Sligo AC News Update: Running Shoes

An agonising 12 seconds was the difference between Sligo Athletic Club men winning team medals and finishing 5th at last Sundays Athletics Ireland road relay championships at a sun drenched Raheny. The team of Martin Conroy, Dermot McDermott, David Kelly and Alberto Sanchez ran their hearts out and the time they ran would have been good enough for medals any other year. Twenty five clubs toed the line in this most competitive of national championships. Martin Conroy lead the team off and handed the baton to Dermot McDermott after running the first two mile leg, McDermott ran a good 1 mile leg and handed over to David Kelly to run the long three mile lap. Alberto Sanchez ran the final 2 mile leg and brought the team home in 5th place behind Raheny, Dundrum, Letterkenny and Tallaght. The fact that Sligo finished ahead of such illustrious clubs as Clonliffe Harriers, Rathfarnham and Ennis Track Club illustrates how well the lads ran. Sligo AC ladies team also got in on the action Sunday as for only the second time in its history they had a team in the ladies race. Sarah Hodgins led the team off on the first one mile leg and handed over to Anna Reddin for the 2 mile lap. Rachael Kilgallon ran the final one mile lap and brought the team home in 8th place out of the 15 starters. Considering that this team were all under 20 years of age it certainly augers very well for the future. So no medals for men or women but so many positives to take out of a truly enjoyable day of athletics. The road to the all Ireland schools track finals on the first Saturday in June started on Thursday last at the Sligo IT track. There were many fine performances by Sligo athletes in the Sligo Leitrim Mayo section. The Connaught finals will take place in Athlone on May 18th; all our top club athletes were in fine form. Tommy Casey in the senior 800mts and 1500mts particularly caught the eye. Other athletes to shine were Sharon Hodgins, James McGeogh, Stacey Kerr, Zak Irwin, Cian McBride and William Crowe. Some fine relay running also was noted on Thursday with the Summerhill college junior team looking particularly strong. A lot of training and competition will be held before anyone mounts the victory rostrum in Tullamore but I have a feeling we could see a record Sligo medal haul.
Well done to all athletes who limbered up for the Calry 5k road race held on Good Friday. This was a charity event in aid of Friends of Sligo General Hospital and started in perfect conditions at 5pm on the usual out and back loop. One of Sligo AC's young guns, James McGeough, took off in dramatic fashion and ran a blistering race to finish 1st in a huge personal best time of 15.33. Second place fell to another up and coming talent Killian O'Connor whilst veteran road racer Alan Kearins ran a great race finishing in 3rd place also with a PB over the distance.