Thornton and O’Leary first home in Resolution Run

This year’s 5k Resolution Run saw more than 350 runners shake off the New Year’s celebrations and complete the 4th annual staging of the race, organised by Athenry AC stalwart Tony Killarney in aid of two good causes, around the city centre streets of Galway.

Gary Thornton, Galway’s top distance runner, took a convincing victory in the first race in Galway in 2014. Thornton raced clear from the start and led all the way winning in a time of 15.01. Second home was GCH ‘s rising star Keith Fallon, in 15.55 and third was another young prospect,  Jamie Fallon of Craughwell AC in 16.04. The evergreen Michael O’Connor, double National marathon title winner, was fourth in 16.14, taking the Masters prize.

There was quite a battle for the Ladies prize, with MSB AC athlete and former All-Ireland cross country medallist Eimear O’Leary just doing enough to take first place in 18.29, nine seconds clear of Jane Ann Healy of Athenry AC ,with early leader Irene Gorman, running with TCD, in third in 19.08.

GCH men and women took both team prizes

National Indoor Club League

Round One of this new competition took place in the splendid new indoor arena in Athlone IT last weekend. Local club Craughwell AC had both Men’s and Women’s squads compete and they finished in 11th and third positions respectively after the first round.

The Men’s team saw Damien O’Boyle run 2:00:42 for 800m, an event in which Craughwell had several athletes competing, including Peadar Harvey who ran 2:01:64, while John Cormican ran 8.08 in the 60m, and David Farrell jumped 5.54m to take points in the Long Jump.

The Women’s squad had points scorers in Caitriona Farrell in the Long Jump with a leap of  5.09m; Jane McNally with a throw of  6.77m in the Shot; Tara McNally ran 8.49 in the 60m; Sarah Finnegan who ran 10.1 in the 60m hurdles; and Rachel Finnegan who ran 2.38 in the 800m.