Brilliant Bronze for Emma Brennan at All-Irelands
Saturday at the National Indoors and Longford athletes were among the many qualifiers in action on a top-quality day of competition in Athlone.
In an already fantastic year of racing for Emma Brennan, today Emma excelled with her best performance of the lot claiming a superb bronze in the very competitive Under-16 1500m. Showing the confidence that regular racing and dedicated training brings, Emma moved up into second place mid-race following a move to the front by pre-race favourite Emily Bolton (Donore Harriers). With Emily taking the win, Emma was involved in a titanic battle for the podium spots approaching the finish line.
A few moments passed post-race before the electronic timing showed just 0.11 separating second to fourth with Emma’s dip for the line securing third place and a bronze medal in a time of 4:49.22 (0.02 ahead of fourth). A fantastic achievement for her maiden All-Ireland track medal in club competition and great to see a Longford athlete on the podium beside two of the country’s strongest clubs – Donore Harriers and Leevale.
Congrats to Emma on yet more success and also a massive personal best of well over 10 seconds.
The day’s competition saw plenty of other good club performances including a personal best for Sinead Masterson with 1.48m to place fourth in the U14 High Jump narrowly missing out on a medal.
There were PBs also for Rian McCaffrey and Timothy Sheridan in the boy’s High Jump event while Ben Quinn put in a good run in the U19 1500m. Zoe Mulligan and John Fitzpatrick competed well in the Long Jump and Robin Og Murphy placed sixth in a high-quality U16 1500m Walk.
Kevin Og Murphy had a busy day performing excellently in each of the U15 High Jump, Shot Put and 60m. He qualified from his heat for the final of the latter running a fast 7.60 seconds for fifth which was an excellent result after a tiring day and credit to Kevin Og competing so well in a range of events.
Holly Rogers and Amy Jordan ran strongly in the U18 60m with Holly advancing to the final having placed second in her heat.
Earlier, Sean Grealy warmed up for Sunday’s 200m with a good run in the U16 60m but was unlucky to trip coming out of the blocks.
Fresh from All-Ireland U12 relay gold last weekend, Adam Mulleady notched another PB in the 60m with a swift 8.91 seconds.
The action continues on Sunday and a number of our athletes back competing. Best of luck to all.
Saturday saw further local success with gold won by Andrew Nolan in the U12 Shot Put. Andrew, representing our neighbours Lough Ree AC, had an outstanding competition culminating in his final attempt of 10.61 metres to set a Championship Record. It was great to see a National title won by the Lanesboro/Ballyleague club with Fabian Walsh, a driving force for the club for so many years, present to see Lough Ree on top of the podium. Congrats to Andrew, Fabian and all involved.
