by Richard Hawkins
International success for Aoife Martin!
Aoife Martin (representing Colaiste an Chroi Naofa, Carraig Na BhFear), crowned a successful track season with an outstanding silver medal in the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB) competition held in Derby last weekend! Two athletes are selected for each discipline and such is the standard of racewalking in Ireland currently that Pearl Sands in the gold medal position and Aoife in 2nd place in a time of 15.57.31 dominated the 3k race with a comfortable margin from their nearest rivals. Team Ireland also had a convincing points total to finish 2nd in the overall Championships ahead of Scotland and Wales with England winning gold. Congratulations to Aoife on what will be a memorable experience!
Ciaran Nugent looks in great form ahead of the Senior National Championships with a 53.79s win in the AAI Games 400m hurdles! Plenty of action on the track locally as the track season comes to a finish. The County Senior 1500m Championship race was held as part of the Graded Leagues series, a blustery evening not ideal for pb’s but ideal for tough, tactical racing! Timmy Hawkins came 6th overall in 4.17.23 and in the 5K race Peter Hawkins had a 3rd place finish in 16.52.81. Both lads were in action again in the MTU race night on Friday 18th, more favourable conditions resulting in big pb’s in the 3K race, Timmy finishing 7th overall in 9.09.61 and Peter finishing in 9th place running 9.35.18. Orla Coffey had a competitive 400m race, just being edged into 2nd place in a fast time of 1.02.71. Orla and Ruaidhri Boyle both stepped up for pacing duty, doing a great job in in the 800m races. Finally, in track & field, well done to our younger athletes who competed in the East Cork Championships hosted by Youghal AC.
Other news:
Brian Hawkins lined out in the Bord Gais BHAA 5k road race in the Marina with a time of 16.54.34. On the mountains, Dave O Riordan (1hr 41) and Faye O’Riordan (1hr 37) tackled the IMRA Lough Mohra race in the Comeragh Mountains, the 16k race with 500m elevation not for the faint-hearted!
Look ahead:
Best of luck to our athletes who will compete for the East Cork Division in the National League finals in Tullamore next weekend.
