Two medals for Ireland at the European U23 Championships, a further medal at the World University Games, a personal best mile time for Ciara Mageean, and a fighting fourth for Sarah McCormack at mountain running’s World Cup round in Austria were the highlights of a busy week in Irish athletics.

In Gavle, Sweden at the European U23 Championships on Saturday (July 13), Eilish Flanagan (Carmen Runners) took silver in the 3000m steeplechase clocking a personal best time of 9:51.72, while Nadia Power of Templeogue AC won a bronze medal in a dramatic 800m after a disqualification for obstruction was overturned.

A day later, in the the 4 x 100m final, the quartet of Gina Akpe Moses (Blackrock AC (Louth), Molly Scott (St LOT AC), Sharlene Mawdsley (St Mary’s Newport) and Ciara Neville (Emerald AC) finished fourth in 44.32 secs.

World University games

At the World University Games in Naples, Italy on Thursday (July 11), Marcus Lawler (St LOT AC) took bronze with a personal best time of 20.55 secs in the 200m.

Also in Naples, Phil Healy (Bandon AC) showed that she’s well on the way to recovery after a foot fracture when she survived heats and a semi-final to make the women’s 200m final finishing sixth in 23.44 secs. In the 100m hurdles, Sarah Lavin of UCD AC was another athlete showing renewed good form when she finished fourth in 13.28 secs.

Brave like Gabe

Ciara Mageean had bagged herself a place in the “Brave Like Gabe” mile at the Monaco Diamond League meet on Friday evening (July 12).

In a stunning race, where Dutch athlete Sifan Hassan ran a world record of 4:12.33, Mageean was never out of touch and accelerated on the final lap to finish eighth in 4:19.03 – a personal best by over three seconds and the third fastest Irish time ever.

Her time of 4:01.21 at the 1500m mark was a new Northern Ireland record, as indeed was her mile time.

Classic 10 mile distance

David Flynn of Clonliffe Harriers was a comfortable winner of the Irish Runner 10-Mile road race held in the Phoenix Park, Dublin on Saturday (July 13). The race was doubling as a national championships, with 1,232 finishers.

Flynn’s time of 49 mins 55 secs put him over half a minute clear of David Mansfield from Clonmel AC who finished in 50:32. Third in 50:40 was Cillian O’Leary of Raheny Shamrock, while fourth was Sean Hehir of Rathfarnham WSAF in 51.46. Finishing 17th and first M55 was Tommy Hughes of Termoneeny AC in 54:54.

First woman in 59:58 was Niamh Clifford of Star of the Laune AC in Co Kerry. Sally Forristal of St Joseph’s AC was second on 60:55 and Angela McCann of Clonmel AC third in 61.57.

In the team categories, Raheny Shamrock was first of the senior men, with Rathfarnham WSAF second and Sli Cualann third. Donore Harriers proved best of the senior women beating Civil Service AC and Raheny Shamrock.

Clonmel AC won the women’s over 35 category; Raheny Shamrock was second and Sli Cualann third. Mayo AC won the W50 category from Brothers Pearse and Waterstown Warriors. Winning the men’s over 35 title was Donore Harriers; Thurles Crokes were second and Annadale Striders third. Rathfarnham WSAF beat Donore Harriers and Brothers Pearse in the M50 category.

Elsewhere on the roads

Winning the Dunleer 4 mile on Sunday (July 14) was regular Irish visitor Gideon Kimosop, representing 1Zero 1. He finished in 19 mins 24 secs, outsprinting Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC who was second in 19.25. Sean Doran of Clonliffe Harriers was thrid in 20.53. First woman was Niamh Devlin of Dundrum South Dublin AC in 23.48; Laura Mathews of North East Runners was second and Nicola Welsh of host club Dunleer Ac third ind first W40.

Gavin Sweeney of Togher AC led home over 700 starters at the Coachford 5-Mile race in Cork on Thursday (July 11) in a time of 25 mins 5 secs. Aoife Cooke of Youghal AC was first woman in 27.52.

On the same evening, Kevin O’Leary of East Cork AC in 15:37 and Leevale’s Niamh Moore in 17.53 were the winners of the Youghal 5km. Numbers competing were affected by a bad crash at the Cobh junction from Cork.

Peter Somba and Claire Ni Fhaircheallaigh made it a Dunboyne AC double at the Oldcastle 5km on Wednesday (July 10)

Somba finished in 15 mins 34 secs with Andrew Nevin of Mullingar Harriers a minute behind for second in 16.35 and Sean Husband of Monaghan Town Runners third in 16:40. Ni Fhaircheallaigh finished in 19:45, with Shauna Moran of Dunshaughlin AC a close second in 19:49 and Eimear McGovern of local club St Brigid’s AC third in 20.28.

Peter Somba at the Terence 5 previously.

Winning the Dublin City Council 5km, organised under BHAA rules in torrential rain at Irishtown on Wednesday was Sean Doran of C& E Products in 15 mins 51 secs.

Six seconds behind for second was Jafer Abdulshekur in 15:57, with Paddy Lyons of RTE third in 16:14. Fifth overall and first woman in 17:18 was Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill. Second and first W40 in 20:13 was Eileen Gillick of Irish Life while a close third in 20:19 was Louise Long for Gardai.

In the over 70 category, Matt Cooley of DG Motors and Evelyn McNelis of Teachers were first man and woman. First W80 was Ann Woodlock of A Collins and Co.

At the Gas Networks 5km, organised by Cork BHAA on the same night, Anthony Mannix of Dell EMC was the winner in 15:16, with second placed Alan O’Brien of McCarthy Insurance given the same time. First woman was Joanne O’Flynn of Red Hat Ltd in 15.59.

T & F at home

John Travers of Donore Harriers clocked a time of 1:51.06 for 800m at the 6th Dublin Graded Track and Field meet held in Santry on Wednesday (July 10).

Stephen Gaffney of Rathfarnham WSAF AC was fastest in the mens’ 100m races with a time of 10.87 secs.

Winning a well-supported 5000m in 14:52.00 was Peter Arthur of Liffey Valley AC. Oisin Hughes of Blackrock Rock AC (Louth) and Mark Kenneally of Clonliffe Harriers finished second and third with both given an identical time of 14:55.37.

Winning the men’s javelin with 55.56m was Rory Gunning of Clonliffe Harriers.

Up in the hills

Photo from the European Mountain Champs last week.

In Austria, Sarah McCormack of Ambleside AC was lining out with well over a thousand other runners at the annual Grossglocknerlauf – a savage 12.7m climb up Austria’s highest mountain with an almost vertical climb of 900m to the finish.

McCormack finished fourth in 89 mins 21 sec, picking up valuable World Cup points. Next round (of seven) is at Snowdon on Saturday, where Irish men and women’s teams will compete.

Luke McMullan of Newcastle AC was the winner of the Leinster League hill race at Tibradden/Sliabh Brodain on Wednesday (July 12) in a time of 45 mins 26 secs for the 11.2km distance. Barry Cronin was second in 46:07 and Colm Moran of Rathfarnham WSAF AC third in 46:25.

First woman was Aoife McCavana in 54:24. Orla McEvoy of Rathfarnham WSAF AC was second and Patricia McLoughlin of Le Cheile AC third and first W40.

In Munster, Tim O’Donoghue of East Cork AC won at Curragh Woods, clocking 30:08 for the seven kilometre distance. Mark Pinfield of Watergrasshill AC was second and first M40 in 34:49. Tenth overall and first M50 was ex-Olympian Noel Berkeley of Dundrum South Dublin AC 37:36. First woman was Kealey Tideswell of Clonmel AC in 41.50.

parkrun

William Simpson and Annette Kealy are the quickest parkrunners in Ireland this weekend (July 13th). Full rankings here.

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Lindie Naughton is a journalist and writer based in Dublin who joined the athletics club at her college many many years ago and has never quite escaped. You’ll normally find her jogging around some orienteering course somewhere – or down at the Irishtown track coaching kiddies!

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