From the NCAA Champs to the high mountains of Austria, Lindie Naughton has all the Irish action covered in the weekend round-up.

As we have said more than once, we don’t generally cover sprinters in this column, but yet again we have to make an exception for Rhasidat Adeleke of Tallaght AC, who is rapidly becoming not only the biggest name in Irish athletics, but one to watch on the world stage.

The 20-year-old not only won the NCAA 400m title in some style on Saturday (June 1) in Austin, Texas, she smashed her own Irish record with a time of 49.20 – her seventh Irish record this season. Earlier, Adeleke had won the first of three semi-finals with a time of 49.86. The only other athlete under 50 seconds was Britton Wilson, who had beaten Adeleke into second place at the NCAA Indoors.

In the final, Wilson made her move off the final bend only for Adeleke to chase her down and pass her with about forty metres to go. The only question remains: will we ever get the chance to see Adeleke running as fast on this side of the Atlantic?

20 July 2022; Rhasidat Adeleke of Ireland after finishing fourth in the Women’s 400m Semi-final during day six of the World Athletics Championships at Hayward Field in Eugene, Oregon, USA. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

A little warm for the longer distances?

While the warm conditions were ideal for sprinters, distance runners had a tougher time of it in Texas. Brian Fay of Raheny Shamrock AC finished ninth in the men’s 5000m on Friday in 14:11.13. Sophie O’Sullivan from Ballinamore Cobh had won her 1500m in 4:09.58 on Thursday but the final proved a race too far and she faded to finish 12th in 4:22.81.

In the semi-finals of the men’s 1500m late on Wednesday, Cathal Doyle of Clonliffe Harriers had finished eighth in the second semi-final and 15th overall in 3:40.64, while Sean Donoghue of Dublin City Harriers was ninth in the opening semi-final and18th overall in 3:42.89.

US-based Conor Murphy, who has family roots in New Ross and recently declared for Ireland, finished fifth in the men’s 800m in a personal best 1:46.43. That time puts him second in the current Irish rankings behind John Fitzsimons and ahead of Mark English.

In the women’s 5000m final, Jane Buckley of Leevale AC, aged only 19, finished 13th in 16:06.76. Barry Keane of Waterford AC finished seventh in the men’s 10,000m with a time of 28:17.21, followed by Cormac Doyle of Mullingar Harriers, tenth in 28:35.53 and Paul O’Donnell of Dundrum South Dublin AC, 17th in 29:41.18.

On this side of the Atlantic, Andrew Coscoran of Star of the Sea AC finished a fighting second in the 1500m at the Irena Szewinska Memorial meet in Bydgoszcz, Poland, on Tuesday (June 6) just two days after his win at Hengelo. Winner was Pietro Arese of Italy in 3:33.56. Coscoran finished on his heels in a personal best 3:33.87.

Local runs

Highlights of a busy UCD Irish Milers club meet at Belfield on Saturday (June 10) included a win in the men’s A mile for John Travers of Donore Harriers who pushed the pace from the start and finished in 4:02.28. Second was Neil Johnston of Annadale Striders in 4:05.57 while third in 4:06.47 was Juan Ignacio Pena of Raheny Shamrock AC.

Winning the A 3000m was Pierre Murchan of Dublin City Harriers in 8:09.32. In the women’s A 1500m, Niamh Carr of Dublin City Harriers was first home in 4:20.91. Clare Fagan of Mullingar Harriers was the winner of the women’s A 3000m in 9:31.07

In a quality men’s A 800m, Cian McPhillips of host club UCD AC, competing in only his second outdoor track event of the season, was first across the line with a personal best outdoor time of 1:46.94. McPhillips is aiming to return to the sort of form that saw him win the European U20 1500m title two years ago. Second was South African visitor Boitumelo Masilao in 1:47.99, while third in 1:48.71 was Louis O’Loughlin of Donore Harriers.

In all, six broke 1 mins 50 secs. Among them Nick Griggs now with the newly formed Candour club. His time was 1:49.57. Seven men’s 800 races were held, with a large entry from Northern Ireland, which is currently suffering from a lack of tracks suitabel for athletics meets.

Winning the women’s 800m in 2:05.0 was Jenna Bromell of Emerald AC. UCD’s Susie Nestor was second in 2:07.63 and Amy O’Donoghue, now with DSD AC, third in 2:08.33. Many of these will be competing again in Sunday’s inaugural DSD Games at the St Thomas Campus in the foothills of the Dublin mountains.

Roads

Emmet Jennings of Dundrum South Dublin AC was the winner of the Irish Runner 5 mile in Dublin’s Phoenix Park – one of many road races held on Sunday (June 11).

Jennings was pushed hard by Jake O’Regan from St John’s Clare AC, with the pair timed at 24 mins 27 secs and 24:25. Third in 25:20 was David Troy of Lucan Harriers. Liffey Valley AC was the winning senior team ahead of Donore Harriers and West Waterford AC. Crusaders AC was first M35 team ahead of Brothers Pearse AC and Raheny Shamrock AC, with Inishowen AC first M50 team.

In a DSD double, Meghan Ryan was first woman in 28:07. Edel Gaffney of Trim AC was second in 29:30 and Sorcha McAllister of Dublin City Harriers third in 29:46.

As in the women’s mini marathon a week earlier, DSD AC was first team, with DCH AC second and Raheny Shamrock AC third. Sli Cualann AC won the W35 category, with Brothers Pearse AC second and Donore Harriers third. Celbridge was the winning W50 team. The race incorporated an Irish championships.

David Williams, winner of the Little South Run, pictured with his mother (and coach) Perri.
Picture: John Walshe

Running, or walking, in the family

David Williams of the promoting St Senan’s club was a popular winner of the Little South Run 4-mile at Kilmacow in Kilkenny writes John Walshe.

Williams, aged 18, is the son of former international race walker Perri who competed for Ireland at the 1992 Olympics and 1993 World Championships. Coached by his mother, he used his 3:56 1500m speed to good effect when coming home five seconds clear of Dermot Gorman from Carrick-on-Suir, 20:39 to 20:44.

Third was Craig O’Brien from Ferrybank AC in 21:14 and it was another member of that club, Louise Morgan, who took the women’s title in 25:25.

Second was Adele Walsh (third W45 in last week’s Mini-Marathon) from the home club in 25:57 with Eve Dunphy, also St Senan’s AC, third in 27:34.

Now in its 20th year, the Little South Run has raised a huge amount for charity since it started with proceeds from this year’s race going to Kilmacow Hospice and St Senan’s AC.

Winning the Mile Marker 5 mile in Danesfort, Co Kilkenny with a time of 26:49 was James Ledingham of Kilkenny City Harriers. First woman in 34:17 was Ann-Marie Halpin of Clonmel AC. Brian Maher of Kilkenny City Harriers won the 10-miler in 56:14, with Erika Dowling first woman in 65:31.

Philip McHugh of Letterkenny AC won the Strabane Lifford Half Marathon in 75:29 with Catherine Whoriskey of City of Derry Spartans AC third overall and first woman in 78:24.

On Saturday, Yared Derese of Carrick Aces AC won the Glenmore Challenge 10 mile by over five minutes 55 mins 2 secs. Diane Watson was first woman in 72:16. Glenmore’s own Shane Toner won the half marathon.

In Coalisland, Co Tyrone, Mindaugas Balciauskis won the Washingbay Green 10km in 32: mins 34 secs. Louise Smith of North Belfast Harriers was first woman in 40:51.

Trail

At this year’s Braveheart 5km in Trim on Friday evening, Seamus Anderson of Trim AC made it a home victory coming home in 15 mins 55 secs. Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers, winner of the OPW BHAA 5km earlier in the week, was second in 16:34 and Richard Bell of Fr. Murphy’s AC third in 16:36.

Sixth and first junior was Óisín Maher of Galway City Harriers. Isabel Oakes of Sligo AC was first woman in 18.00, followed by Susan Glennon of Mullingar Harriers in 19:22 and Cailin McDonagh of Trim AC in 19:35.

On the same night, Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC won the Daingean 5km, which was the sixth round of the Offaly Road Races Series. His time of 15:13 was a new course record. Somba, who is currently based in Roscrea, has had a busy few weeks racing in Dunboyne, Roscrea and Cork. Nadine Donegan of Tullamore Harriers was first woman in 16:57.

Sean Doran and Thomas Sherlock battle it out in OPW BHAA 5km trail race. By Lindie Naughton

Sean Doran of Harrier Products and Laura McDonnell were the winners at the OPW BHAA Trail 5km, held in Dublin’s Phoenix Park on Tuesday (June 6).

Doran and Thomas Sherlock of Bank of Ireland set the pace from the start of this two-lap race and soon pulled clear of the pack. Doran moved into a clear lead as the race progressed and came out on top clocking a time of 16 mins 45 secs. Sherlock was seven seconds adrift for second in 16:51. Third in 17:30 was Nuno Santos.

McDonnell was sixth overall in 17:58, followed by Gemma Treacy of the Hospital team in 20:26 and Deirdre Lyons in 21:19.

A week earlier, Peter Somba in 24 mins 59 secs and local athlete Jane Cahill in 30:41 were the winners at a self supported Government Services 5-Mile held in Dunboyne. BHAA regular Ieuan Hopkins was second in 25:05 and Martin Hoare of Cairn Homes third in 25: 12. Second woman was Adrienne Jordan of the Teachers group in 31:02, while third in 31:12 was Claire Ní Fhaircheallagh in 31.12. Next BHAA race in Leinster is the Dublin City Council 5km at Irishtown on Wednesday July 19.

World Mountain And Trail Championships

Sarah McCormack proved best of the Irish at the 2nd World Mountain and Trail Running Championships, Stubai, Innsbruck, Austria, which took place over four days (June 7-10) and included races over four distances.

Best results for the Irish came in the first of these: the 4km with 1km of climb which was the opening event of the championships.

In the women’s race, Sarah McCormack, who is based in Ambleside, finished 21st with a time of 53.12. Winner was mountain racing legend Andrea Mayr of the home nation Austria in 48. 14 – a time that woudl have seen her finish well up in the men’s race. Best of the Irish men was Zak Hanna of Newcastle and District AC in 45:03.

McCormack also ran the ‘classic’ 7.5km race, which was the final race of the championships, finishing 45th.

Also taking place were junior races and trail races over distances of 45.2km and 86.9km. The latter proved especially gruelling with only Becky Quinn of the Irish women’s team surviving to finish 54th in14 hrs 12 mins 35 secs.

The vastly experienced Quinn recently celebrated her 100th win in Irish Mountain Running Association races. Of the 129 female starters, only 69 finished the race. Of the Irish men, Rikki Wynne proved best finishing 54th in 11:47.22. With points at stake in all races, Ireland ended up 18th overall.

At the hand-over following stage 4. Photo: Lindie Naughton

Locally, the Wicklow Way Relay was back on a June weekend date, with 36 teams signing up and all of them finishing. Recent years have seen head-to-head battles between TT Racers and Rathfarnham WSAF AC. This year, it was East Cork AC’s turn after many years supporting the race.

They ran a steady race, lying third after four stages but never far behind the two big name teams. In the end, they finished with less than two minutes to spare in a time of 7 hrs 20 mins 36 secs and a superb final leg by Fiona Santry into Shillelagh nailing the victory.

TT Racers were second in 7:30.27 and Rathfarnham WSAF AC third in 7:39.10. Also under eight hours in 7:54.22 was the Brothers Pearse AC team, with Ciara Hickey, better known as a road runner, on the final leg.