Both the Clonliffe men and women’s teams battled bravely in yesterday’s National track and field league final in Tullamore. In the men’s competition it was neck and neck between the Clonliffe men’s defending champions and a very strong DSD squad, in the end both teams were tied on 140 points but with a teams lowest 4 scores to be dropped swung it for the South Dublin outfit, 128 points to 125. Likewise the women’s team put in an excellent day’s work despite being hampered by unavailabilities for various reasons and the team finished the day in a most commendable 6th position.
From the men’s prospective the day got off to an excellent start with Simon Galligan winning the hammer after a commanding performance with a best of 59.31, in fact Simon’s four throws were all comfortably clear of 2nd position. This was followed by an excellent display in the 110 hurdles by young James Lynch who took 2nd place in an almost photo finish, as James recorded a PB over what for him was in unfamiliar hurdles height. Greg Hosseny took maximum points in the 1500 race walk (8.00.12) . The clubs throwers once again excelled, Eoin Sheridan took top spot in the men’s shot 14.85 and then did likewise in the discus with a season’s best of 54.98. In the WFD Niall Allen took 2nd place with a best of 6.37, to 2nd place also for Hubert Adamczyk in the javelin with a best of 50.76.
Meanwhile on the track the men’s 4 x 100 relay team of Pierce Friel, Chris Sibanda, Anthony Dillon and Craig Giles took maximum points (42.11). U/20 athlete Christopher Lynch ran a superb 400 powering off the final bend to take 3rd place in a new PB of 48.87. Likewise it was a PB for Ben Guiden in the 5000 as he took 2nd place in a fine 14.52.13. 2nd place also in the 1500 for Sean Cronin (3.57.95) and likewise for Fintan Kerins in the 800 (1.54.97).
Another of the clubs junior athletes, Liam Arthur, was in action in the 3000 steeplechase taking 3rd place in 10.25.29 and it was also 3rd place for young James Lynch in the 400 hurdles in 59.50.
In the short sprints Craig Duffy, showing the effects of a long season, took 2nd position in 10.95 and in the 200 Anthony Dillon filled in to take 5th (23.49).
Back to the field events where unfortunately bad luck was encountered, Keith Marks had put in a great display in the long jump to take 2nd place with a best of 6.67 with unfortunately he picked up an injury in his final jump and was not in a position to start in the high jump, this meant that Eamon Fahey stepped into the breach at the last minute, with only time for a few strides, he ended up taking 6th position with a best of 1.60. Eamon then went straight from the high jump over to the triple jump where he took 5th with a best of 11.28. In the pole vault Alessandro Santoro took 5th place.
That the standings on the final event, the 4 x 400 relay, with Clonliffe and DSD and neck, whoever would win the relay will take the title. The Clonliffe team of James Lynch, Jonny Fitzsimons, Jarlath Jordan and Sean Carrigg were really up against it but once again gave it everything in the end the team filled 3rd position with the crack DSD squad dominant from the off taking a comfortable win and in turn a 1st national league title for DSD men’s team.
Of the Clonliffe women’s team, unfortunately the team had been considerably weakened with withdrawals and a small squad travelled to Tullamore. Snezana Bechtina was once again called into the fray time and time again competing in the 100 hurdles where she took 6th (20.84), pole vault, placing 4th (1.85), 5th in the triple jump (9.26) and both the 4 x 100 relay and 4 x 400 relay. Likewise covering events was Mia Prinke, 3rd in the javelin (35.61) and 3rd in the discus (27.40). Alannah Cooley who finished 3rd in the 1500, behind two European U/23 medallists, in a time of 4.44.26, a PB, and then remarkably ran her 2nd PB of the day as she took a full second off her 800 best to place 5th in a new PB of 2.20.21. Leah Bergin ran in the 400 and both relays.
Niamh Whyte once again competed gamely in the 1500 race walk to take 3rd position (9.17.12) Aisling Andrews hung in for some points taking 8th position in the 3000 (11.43.52), in the sprints Emily Jachna was 6th in the 100 (13.05), Anna Heavey was 7th in the 200 (29.73) and Leah Bergin 3rd in the 400 (58.01).
The 4 x 100 relay team of Niamh Tenaty, Snezana Bechtina, Leah Bergin and Emily Jachna took 4th position (50.33) and the 4 x 400 team Anna Heavey, Lily Scanlon, Leah Bergin and Snezana took 6th position.
In the field events Edel Maguire was 6th in the long jump (1.30), Caoimhe Del Bello 8th in the long jump (3.70). Anna Heavey also gathering points in the WFD taking 5th. New member Saffron Rijnders, stepped up when called upon to go from spectator to competitor finishing 5th in the shot (6.68).
The respective club captains were delighted with the commitment of the club’s athletes on the day and also extremely appreciative of the athletes who competed in the preliminary round of the league and were not part of the squad today. Thanks in particular to the couple of athletes who travelled as reserves yesterday.
Congratulations also to DSD on winning both the men and women’s titles, deserved winners on both fronts.