In the sunshine of Seville, or the wild winds of home, Lindie Naughton catches all the action in this weekend’s round-up.

David Mansfield of Clonmel AC was part of a large Irish contingent running in Sunday’s Seville Marathon where he ran a personal best time of 2 hrs 16 mins 8 secs knocking three minutes off his previous best.

Best of the Irish women was Sorcha Ni Dhomhnaill of Donore Harriers with a time of 2: 38.41. Sister Aislinn finished second W40 in a personal best time of 2:43.44. Also running for Donore Harriers were Robert Murphy who finished in 2:22.08 and Ray Hynes with a time of 2:28.07

Not quite as sunny in Co Westmeath

Despite challenging weather conditions, Tudor Moldovan of Clonliffe Harriers managed to clock a respectable time of 3 mins 46 mins for victory in the Turgesius 10-Miler, held in Collinstown Village, Co Westmeath on Sunday (November20). Fiona Gettings of Longford AC was first woman in 65:15.

At the Tommy Ryan Memorial 5-Mile, in Carrigaline, Co Cork, Michael Harty of East Cork AC was the winner in a respectable time of 25 mins 30 secs, despite the driving rain and gusting winds. Paul Moloney of Mallow AC was second in 25:34 and John Meade of St Finbarr’s AC third in 26:46. All three are M40 masters.

First woman in 31:11 was Emma Murphy. Linda O’Sullivan of Watergrasshill AC was second and first W50 in 31:36 and Aoife Mahony of host club Eagle AC third and first W40 in 32:01.

Three Dublin City Harriers athletes travelled to the Belgium for the CrossCup Hannun at the weekend, where Lauren Tinkler, recently crowned Irish intermediate cross-country champion finished the best of them in 17th place. Ali Armstrong was 24th and Cliona Murphy 29th.

Georgie Hartigan of Dundrum South Dublin AC during the Belfast Irish Milers’ Meeting at Mary Peters Track in Belfast. Photo by Sam Barnes/Sportsfile

Irish records in Birmingham

A week after the men’s record fell to Luke McCann, Georgie Hartigan of Dundrum South Dublin AC improved the Irish women’s 1,000m record to 2 mins 40.01 secs at the World Indoor Tour in Birmingham on Saturday (February 19), while in the USA, Sophie Murphy also of DSD AC, set a meet record of 16:29.28 for 5000m at the MAAC Indoor Championships.

Also in Birmingham Sarah Healy came second in the 1,500m in 4:06.94, a new National U23 Record, 4 seconds off her own record set last week just after her 21st birthday. This is the second fastest ever by an Irish Woman, after Ciara Mageean.

Healy had just secured a new 1500m record (U23) at the World Indoor Tour Mondeville Meet in France on Feb 9th, improving on her own U23 record in an impressive 4.10.83.

The 2020 Tokyo Olympian will be back in action on Irish soil at the 2022 Irish Life Health National Indoor Championships at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena on February 26th and 27th.

Junior record for Griggs in break-away performance

On Sunday, at the British Universities Indoor Championships on Sunday (February 20), Irish International athlete Louise Shanahan representing Cambridge won the women’s 800m title in 2:05.87. Shanahan is the current Irish 800m champion.

A new Irish junior 1500m record set by Nick Griggs proved the highlight of the NI Live indoor meet in Abbotstown last Wednesday (February 16).

Grigg’s time of 3:43.72 not only broke Cian McPhillip’s time of 3:44.85, but was the fastest time on the night. John Travers of Donore Harriers finished second in 3:47.63.

In a thrilling 400m, Mark English of Finn Valley AC passed Marcus Lawler of Clonliffe Harriers AC with the line in sight finishing in 47.20 secs. Befitting a 200m specialist, Lawler had led after the first 200m lap but was hunted down by English. English was dropping down from his usual distance of 800m.

Fastest in the women’s 800m was Clare Mooney of Naas AC with a time of 2:04.93. Kevin McGrath of Bohermeen AC proved quickest of the men with a time of 1:50.51.

In the women’s 1500m, Michelle Finn of Leevale AC beat St Abban’s pair Maisy O’Sullivan and Cheryl Nolan, finishing in 4:20.28.

Cross-country in cross-country conditions

Kate McDonald of Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District AC won the women’s 4000m race at the Larry McGill RPs na Éireann Cross Country, in Oldbridge, Co Meath on Sunday (February 20). Junior athletes Claragh Keane of DMP AC and Meabh Eakin of Dunleer AC finished second and third.

In the men’s 6000m, Eoin Smyth of Tara AC was the winner ahead of Cathal O’Reilly of Kilkenny City Harries and Joe Cocoman of Naas ACC

Photo: Lindie Naughton

Fagan and Maher take senior titles at Leinster Schools Championships

Irish junior international athlete Scott Fagan of Castleknock Community College was the runaway winner of the boys’ senior race at the Leinster Schools Cross-Country Championships, held in Santry on Wednesday (February 16) on a course that was shortened to three laps because of the stormy conditions.

Fagan led from early on and finished with sixteen seconds to spare over his team mate Louise Woodger in a time of 14 mins 25 secs for the 4.5km distance.

A close third was Adam Condon of Ard Scoil Rís. With Finn Woodger fifth and Traian Rebega 22nd, Castleknock CC took the team trophy ahead of Ard Scoil Rís and Belvedere College.

Eimear Maher of Mount Anville, also an Irish junior international, won the senior girls race, which was shortened to a single lap. Maher finished in 5 mins 13 secs — just a second clear of Emma McEvoy of Loreto Stephen’s Green, with Meabh Eakin of Ballymakenny College third in 15:17.

Loreto Kilkenny finished best of the teams just three points ahead of Scoil Mhuire Trim, with St Dominic’s Cabra third.
At intermediate level, with the race held over 3.5km, Anna Watson of St Joseph of Cluny was the winner in 13 mins 57 secs. Second was Caoimhe Kilmurray of Loreto Mullingar while in third place, Holly O’Brien was leading St Andrew’s College from Booterstown to team victory. Loreto Mullingar was second and Sacred Heart Tullamore third.

Races for all school ages in tough conditions

Cormac Dixon of HFCS Rathcoole was the winner of the boys’ 4.5km inter race in 14 mins 45 secs. Five seconds behind for second was Oliver Hopkins of St Declan’s. In the battle for third place, Ross Killelea of Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar out-sprinted Finn Harris from Colaiste Raithin Bray.

Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar were clear winners of the team competition, with Wesley College second and St Aidan’s CBS third.

Coláiste Mhuire Mullingar was having a good day and in a closely fought junior boys 3km race, Jamie Wallace was the winner ahead of Rhys Johnson of Piers Hill College Naas. Conor McGuirk of Lusk CC was third and St Mary’s Drogheda, the team winners ahead of Colaiste Mhuire and Coláiste Chillian.

Emily Botton of Mount Sackville won the junior girls’ 2km race from Dearbhla Alan of St Mary’s Dundalk with Eimear Cooney of SH Drogheda third. Castleknock CC were the team winners with Presentation Kilkenny second and Loreto Wexford third.

Presentation Kilkenny were also the team winners in the minor girls’ race where Sholah Laurane of Greenhills was the individual winner. In the minor boys’ race, George Sevastopulo of Mount Temple was the winner and Naas CBS was best of the teams.

The top fifteen in each race and the top three teams qualified for the All Ireland Schools’ Cross-Country Championships to be held in Belfast on Saturday, March 5.