Clonliffe stats man and record keeper Killian Lonergan reports: With 2016 hosting a multitude of Championships, expectations are high that the Clonliffe records, All Time, and International representation lists will require multiple amendments throughout the year.
With the strongest set of sprinters the club has ever had presently training under John Shields it’s very conceivable that the 100m, 200m and 400m, as well as both Relays will see new records and a rewriting of the All Time Top 10 lists on a continual basis.
As Declan Murray strives for a Rio 800m qualification time, his 2015 Club record will surely be under threat. Might he try the 1500m again, and move inside the Top 10 All Time? David Flynn has being eyeing up the steeplechase record for a few years now, and this year could be when our oldest track record is broken. Indeed, David may gain that record and lose his Junior equivalent as Brian Flanagan looks to improve on his impressive 2015 performances and move up the All Time lists at the same time. How many of our Juniors will dip under the 2min and 4min benchmarks for the 800m and 1500m? With nearly 85 and 75 athletes respectively listed under these times already, they’ll be in fine company.
Could the club’s Pole Vaulters push each other to soar over 5 metres this year? It’s certainly possible. Simon Galligan made tremendous improvements last year in the Hammer and with the same this year, the near 30 year old record of James Russell will be under threat. Moving from 4th to 2nd on the All Time list is most certainly the least he’ll expect. Ryan Whelan’s Javelin position is similarly set up, so expect these two younger field eventers to progress.
On the Women’s side, is it possible that Claire Walsh could be relinquishing three club records this year? Leah Moore is surely targeting both the 100m and 200m record. Could Ciara McCallion move up the All Time list of the 400m? Why not all the way to number 1? Becky Woods has climbed up the middle distance lists over the past few years and this year shouldn’t be an exception. With a multitude of our younger athletes making the All Time 800m list in 2015, more of the same is expected this year. Of course Hope Saunders’s Junior records from 2015 in the 3000m and 5000m will struggle to see out the Summer, but could Jean Appleby’s long held Junior 1500m record remain intact as well?
Caoimhe Morris has owned both the Discus and Hammer records for the past few years, but perhaps Jill Mahoney, our new Shot Putt record holder might look at the Discus as well? Denise Byrne’s Javelin best is always under threat and the Long and Triple jump distances will surely be targets for Aurusa Jerumbauskyte. Orla Barry’s new Pole Vault mark from 2015 is surely stands as a club record on a temporary basis only.
As the Championships on offer cover World Indoors, European Outdoors, World Juniors, Olympics and European Cross Country, additions to the extensive list of Clonliffe athletes earning International call up’s are inevitable. With new appearances on this list over the last couple of years from Dara Kervick, Keith Pike, Tim Crowe, Cathal Doyle, Sergiu Ciobanu, Hope Saunders and Ciara McCallion, let’s hope that more than our perennial international, Brian Gregan will have Clonliffe Harriers company in far flung destinations this year!
Readers are referred to the Performance section of this web site, the Club Records page and Hall of Fame page.
So, an exciting year ahead with lots of medals, caps, times and distances to chase. We wish all our athletes the best of luck for the 2016 season.