craughwell’s Michael Flaherty won the 800m (2:17.87).
In the U19 Girls, West Coast’s Angela Cielecka stormed to the 200m (25.30), as did her sister Inga in the 400m Junior event GCH’s Lucy Hounkponou won the 60m (8.16), and Craughwell’s Emma O’Donovan completed a superb 400m (57.91) / 60m Hurdles (9.08) double. Clare River Harriers added middle-distance gold via Rhona Connolly in the 1500m (5:37.56).
At U19 Boys level Athenry’s Rian Collins impressed with 4:12.19 for the 1500m. GCH completed a relay double (Boys 4x200m and Mixed 4x200m), while West Coast took both the Shot Put (Caleb Ike, 10.81) and Triple Jump (Daniel Sangodele, 12.95). GCH also added the 400m via Shane McGovern (52.38), and Craughwell’s Keelan Moorhead delivered a high-quality 800m (1:59.45) win.
In the Race Walks, Tuam secured a walk treble with Emma Howson (U15 Girls 1km Walk, 4:59.57), Cuisle O’Callaghan (U16 Girls 1.5km Walk, 7:27.48) and Holly Shaughnessy (Senior Women 1.5km Walk, 7:04.62).
Castlegar struck gold via Grofu Newell (U15 Boys 1km Walk, 5:00.69) and Cliodhna Ní Chonaill (U17 Girls 1.5km Walk, 7:19.46). West Coast’s Caoimhe Phelan captured the U19 Girls 1.5km Walk (6:54.07). South Galway’s Ciarán Kelleher took U18 Boys 1.5km Walk (6:38.88).
At Senior level, in the Womens events GCH’s Laura Nally took the 60m title (7.78), with Craughwell’s Sinéad Treacy winning the 400m (57.96). South Galway’s Orlaith Mannion powered to the 60m Hurdles title and 200m gold, and Craughwell added High Jump gold through Isabel Schukat (1.50). GCH’s Phoebe Whiteside won well in the 1500m (5:04.27).
In the Senior Mens events, Tuam’s Jack Hession won the Long Jump (5.89). Craughwell athlete Martin Curley won the Triple Jump (9.39) and Justin Lane winning Weight for Distance (56lbs) at 6.82. On the Track, West Coasts Ben Edeh was a double winner in the 60m and 200m, and clubmate Oisin Phelan won the 400m gold, while Sean Cotter and Arlene Earls of Craughwell claimed 800m gold each.
National Senior Indoor Championships
The stars of Irish athletics will take to national competition this weekend as the 123.ie National Indoor Athletics Championships take centre stage at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Dublin across February 28th and March 1st. In a first for the National Indoor Championships, Virgin Media will provide live tv coverage on Sunday.
Many of Galway's top athletes will compete, notably Emma Moore of GCH, who goes in the Ladies 800m, with the final on Sunday. Oisin Davis and Jack Miskella go in the Men’s 1500m. Craughwell’s Conor Penney continues to prove one of Ireland’s most exciting field athletes and is not to be missed in the men’s high jump
The Men’s 400m sees the return of Sean Doggett (Athenry AC), who takes to the blocks following his recent 46.99PB. South Galway’s David Mannion has also been flying this indoor season, along with sibling Stephen, while Cillin Greene (Galway City Harriers) continues his return to action in what could be an intriguing event
