St Laurence O’Toole AC athlete Ken Archbold has had a fantastic 2015 athletics season. He is the current 2015 Masters Leinster Champion in the 400m and 800m events, add to this the silver medal in the 800m and gold in the 400 meters at All Ireland level this puts him at the top of his game within Irish athletic circles.
Ken not content with being the best in Ireland within his age group tackled the world’s best in Lyon, France at the recent World Masters Championships and proved he could race with the best in the world. He cruised straight through his first heat in the 800m in second place position with a time of 2.06 and looked very comfortable earning a place in the semi final.
Cheered on by his wife Clare, sons Conor and Jack and very proud parents Frank and Anne Archbold, Ken took to the start line for his semi final in over 40 degree heat but nothing could deter him and he stormed home in first position to book his place in the 800 meters world final.
Ken or Archie as he is known by his club mates took to the line in a very competitive final, did himself, his family and country proud powering around the track with a blistering finish to take a very close 5th position. This ranks Ken as the 5th fastest under 45 man in the world over 800 meters, no mean feat for the physical education teacher.
Ken is very involved with Carlow athletics, coaching many of St Laurence O’Toole athletes to medal winning performances across the age groups. He’s particular knowledge in the strength and conditioning area stretches across many disciplines such as sprints, distance and javelin. He has taken many of the younger (and not so young!) athletes to the next level in their events by demonstrating how strength and conditioning improves performance. He has always been involved in the athletics world, as a young man winning all Ireland titles but just as fine wine he gets better with age!
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