Breathnach proves the top man in indoor shot putt again

SEAN Breathnach of Galway City Harriers produced an outstanding performance to retain the National Senior Indoor Championships shot putt title in Athlone last weekend.

Breathnach, no stranger to success at national level, saw off all his rivals with a throw of 16.15m, and emerged as Galway’s only winner of a national senior indoor title.

Keith Fallon of GCH was tenth in 8.35 a top class 3000m, while Laura Ann Costello, still a juvenile competitor, was fourth in the 200m women’s final, a quality performance from this up and coming track athlete.

Meanwhile, Nicola Duncan of GCH ran a fantastic time of 72.15 in the Barcelona Half Marathon, coming second and only beaten by a new world record from Kenyan Florence Kiplagat who ran 65.05.

This excellent result comes on the back of Nicola’s selection for the Irish team in the European Championships in August.

Also on the roads, Matt Bidwell of Galway City Harriers won his second 8k in a row last Sunday in Gort. Bidwell took the honours in a time of 26.04, with Owen Byrne of GCH second in 27.34 and Mairtin Grealish of Ennis Track AC in third. Mayo AC athlete Ann Lennon won the ladies race in 30.48 from Eimear O Leary MSB AC (31.11 ) and Anna Crooks (31.19 in second and third respectively. Over 170 athletes took part in the event which was successfully hosted by local club South Galway AC.

Fore more athletics see this week’s City Tribune here