Great weekend at Connacht Indoors

After a busy and exhausting weekend at the Connacht Indoors in AIT International Arena in Athlone, we can take a breath to reflect on some wonderful performances from our athletes in all disciplines.

We had gold medal winning performances from Ellis Conway, Declan Kennedy, Toyosi Fagbo, Gerard Murtagh and Lauren Reynolds while there were more medals from Patrick Kennedy, Dara Holmes, Ellie O'Rourke, Alannah McGuinness, Clodagh & Niall Sheerin, Shane Finn and our U15 Boys relay team while there was the near misses of fourth places for Eoghan Farrell, Oisin O'Dowd and our U13 Boys relay squad.

The weekend also marked the first time we didn't have Mary O'Donnell down directing operations on the track in almost 30 years - she was missed but we know she was following the live results service on Connacht Athletics, a very welcome development.

On Saturday, Dara Holmes won the first medal of the weekend with an excellent third in the U13 Shot, throwing 7.71m for bronze while also finishing 9th in the 60m with a time of 9.08.

Saturday also saw the Kennedys resume their incredible double act with Declan just pipping Patrick in the U12 600m despite the fact they were in different races! With the result being determined on times over three races, Declan won heat 2 in 1.50.27 with Patrick winning his heat in 1.50.61, both well clear of third.

Our U13 Boys finished just outside the medals in the 4 x 100m relay also.
On Sunday, Ellis Conway got us off to a great start with an impressive victory in the U18 400m in a time of 60.92 and our sprinters continued the impressive run of gold with Gerard Murtagh, after taking bronze in the long jump with a personal best of 4.60m, delivered a brilliant performance to run 8.08 to win the sprint.

Toyosi Fagbo then laid waste to the field in the U15 60m, the only runner to break eight seconds as he ran a staggering 7.69 seconds! Toyosi almost went one better when he ran one of Carrick AC's best ever relay legs for the U15 Boys, almost making up a 15 metre gap before his legs gave way as the team of Gerard Murtagh, Cian Mollohan, Shane Finn and Toyosi ran 1.46.38 to finish second in the relay. It was a great team display but Toyosi's run was right up there with some of the epic displays from the likes of Siobhan McWeeney and Gerard O'Donnell on last legs in the past!


Lauren Reynolds was also a gold medal winner as she just got the better of Ellie O'Rourke for a club 1-2 in the U16 1,500m, running 5.17.75 to 5.18.74 while Ellie produced a strong run to take 2nd over 800m in 2.32.01 with Lauren 5th in 2.38.78.

The sprints yielded more medals with Niall Sheerin bagging two silvers in the U18 60m and 200m in 7.75 and 24.90 and twin sister Clodagh taking silver in the 200m in 27.73 and bronze in the 60m in 8.46.

Alannah McGuinness won silver and bronze, finishing third in the U17 60m (8.08) before her return to the 60m Hurdles saw her take home a silver (9.91) while Oisin O'Dowd ran two big new pbs of 7.66 to finish 4th in the U19 60m and 24.67 for sixth in the 200m.

Shane Finn was another medal winner with an excellent throw of 11.54m to take third in the U15 Shot.

We had a frew hard luck stories - Blaithin McCrann was on course to win her heat when she stumbled and almost fell in the 60m, Oisin O'Dowd set two great new pbs but just missed out on a 60m medal and a few other stories.

There were some excellent performances over the entire weekend, full results are available at http://connaughtathletics.com/ and we want to say thanks to all our athletes who really gave it everything over the weekend representing the club.

Many thanks to the parents who ferried children to and from the event and provided great support on the day but special thanks to the officials who worked so hard over the weekend: Siobhan Murtagh, Siobhan Whelan, Andrew Brennan, Jenny McCabe, Mary Finn, John Connolly.

See our Facebook page for more photos


Full results of our club members below:

U12 Girls
Caireann O'Grady 17th 600m 2.10.14

U12 Boys
Declan Kennedy 1st U12 600m 1.50.27
Patrick Kennedy 2nd U12 600m 1.50.62
Oisin Mollohan 2.04.08

U13 Girls
60m results not available
Emily Reynolds 12th 600m 2.01.83
Mairead Lowe 2.13.90
Ellie Butler 2.17.58
Keelin Cronin 3.11m Long Jump
Sarah Lowe 2.73m Long Jump
Faith Lynott & Sarah Boyd Joint 5th Shot 6.76m
Michaela Gallagher 13th Shot 5.78m
Relay 1: 2nd Heat 1.02.40, 10th overall
Relay 2: 4th Heat 1.03.91

U13 Boys
Dara Holmes 3rd U13 Shot 7.71m, 9th 60m 9.08
Oliver Kearny 8th Shot 3.74m, 60m 9.22
Alan Beirne 9.21 60m
Relay: 4th 59.24 (third in heat)

U14 Girls
Allie Reynolds 9.57 60m (2nd in heat)
Helena McLoughlin 9.24 60m (2nd in heat)
Blaithin McKiernan 9.68 60m
Roisin Kelleher 9.52 60m, 2.98m Long Jump
Michaela Dunne 9.26 60m (2nd in heat), 3.30m Long Jump
Chloe Dunne 9.48 60m, 2.53.38 800m 14th
Bronagh Brennan 9.91 60m
Ellie O'Brien 2.56.23 800m, 2.46m Long Jump
Relay: 2.06.51 (3rd heat) 7th

U14 Boys
Gerard Murtagh 1st 60m 8.08; 3rd Long Jump 4.60m
Brendan Kennedy 11th 800m 2.38.84 (5th in heat)
Daniel Martin 2.59.34 800m

U15 Girls
Sophie McCabe 8.61 60m 5th
Kate Regan 9.20 60m
Erica McTiernan 9.60 60m
Helena Reynolds 9.65 60m, 3.49m Long Jump, 4.87m Shot
Constance Boyd 5.72m Shot 9th, 10.15 60m
Eleanor McDermott 9.13 60m, 3.39m Long Jump
Annie Matthews 9.79 60m
Aoibhinn O'Dowd 8.98 60m
Hannah Stenson 9.60 60m
Kirsty McHenry 8th 800m 2.39.23
Relay 1: 2.05.94 5th Heat
Relay 2: 2.11.53 5th heat

U15 Boys
Toyosi Fagbo 1st 60m 7.69
Shane Finn 3rd Shot 11.54m; 60m 8.31
Ross Flanagan 8.77 60m
Conor Lyons 9.41 60m
Cian Mollohan 8th 800m 2.25.33
Relay 2nd 1.46.38

U16 Girls
Alanna Murray 9.14 60m, 29.66 200m
Elsie Harman 9.25 60m
Muireann Hillman Allen 9.41 60m

Lauren Reynolds 1st 1,500m 5.17.75, 5th 800m 2.38.78
Ellie O'Rourke 2nd 1,500m 5.18.74; 2nd 800m 2.32.01
Relay: 5th 1.59.54

U16 Boys
Daniel Bosquette 60m 8.71

U17 Girls
Alannah McGuinness 3rd 60m 8.08; 2nd 60m Hurdles 9.91; 4th 200m 27.75

U17 Boys
Eoghan Farrell 4th 1,500m 4.46.16

U18 Girls
Ellis Conway 1st 400m 60.92
Clodagh Sheerin 2nd 200m 27.73; 3rd 60m 8.46

U18 Boys
Niall Sheerin 2nd 60m 7.75; 2nd 200m 24.90

U19 Boys
Oisin O'Dowd 4th 60m 7.66; 6th 200m 24.67

CONNACHT INDOORS - FEBRUARY 24 & 25

This weekend sees our biggest outing of the year so far when AIT International Arena in Athlone hosts the Connacht Indoor Track & Field competition.

Twenty very young athletes will be in action on Saturday in the U12 and U13 competitions while Sunday sees 43 athletes in a variety of disciplines.

We wish everyone the very best of luck but would ask everyone to take particular note of the timetables for both days (see photos) and the following points:

There is NO BUS this year, everyone is expected to make their own way to Athlone. If you can't get there, we will try and arrange a lift.

All athletes MUST wear either a Carrick AC vest, T-shirt or a plain white t-shirt. All athletes must wear either official club shorts or plain black or navy shorts - no football shorts!

All athletes are asked to be present at the track at least 60 minutes before the scheduled start time of their event.

Remember all times on the Timetable are provisional and the programme, particularly on the Sunday, has been known to run ahead of schedule.

Copies of the timetable will be given out at training this week.

Any athlete named on a relay squad MUST note the following:

Relay teams named below are provisional and may be changed depending

on performances on the day

All relay teams are selected by the club coaches ONLY

The Even Age Relays (U14, 12, 16, etc) are the first events on the day;

the Uneven Age Relays are the last events.

Please remember to stay if you are on a team. If you have to leave, you

must inform a club official immediately.

Remember to bring food with you but there will be a canteen in operation in the main AIT building until 4pm each day.

Finally, enjoy the competition and have a great day!

The full list of Club athletes in action over both days is as follows:

SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24

U13 GIRLS

Erin Newton               U13 60m

Sarah Boyd U13 Shot

Ellie Butler U13 60m & 600m

Keelan Cronin            U13 60m & Long Jump

Michaela Gallagher     U13 60m & Shot Put

Mairead Lowe            U13 60m & 600m

Faith Lynott               U13 60m & Shot Put

Leah McCawley          U13 60m & Long Jump

Sarah Lowe U13 60m & Long Jump

Sinika McGlynn          U13 60m

Chloe McGuinness      U13 60m

Aoibhinn O’Connor     U13 60m

Bronwyn Regan         U13 60m

Emily Reynolds          U13 600m

U12 GIRLS

Caireann O’Grady     U12 600m

U13 BOYS

Alan Beirne               U13 60m

Dara Holmes U13 60m & Shot Put

Oliver Kearney          U13 60m & Long Jump

U12 BOYS

Patrick Kennedy           U12 600m

Delan Kennedy            U12 600m

RELAYS - (Subject to change)

U13 GIRLS 1: Emily Reynolds; Keelan Cronin; Faith Lynott; Sarah Lowe

U13 GIRLS 2: Ellie Butler; Erin Newton; Bronwyn Regan; Mairead Lowe

U13 GIRLS 3: Sarah Boyd; Michaela Gallagher; Leah McCawley; Sinika McGlynn; Chloe McGuinness; Aoibhinn O’Connor

U13 BOYS: Alan Beirne; Dara Holmes; Oliver Kearney; Patrick Kennedy; Delan Kennedy

SUNDAY FEBRUARY 24

U18 GIRLS

Ellis Conway U18 400m

Clodagh Sheerin U18 60m, 200m

U17 GIRLS

Alannah McGuinness U17 60m, 60m Hurdles, 200m

U16 GIRLS

Elsie Harman U16 60m

Muireann Hillman-Allen U16 60m, 200m

Lauren Reynolds U16 800m, 1,500m

Alanna Murray U16 60m, 200m

Ellie O'Rourke U16 800m, 1,500m

U15 GIRLS

Constance Boyd U15 60m, Shot

Fleur Burns U15 60m

Sophie McCabe U15 60m

Eleanor McDermott U15 Long Jump, Shot, 60m

Kirsty McHenry U15 800m

Erica McTiernan U15 60m

Annie Matthews U15 60m

Aoibhinn O'Dowd U15 60m

Kate Regan U15 60m

Helena Reynolds U15 60m, Shot, Long Jump

Hannah Stenson U15 60m

Amy Tiernan U15 60m

U14 GIRLS

Bronagh Brennan U14 60m

Roisin Kelleher U14 60m, Long Jump

Blaithin McCrann U14 60m

Helen McLoughlin U14 60m, Long Jump

Allie Reynolds            U14 60m

Chloe Dunne U14 60m & 800m

Michaela Dunne         U14 60m & Long Jump

Saoirse McGlynn        U14 60m & 800m

Ellie O’Brien              U14 800m & Long Jump

U19 BOYS

Oisin O'Dowd U19 60m, 200m

U18 BOYS

Niall Sheerin U18 60m, 200m

U17 BOYS

Eoghan Farrell U17 1,500m

Hugh Molloy U17 800m

U16 BOYS

Daniel Bosquette U16 60m

U15 BOYS

Toyosi Fagbo U15 60m

Shane Finn U15 60m, Shot

Ross Flanagan U15 60m, Long Jump

Cian Mollohan U15 800m

Conor Lyons U15 60m

U14 BOYS

Dhani Keane U14 60m, Long Jump

Brendan Kennedy U14 800m

Daniel Martin U14 800m

Gerard Murtagh U14 60m, Long Jump

RELAYS - (Subject to change)

U16 GIRLS: Elsie Harman; Muireann Hillman-Allen; Sophie McCabe & Alanna Murray

U15 GIRLS 1: Fleur Burns; Erica McTiernan; Kate Regan;Eleanor McDermott

U15 GIRLS 2: Annie Matthews; Aoibhinn O'Dowd; Hannah Stenson; Amy Tiernan

U14 GIRLS 1: Roisin Kelleher; Blaithin McCrann; Helen McLoughlin; Michaela Dunne; Chloe Dunne

U14 GIRLS 2: Bronagh Brennan; Allie Reynolds; Saoirse McGlynn; Ellie O’Brien

U15 BOYS: Toyosi Fagbo; Shane Finn; Cian Mollohan; Gerard Murtagh

Medal for Michelle, pbs for Eanna & Cathal

Congratulations to Michelle Lannon who became our first All-Ireland medal winner of the year when she finished third in the Over 45s race at the Athletics Ireland Masters Cross-country in Clarinbridge, Co Galway last Sunday.

A new recruit last year from North Roscommon, Michelle has turned her attention to the track and cross-country with some seriously impressive results and her time of 16.45 saw her finish 12th overall after a very muddy and testing course.

Another new recruit Adrian Gurn, who joined us in January, also made the trip to Clarinbridge and finished 34th in the Over 35s category and 91st overall in a time 31.37 for the 7Km course.

Well done to both Michelle and Adrian, great to see the Carrick AC vest in the National Masters - the first time in many years.

On the track, Eanna Madden, Cathal McElgunn, Callum Whelan & Kyle McNabola were in action in the Irish Universities Indoors in Athlone, two in the colours of UCD and two for Athlone IT.

Eanna set a new pb of 6.89 seconds, a time that ranks him fourth in 2018 and 27th in the All-time Irish list. Unfortunately that run in the heats saw him cramp up after and although he couldn't push out at full-strength, he still ran 6.95 which shows just how well his winter training has gone.

Cathal, now in UCD colours where he is doing a Masters, ran 52.38 for a new Indoor personal best which could well be faster as there was an issue with the timing of his 400m heat.

Callum Whelan made a return to the throws where he made his Senior debut in the Shot, throwing 8.47m to finish 10th while his AIT room-mate Kyle McNabola was a member of the AIT 4 x 200m relay team.

Well done lads.

The action wasn't confined to competition with both Ellie O'Rourke and Lauren Reynolds taking part in the Connacht Endurance Squad in a snowy Killary Harbour over the weekend while a number of athletes were invited to the Connacht squad in Athlone IT on Sunday.

HISTORIC DAY IN WATERFORD

A happy Carrick AC crew in Waterford IT - Patrick, Brendan and Declan Kennedy with Lauren Reynolds

An historic day for Carrick-on-Shannon Athletic Club as, for the first time ever, we had two top five places in the one race at the All-Ireland Cross-country championships and, again, for the first time ever, a finisher in the top three in the Juvenile Cross-country.

Patrick and Declan Kennedy flew the Carrick flag with real style as they finished second and fifth in an incredible tough and competitive U11 race on a very testing but true cross-country course at Waterford IT.

Lauren Reynolds (U15 Girls) and Brendan Kennedy (U13 Boys) completed our crew in Waterford and brought the Club cross-country season to an end.

Patrick Kennedy chases the winner across the line

In the U11 Boys race, the two lads took off like rockets and were actually leading by about ten metres after just 200m and on such a tough course, with a huge hill that went up in two phases, the pace was always going to catch up with them. 

The impressive Conor Liston of Mullingar Harriers caught and passed the two lads and looked to be building a huge lead but once they got up the big hill, Patrick took off in pursuit and was locked in a ferocious battle down the final straight that only was sorted in the final 50 metres. 

Declan wasn't far off the third place, less than five metres behind the third placed athlete in an incredible result for the two lads. 

Declan Kennedy crosses in fifth just behind third

Up to this, Padraig Farrell was our only National individual cross-country medalist with a silver in the National Junior Inter-counties back in 1994 and he went on to run for Ireland at U23 and University level while Daire Farrell had a few top ten places and a Celtic International vest over the country as well. 

David Reynolds was another top ten finisher with seventh in an U13 race many moons ago while John Keenehan also cracked the top 10 in the National Novice and Valerie McGuinness also had a couple of top ten places while Lauren Reynolds, Richie Doran and Ellie O'Rourke have all finished top 20 down through the years.

Believe it or not, Cathal McElgunn did win a silver medal in the All-Ireland B Cross-country in Lough Key Forest Park while David Bruen also won an All-Ireland medal with a Connacht team.

(If I've missed anyone, mea culpa - the memory is going! Please let me know and it will be corrected)

Lauren starts the last lap

Lauren Reynolds looked as if she was going to have another top 20 finish in the U15 Girls, running a clever race as she moved up the field well and was well poised at the start of the demanding big hill. Unfortunately, an athlete fell right in front of Lauren, taking her to the ground and stopping her dead. 

Showing great courage, Lauren fought her way back to finish 33rd but all her momentum was robbed by the heavy fall coming just as the start of the big climb and when she was moving so well.

Brendan pushes up the hill

Brendan Kennedy completed our crew in Waterford and finished 118th in his first ever All-Ireland in a race that had an incredible 164 finishers, a solid run and repeating his tenth place from the Regionals. Certainly there is more to come from Brendan who just took up running in September.

Thanks to Lorna and Ken Kennedy and Michael Reynolds for travelling with the athletes.

And special thanks to the Distance gang who worked so hard over the cross-country season - the good performances of the last few weeks wouldn't happen without the gang pushing each other along.