Michelle Cox helps secure a world relay record
Michelle Cox (left) was part of Irelands 4x400m world record breaking relay squad Photo: Perri Williams
A global Olympic fever has spread across the world like a pandemic. People who have previously never engaged with sports are tuned in to swimming, golf, rowing, athletics and a host of other sports. Ireland already have seven medals to their credit. With the athletics starting last weekend, the focus for our next medal has turned to our track and field stars. These stars rose through the juvenile and junior ranks, trained with their clubs and competed at our All-Ireland Track and Field championships. Championships like the u20 and u23 All-Irelands which were held last weekend. While most do not yet realise it, there are future Olympians amongst either our Kilkenny athletes, or those that they race against. Their journey towards Olympic participation is one they must choose to follow or not. A choice that will inherently be made at some point over the next few years of their competitive career.
It was hard to tune back into the domestic scene, even after just two days of Olympic track and field action. However, the All-Ireland u20 and u23 Championships produced some exciting competitive action. Medals went to Caoimhe Cronin (Le Chelie), Sophie Byrne and Holly Wright (Cookstown-Millview) amongst others.
The action continued on Sunday with the Masters in action at their All-Ireland championships. Brian Conroy (Clane AC) was the top performer on the day. Conroy claimed gold in the over 40 5000m.
Michelle Cox (Newbridge) was part of a quartet who broke the 4x800m relay over 35 World Record last Wednesday in Santry. It was one of four World records that tumbled.
Saturday was another one of those lusterless yet scintillating Irish summer days. Medal winning performances interjected the alternating moments of pouring rain and intense sunshine. The 400m hurdles kick started the day’s proceedings. Rory Ardiff (Le Cheile) completed a competitive line up. Ardiff produced a solid run taking the silver medal in a time of 62 seconds.
Caoimhe Cronin (Le Cheile) was a double silver medalist. Cronin had the misfortune of running her 200m heats in some of the worst weather conditions of the day. Almost blinded by the pelting rain, Cronin won her 200m heat in 24.86. A few hours later in brilliant sunshine she finished second in the 200m finals behind double gold medalist Katie Bergin (Moyne AC). Despite the inclement weather Cronin had achieved a new personal best in heats and went on to set another new personal best in the 200m final. The Le Cheile AC athlete had earlier in the day finished second in the 400m less than half a second behind Lauren McCourt (Bandon).
Saoirse Reynolds (Le Cheile) had the race of her life when she took bronze in the u23 800m. Reynolds clocked 2.17m behind the winner Lucy Holmes (West Waterford).
The Crookstown-Millview Wright sisters Holly and Cara lined up for the u20 Discus. Holly threw a personal best of 42.33 in her final throw of the day to take the silver medal. In what was probably her best competition of the season, Wright managed to deliver a series of six throws, all of which were over 40m. The competition was won by Megan Comiskey (Clonliffe Harriers) in 43.04. Comiskey’s performance was somewhat inconsistent, failing two throws and a lowest throw of 36.06m. Cara Wright finished fifth with a best of 34.80m.
Sophie Byrne (Crookstown-Millview) also took silver, this time in the u20 Triple Jump. Leaving Cert student Byrne normally reaches over the eleven-meter mark, managed to jump 10.77m in the fifth round. She ceded victory to Molly Mullally (Dundrum South Dublin).
The final medals of the day came in the u23 4x400m relay where Le Cheile finished third. The team consisted of John Kenny, Keeley Hogan, Conor Vanduyvenrvoorde and Rory Ardiff.
Eoghan McGrath (Celbridge) and Runo Ayavoro (Newbridge) were close to medals. O’Connor finished 4th in the triple jump with Ayavoro fourth in the 100m.
The master’s over 35, over 45 and over 70 made a herculean attempt on the respective 4x800m relay records. Organised as part of the final Dublin graded meet last Wednesday in Santry.
The over 35 team, consisting of Michelle Cox (Newbridge), Eimear English (Dunboyne), Laura Frey (Lagan Valley) and Fiona Gettings (Longford) broke the previous record of 9.25.27 held by the USA since 2011. All four ladies are a regular in races around Ireland, mixing equitably with senior athletes. Gettings came late into athletics but has run 10.04 for 3000m and 4.36 for 1500m in the past year. Earlier this year she won a silver medal at the European Masters 3000m in Poland. In the same race Michelle Cox finished third.
Our Masters were in action last Sunday in Tullamore, the final domestic track and field championships of 2024.
Brian Conroy (Clane AC) had a magnificent win in the over 40s 5000m. Conroy, his brother Stephen and Rathfarnham’s Eoin Flynn managed to eventually pull away from the main field. Brian Conroy produced a stunning final lap to take the gold four seconds ahead of Flynn. Stephen Conroy was three seconds behind taking the bronze medal. Le Cheile’s Brian McGrath was second in the over 70s 5000m.
After her successful world record attempt in the 4x800m relay last Thursday, Michelle Cox (Newbridge) once more lined up for an 800m. She finished third in the over 40s race behind Fiona Kehoe (Kilmore AC) and Dublin’s Rachael Murphy. In the over 35 800m her clubmate Sue McDonald was second. McDonald went on to finish 3rd in the over 35 1500m.
Newbridge AC secured two further medals. Pauline Kenny finished third in the over 55 discus while Ray Swan took silver in the over 50 high jump with a leap of 1.60m. The winner of the high jump was Olivier Werner (St Coca’s) who almost set a new masters over 50 high jump record. Werner cleared 1.70m.
