Sligo Athletic Club News Update

Sligo Athletic Club Members had an early start on Sunday as they assembled at 7.30am for the bus to Nenagh to compete in the Western Region Track and Field Championships, which were also a qualifier for the National Finals at the end of March.
The walking races kicked off proceedings and yielded a silver medal for Dylan Carty in the boys under 15 event. This race went to the wire with Dylan just ousted from gold in the last 100ms but he enjoyed further success as he won his 800ms running race and did well in the Shot Putt.
On the sprint track Adam Lynch finished third in his heat of the 60 metres , the same place as Ryan Philips in his heat and both of these athletes are now looking forward to combining on the relay team in the middle of March when the club will launch a serious attack on medals and qualifying for National finals.Similarly Ciara Connolly showed good form over 60 metre as well as finishing strongly over 800 metres and will form part of a strong relay entry at the end of March
While these athletes were doing well, the Kerr brother and sister combination of Graham at under 13 and Stacey at under 14 were qualifying with ease for the finals in their event, the 60ms sprint. Later Graham went on to claim gold in the final , with some ease, while Stacey finished joint third and took her first Provincial medal.Graham also did well in the Long Jump as did Ryan Philips. David Heath ran well in the under 18 60ms and went on to finish the day in the 400ms. Jason Mc Goldrick also ran strongly in the under 17 60ms amd 200ms.
Nicola Mc Goldrick won her under 16 200ms heat and was a mere second off a medal, despite a nagging thigh injury. Rianne Mc Hugh was next to lift a medal with Silver in the under 19 girls 400ms, being just edged out of gold in the last 10 metres. With the emphasis switching to middle distance there were further medals and strong performances from Mark Connolly and Lee Roper in the under 13 600ms, both finishing well up in their heats.
Claire Conlon ran a good tactical race over 800 ms to be fourth in her under 15 race but better was to come as Caoelinn Mc Gonigle in the under 13 600ms and Anna Reddin in the under 19 800ms lifted gold with times which suggest they can do well at National level, a comment which also applies to James Mc Geough who lifted bronze in a fiercly competitive 800ms, a distance that would not play to his strengths but which will stand to him later in the year.
Shane Kilcawley showed good form to finish in the top eight in his 800 ms event, a position also occupied by Gavin Foye in his 800ms as he relished his first taste of lactic acid. Two of the busier Athletes were Orla Mulvihill who built on her recent good Cross Country form by doing well over 1500ms , shot putt and long jump while Colm Burke finished fourth in his long jump and 200ms heat. Maeve and Aoife Keaney competed in their first Indoor Championships over 800 ms and will appreciate the experience as they can now look forward to the indoor relays and gaining more exposure to top grade competition. The day finished on a high note as Dermott Mc Dermott showed his protégés how to win with a pillar to post win in the Senior 800ms.
Attention next weekend switches to Cross Country in Boyle where the under 11 to under 19 b competitions take place as well as reruns at under 13 boys and under 15 girls a competition.
The National Masters also take place with mens and womens teams. Lucy Brennan, Roseanne Mitchell, Ger O Grady, Sonya o Connell, Cathy mc Carthy ,Martina Sherlock, Catherine Bradley and Jill Connor fly the ladies flag while Mel Casserly, Martin mc Geough, Karl Boyce, Trevor Hunter, David Kearins, Steve Finnegan,Rory Connor,Paul Deering, Terry Mc Gowan , Damien mc Sharry and Terry Hayes represent the mens team. Seamus Somers, Alan Kearins and Damien Kennedy compete in the Intermediate race.