After a pretty dominant display at the NIA in Abbottstown today the Clonliffe men’s team successfully retained the national indoor team title making it 4 in a row. The team were on the front footing from the off getting off to a rip roaring start with Craig Duffy’s win in the 60 (6.81) and kept that top standing throughout the course of the day.
Wins yielding maximum points were gathered for the cause by Niall Allen in the WFD (6.47), Eoin Sheridan with a 14.52 in the shot, Greg Hossenny, majestic in the race walk (7.45.64), Marcus Lawler in the 200 (21.61) and Ben Guiden with another perfectly timed 3000 (8.24.41) that in fact delivered the win before the final event of the afternoon.
There were also fantastic performances from Sean Carrigg finishing 3rd in his 800 heat (1.54.72) and anchoring the 4 x 400 of Christopher Lynch, Craig Duffy and Evan Storey as they finished 2nd in their heat. Frantisek Kadlec also made a great contribution finishing in 4th position in the 60 hurdles (8.64), a fine 3rd in the triple jump (11.74) and 5th in the long jump (5.88).
Also in the field events young Matthew Keogh equalled his PB with a 1.70 effort to take 7th place in the high jump and David Donegan took 5th in what can best be described as a ‘messy’ pole vault competition.
Fintan Kerins took 3rd place in the 1500 (4.08.57), 3rd place also in the 400 for Christopher Lynch, having won heat 1.
In the end thanks to the combined efforts of the entire team a comfortable enough win was secured on 95 points with Nenagh Olympic 2nd on 82 and DSD 3rd on 80.
The women’s team battled hard throughout the course of the day to take 7th place, securing one maximum points position courtesy of Niamh Kelly in the 800 (2.14.57), Niamh also ran the final leg in the 4 x 400. Laura Tuite displayed fantastic club spirit, having placed 4th in the 1500 (4.49.89) Laura later in the afternoon stepped into the breach for the 3000 where she took 3rd place with a very gutsy display (10.31.15).
Vivian Oakfor took 3rd place in the WFD (5.85) and 6th in the shot (8.00). Another athlete covering a number of events was Snezana Bechtina 3rd in the pole vault (1.95), 7th in the triple jump (9.45) and as usual opened for the 4 x 400 relay.
The remarkable Edel Maguire was 6th in the high jump with a 1.35 best. There are also a number of athletes ‘cutting their teeth’ for Clonliffe, Blaithin Holden who was 7th in the 60 H (10.53), Moya O’Connell , 4th in her 400 (63.38), Maggie Szuta 8th in the long jump (4.44) and Romi Banim taking 4th place in her 200 heat (26.14). Emily Jachna as always gave it her all in the 60 finishing 7th (8.03) and Niamh Whyte who chipped in valuable points as she was 6th in the race walk (9.43.12).
The women’s team were 7th on 55 points, a mere 2 points off 5th.
As always the club captains would like to thank our women and men’s teams for their commitment not only in today’s final but in the 2 earlier rounds and of course the club’s coaches for their work in preparing the athletes.
