Latest news catchup

by Club PRO Paul Deering 

It may be holiday season but the club's members haven't been taking a break with plenty of representation at various events over the past couple of weeks.

Shane Hayes winning 'The Gathering 5K' in Donegal on Monday last

Following on from the great success of Emmett Dunleavy with his silver medal performance in the 3,000m steeplechase at the national championships and Zak Irwin's two bronze medals at the Schools International in Santry there has also been plenty of local action.

 Father and son, Enda and Fintan Whelan represented the club at the national half marathon in the Phoenix Park at the week-end. Enda posted 1.40 while Fintan managed a pb in 1.39, a continuation of his recent good form having managed another pb over 8k in Coolaney in 31.33.

Also in action over the Bank Holiday week-end was Nicky Davey who was just on 40 minutes in the Dublin Bay 10k.

In Coolaney, US based Sligo student, Tommy Casey, showed a clean pair of heels to the field winning in 25.11 with Sligo AC club mate, Seamus Somers third in 27.41 and Ultan McNasser fourth in 28.08. There were category wins for Danny Hannon, Seamus Somers, Patricia Foy and Roseanne Mitchell. Of note also on the night was the performance of 14 year old Keenan Deering (35.58) who knocked two minutes off his pb from his last 8k in Rosses Point earlier in the summer.

On Sunday last the club was well represented at the Ballisodare 5k which was won by Tommy Casey in 15.26 in what was one of his last races on home soil before his return to the US. The club wishes him continued success in his academic studies and sporting life in the States. Richard Gorman who ran an 8k in Mullinabreena earlier in the day was second in Ballisodare in 17 minutes flat while Shane Hayes, back to his best after injury, was third in 17.20. A notable performance was that of Ciaran McMurray (15) who came home in 18.26. He was sixth in Coolaney in a very impressive 29.14. First woman home in Ballisodare was Catherine Bradley in 21.39 while Sligo AC colleague, Pauline Henry was second in 22.05.

Shane Hayes continued his good form in Tir Chonaill AC's The Gathering 5k in Donegal town on Monday evening last winning in a pb of 17.14. Another young athlete doing the club proud was Philip Hunter who broke the 20 minute mark for the first time, finishing eight overall and first junior in Donegal in 19.53.

This coming week-end there's the next race in the County Sligo Road Race League sponsored by Sligo Credit Union and Filan's Centra, the Gleniff Horseshoe 8 mile event. There are also eight mile races in Ballinafad on Saturday and Strandhill on Sunday. Anyone looking for a shorter distance, there is a three mile race in aid of North West Hospice in Mullaghmore on Sunday afternoon around the scenic Head.