The track and field season kicked off in earnest today with two events on offer: round 1 of the Dublin graded taking place in Morton Stadium and the Clonmel IMC meet.
Starting off on home turf with the Dublin graded, the first Clonliffe athlete in action was Chloe Heaslip who took all of 15 seconds off her 2-week-old 3000 PB in the combined A and B race recording a time of 10.51.73. In grade D young Ella O’Sullivan made her track debut and performed admirably as she finished 6th in a time of 12.04.97.
In the men’s 3000 grade A heat 1 Eoin Keating was 8th in 9.35.43 with Greg Hossenny in 9th (9.47.11) and in race 2 there was a great battle between training buddies which saw Conor Fitzpatrick get the upper hand in 7th position (8.54.05) just ahead of Cathal McHale (8.56.51).
Next up it was the sprinters were the 100 was an offer. Emily Jachna was 3rd in grade B in a time of 12.97, in series 2 Emily clocked 13.31. In the C grade Grainne Diamonds Ebbs was 5th in 13.60 and in series 2 ran 13.86. Charis Amponsa ran 13.92 and later 13.86. In grade D Caoimhe del Bello was 3rd in heat 1 (13.92) and in the afternoon in series 2 ran 14.30. Lara O’Connor was 4th in her race clocking 14.20 and in grade D race to Maggie Szuta was 2nd in 13.99 and in series 2 ran 14.87. Zoe Mulligan – Lindsay was 4th in her heat in grade D in a time of 14.42.
In the men’s 100 in series 1 Brandon Muchini was 4th in grade A heat 1 (11.32) and in series 2 was 5th (11.59). In grade C heat 1 3rd for Sam O’Reilly (11.88) and in heat 3 1st for Christopher Lynch (11.73) and in series 2 11.72. In grade D Matthew Keogh was 1st in his heat (11.83), Madhav Kalra was 6th in his heat (13.15) and Athan Modi 2nd in his heat (12.03).
The final track event of the day was the 800s where Sean Carrigg was 4th in grade A in a time of 1.55.77 and in the process took bronze in the Dublin championship. Grade B saw Jack Quinn finish 5th (2.02.70) and Aaron Murray 7th (2.07.28). Josh Chalmers took 1st place in grade D in a fine 2.10.33 PB.
In the women’s 800 grade D saw a great Clonliffe race where Aisling Andrews took 1st position (2.31.23), 2nd was Rachel Ardiff (2.32.84), 3rd Clodagh Parsons (2.36.53) and 5th Mae Rose Mason (2.43.14).
In the field events Ethan Thompson in the hammer (5 KG) finished 2nd (55.84). 2nd also in the high jump for Matthew Keogh (1.70) and 3rd for Niall Allen in the shot (10.75).
On then to Clonmel for the IMC meet where again there was great Clonliffe representation in the middle distance events. Colm Rooney once again was in superb form winning the 1500 A race, his first run over the distance in some considerable time, recording an excellent 3.50.64. Fintan Kerins was 3rd (3.51.37). In the C race Ed Tottenham clocked 4.04.22 and Malcom Kiplagat 4.07.52.
Isla Duncan recorded a fine 1500 PB of 4.43.79 placing 12th.
Damien Prendergast recorded an excellent PB in the 800 C as he won in a time of 1.55.48. Aidan Benjacar was 7th in 1.59.90.
Finally in the 3000 Tom Breslin had a very good run to finish in 2nd place in 8.38.87.
(Apologies for any omissions).
Next week is another double with the Belfast classic on Saturday and the Dublin graded meet to in Morton on Sunday.