County champions decided at track and field finals in Dangan

The Galway Track and Field Championships for 2015 took place over two days last week, with some excellent competition in the event, which was held at the Dangan track.

Day One saw two very good distance races, with Dearbhaile Walshe of Craughwell taking victory in the Women’s 3,000m and Majella Ni Chriochain winning the Masters section; and Damien O’Boyle of Craughwell winning a high quality 5,000m in a time of 15mins 40secs.

Next home in the 5k was Peter O’Sullivan of Craughwell in 16.22, with Peadar Harvey also Craughwell third in 16.40, and Ollie Mullins of Craughwell AC the Masters champion. Aubree Piepmeier of GCH produced a very good run to take the Galway women’s 5000m crown in 17mins 32secs.

In the field events, Brendan Staunton of GCH took both the shotputt and javelin titles; while in the Ladies events there were also wins by Mary Barrett of Loughrea in both throws. Sarah Finnegan of Craughwell and Bob Bailey of Loughrea won the triple jump contests

Day Two saw sprint and middle distance track races, with Conor Duggan of Craughwell winning both 100m and 200m, in times of 11.05secs, and 22.85secs, into a strong headwind. Sinead Treacy of Craughwell AC took gold in both women’s sprints.

In the 400m, GCH athlete Evan McGuire opened his season with a time of 50:72 to win the Men’s  400m, while junior athlete Sarah McDonnell of GCH won the 400 m easily .

There was a good battle in the Men’s 800m with Peadar Harvey producing a storming finish to pip Conor O Rourke of GCH for the title. Dearbhaile Walshe of Craughwell was first in the Women’s 800m.

The 1,500m also saw an exciting race with Peter O’Sullivan coming from behind to take the win from front-running Jason Broderick, clocking 4.13 for victory.

O’Sullivan went on to claim another County gold in the longest event on the programme, the 10,000m, later on that day winning in 35.42, from Ollie Mullins in second. Helen Corbett of GCH won the County women’s title.

In the field, Brendan Staunton of GCH yet again came up trumps, winning Senior Discus, Hammer and 56lb Weight, while Tommy Farragher won the Masters events.  Guest athlete Laura Dolan threw a huge 38.77 m in the Ladies, with Peggy Higgins taking county gold. Mary Barrett claimed the Ladies Discus title.

National Champion Cathriona Farrell of Craughwell AC produced an exhibition of high jumping to claim gold in the Ladies High Jump. Farrell cleared a season’s best of 1.75m to win, and narrowly missed 1.80m, showing her form is peaking just at the right time. Brendan Lynch of Loughrea took victory in the Men’s event.

Aidan Conneely produced a 6.07 m jump to win the Men’s Long Jump, with Sinead Treacy taking a third gold in the Ladies Long jump, to round off a great two days of competition.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.