COMPETITION UPDATE

After a long Summer with no action on the track, road or anywhere else, plans are being put in place for a few meetings at Connacht and National level during the month of August.

CONNACHT COMPETITION

Connacht Athletics are planning a two day event over the weekend of August 15/16, with field events on the Saturday in Craughwell and track events in Athlone on the Sunday. This is NOT a championship event, there is no progression to National from this and no Connacht medals to be won.

It is simply an effort to provide some basic level of competition for our young athletes who have worked hard over the last few months and some preparation for older athletes who are intending to compete in the National Juvenile, Juniors, Seniors or Masters events later in the season.

Working on the assumption of a maximum 200 people allowed at a gathering and our event will conform to all HSE guidelines of which you should all now be familiar.

Competition will take place over two days in four age groups: U14, U15, U16 & U17/Senior/Masters and the events are as follows:

Saturday: Long Jump and Shot

Sunday: 100m, 800m and U17 & up 3000m

U14, U15 and U16 events will take place in the morning and U17 & older events events in the afternoon with a clear break between

There is a maximum of four entries per club in each age group, ie U14, U15, U16, U17 & older with a waiting list in operation. There may be flexibility on numbers depending entries while an athlete can only enter one event across the weekend, if an event remains unfilled then we can open entries again to all.

U14, U15 and U16 will compete in age groups. U17 & older will compete as one age group but seeded on times for track and throwers will use own weights for shot. Pacers are allowed but they have to enter as per all other athletes.

€5 per entry, clubs will be billed for their entries, no cash will be taken on the day. Closing dates for entries is Monday, August 10, and entries on a first come, first served basis.

Anyone thinking of entering must be 100% committed to competing due to the restrictions on the number of entries each club is allowed per event. Contact John Connolly if you wish to enter any of the events.

National Senior T&F - August 22/23

Athletics Ireland have also announced that the National Senior Championships incorporating the U23 Championships will be held over the weekend of August 22/23, at Morton Stadium in Dublin but the competition is subject to the government progressing to Phase 4 where 500 people will be allowed to gather outdoors.

A few points to note:

• Competition will be closed to all spectators

• Athletes, officials and event staff only permitted on site

• Competition will take place in two separate sessions each day. There will be a strict requirement for athletes to leave the facility as soon as possible at the end of each session. The stadium will be cleared between sessions

• There will be no parking available at Morton Stadium

• Athletes based overseas wishing to take part must have completed 14 days of self-isolation prior to the event and have proof of travel dates

• All athletes entered to the senior championships who are U23 (born 1998,1999,2000) will be automatically included in the U23 championships. Separate entry is not required

• U23 medals will be awarded on position in the final, if a medallist position(s) is not available in a track final then it/they will be awarded on the best time in the heats; An athlete may win a senior medal and U23 medal within the same track/field event

• Junior Men & Women 5000m Championships incorporated

Entries will open on Wednesday July 29, and close on August 12, with a late entry window available until August 16. No entries will be accepted after this date.

Timetable will be published when entries close, events may change sessions depending on numbers of athletes entered to events.

Events will be live streamed on both days.

Competition will be subject to strict COVID 19 prevention protocol, details of which will be announced in due course.

To enter please click HERE.