Sligo AC News: Running Shoes

Cream always rises to the top. North Sligo athlete Mary Cullen once again proved that saying true in stunning fashion on Tuesday night last in France. Running her first race back after months of injury she finished a brilliant 3rd place behind Ethiopian athlete Mekdes Bekele at the indoor venue in Lieven. Mary’s time for the 3000mts was 8.56.89 and nearly four seconds inside the qualifying time for the European indoor championships in Paris in early March. Mary won a bronze medal in the European indoors two years ago and with a couple of more races in her legs she will be competitive again and she will have a great chance of a medal. One race that Mary will be taking in is the Athletics Ireland indoor championships in the magnificent Odyssey arena in Belfast next weekend! This will be her first time to compete in those championships and whether she opts to compete in the 3000mts or the 1500mts she will be a firm favourite to win the gold medal.
Other Sligo athletes who will be travelling to Belfast are Tommy Casey who will be hoping to run a personal best time in the 3000mts, Dermot McDermott who will be hugely disappointed if he doesn’t make the final of the 800mts, Annia Bednoz in the long and the triple jump and Alberto Sanchez who like Tommy Casey will be hoping for a personal best in the 3000mts. The Sligo athletes will be part of what is expected to be one of the best indoor meetings ever staged in Ireland.
Well done to all the Sligo athletes who qualified for the All Ireland schools finals in Dublin in a few weeks time. They qualified by virtue of good performances at the Connaught finals in Galway last Tuesday and it looks like we will have some All Ireland medals coming West from the cross country finals in Alsa Dublin.
One medal that has come to Sligo is a bronze medal won by Sligo IT athlete Alberto Sanchez who collected the bronze at the All Ireland Varsities championships indoors held in Nenagh last week. Alberto was very impressive clocking 8mins27secs for the 3000mts distance. Across the water in the British varsities cross country championships Tommy Carroll of St Mary’s college London ran the cross country race of his life to finish in forth place. Tommy has not had much look this season in cross country but he certainly came good in this high class race and once again proved what a high class athlete he is.
Road running athletes are reminded once again of the Bundoran 10 mile road race which will take place on Saturday March 5th starting at 11am with walkers starting at 10am. Any athlete who is planning a marathon in the Spring, Summer or Autumn are encouraged to be on the starting line. Ten kilometres, ten miles, and a half marathon are a must for prospective marathon runners so this is an ideal opportunity. The race which is sponsored by Cara Pharmacy is well organised and well marshalled with times given at every mile. Entries can be made at www.bundoranrun.com
Finally this week congratulations to Sligo AC athlete Dylan Carty who collected his Athletics Ireland star award for 2010 in Athlone on Saturday night last.