All posts in National Championships

Huge congratulations to Rolus Olusa who continued today where he left off yesterday leading from the front as he took the National Decathlon title on 6400 points over 1700 points clear of 2nd.

Taking a commanding lead into day 2 at Morton Stadium Rolus won the fiest event of the day the 110H in 16.20, he was then 2nd in the discus (5.94) and then with an excellent 4.20m won the pole vault. In the final two events he placed 2nd, javelin (44.66) and in the grueling 1500 (5.16.47)

Rolus Olusa is leading in the national Senior Decathlon after five events in Morton Stadium today. Rolus was 1st in the 100 (11.65), 1st in the long jump (6.88), 2nd in the shot (10.95), 1st in the high jump (1.91) and 1st in the 400 (53.23) to finish the day on 3347 points and enjoys a lead of 578 points. For day 2 he can look forward to the discus, javelin, pole vault, 110h and at the end of two long days the dreaded 1500!

At the Northern Irish Championships today Keith Marks took bronze in the long jump (6.96)

Day 1 of the National Junior Track and field took place at Morton Stadium yesterday with only a couple of Clonliffe athletes competing. Niall Carbery was 5th in the 3000 SC in 10.48.52 while in the 400 Manny Okoye ran 56.00 in his 400 heat. Day 2 is next Sunday.

After the seniors over the previous two weekend’d tomorrow sees the National Junior Track & Field and on Sunday the Masters. Juniors please note that due to the numbers entered these championships are now spread over two days, tomorrow and Sunday of next week, on the card with the National Combined Events.

Juniors please see more details from Athletics Ireland: https://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/important-update-regarding-national-junior-and-combined-events-championships

Master Athletics for preview,timetable see: https://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/masters-stage-set-for-sunday

From a club perspective no club training on this Sunday or Sunday week.

Rolus Olusa was the sole Clonliffe Harrier in action on the final day of this year’s National Seniors. Rolus put in a solid display in the pole vault with a best of 4.30m for 5th place. 5th place also for Rolus in the 110H (15.07).

Thus the end of the Championships which yielded a National Title for Stephen Rice in the javelin, silver for Eoin Sheridan in the discus and a trio of bronzes for Efrem Gidey in the 5000, Simon Galligan in the hammer and Rory Gunning in the javelin. At U/23 level Shannon Sheehy won long jump and javelin silver and high jump bronze.

A much more pleasant Morton Stadium greeted the athletes for weekend 2 of the National seniors with the odd bit of sunshine and whilst a bit breezy the gale force head wind of last weekend didn’t feature today. Eoin Sheridan was the Clonliffe star of the day as he took silver in the discus. Eoin put in a very solid afternoon with three 50m plus throws, his best being 52.22, as Crusaders AC’s Colin Quirke took gold (55.50).

In the most anticipated National 10,000 in living memory Clonmel AC’s Sean Tobin turned last week’s 1500 silver to gold with a fine performance winning in 29.35.14, 2nd was the fast finishing Eric Keogh (Donore) and Hugh Armstrong (Ballina) 3rd. From a Clonliffe perspective defending champion Stephen Scullion could not return home due to Covid 19 travel restrictions and Sergiu Ciobanu came down with illness the night before, however there was a fine run over the 10,000 by Eoin Taggart 17th (31.45.31) . Good performances also by Tom Sherlock (33.05.85) and Declan Power (33.49.76).

In the earlier session Jenny Johnston put in a battling effort in her first ever nationals, in her first ever track season, finishing 8th in her 800 heat (2.26.31). Fionn Carroll ran 1.59.39 as he placed 6th in heat 4 and Mark McDonald in heat 1 ran 2.00.79 in placing 7th.

The championships continue with two final sessions tomorrow.

After last weekend’s excellent Nationals the championships conclude this weekend behind closed doors in Morton Stadium. Clonliffe athletes in action this weekend are (apologies in the event of any omissions):

Saturday: 800 Jenny Johnson, Fionn Carroll, Mark McDonald

10,000: Eoin Taggart, Sergiu Ciobanu, Tom Sherlock, Declan Power

Discus: Eoin Sheridan

Triple Jump: Niall Counihan, although Niall is carrying an injury and may well be a doubtful starter.

Sunday: 110H Rolus Olusa.

Pole Vault: Rolus Olusa, Dave Donegan

Good luck to all.

Club members please note that Athletics Ireland have opened entry for these championships today until Friday at 3pm. The National juniors is down for Saturday September 5th with the Masters the following day, both in Morton. Juniors can enter a max of 2 events, Masters 1 only. Athletics Ireland do stay that the dates proposed are movable. See https://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/important-event-information-national-junior-and-masters-championships

Another day at behind closed doors Morton Stadium for day 2 of the Nationals and another breezy day.

Session 4: Stephen Rice retained his National Javelin title by a margin of in excess of 10m! His winning throw was 72.73, on a day when 2 of his 3 “legal” throws were 70 plus. Bronze went to club mate Rory Gunning (62.16).

Shannon Sheehy having taken U/23 long jump silver yesterday today won her 2nd and 3rd U/23 medals of the weekend. Shannon was 3rd in the U/23 section of the high jump (1.65m), 4th overall and then in the javelin threw 30.10 for U/23 silver, 8th overall.

Session 5: an intriguing 5000 saw Donore’s John Travers lead from the front at a great pace in the windy conditions bringing Darragh McElhinney (UCD) and Efrem Gidey with him, with 600 to go Efrem was dropped eventually finishing in bronze (14.17.89) while McElhinney out sprinted Travers from gold. John Fagan was very unfortunate to miss out on bronze in the 400H, bronze looked to be his until he hit the final hurdle and almost hit the deck, placing 4th (54.25).

Jonny Whan ran an excellent race in the 1500 final to place 4th (3.49.76) in what was a superb race won on the line by Paul Robinson (St. Coca’s) who made up 60 plus meters on Sean Tobin (Clonmel) over the final 400 3.43.90 to 3.43.92 with Andrew Coscoran (SOTS) 3rd (3.48.40).

Meanwhile on Friday night in Bromley Jayme Rossiter was 3rd in a 3000 8.22.45.

It was pretty surreal at Morton Stadium for a national track and field championship like no other. The championships for well documented reasons were taking place behind closed doors. With other safety measures in place it was fairly challenging and different from the norm not just of course for the athletes but also for the hard-working officials. The weather conditions needless to say were also challenging a swirling wind and intermittent showers.

Session 1 saw several Clonliffe athletes in action with Simon Galligan excelling in the hammer throwing a new PB of 62.28 to take a thoroughly deserved bronze. Simon put an impressive series of throws in today with three 60+ metre efforts. A very good showing also in the long jump by Shannon Sheehy saw her take U/23 silver with a best of 5.56. In the women’s hammer Caoimhe Morris placed seventh overall in her comeback nationals with a best of 43.06. On the track Efrem Gidey was a comfortable qualifier in heat three for tomorrow’s 5000 final winning at ease in 15.26.09. Stephen Cashin ran very well to record a PB of 15.53.12. In the junior 5000 final a tired looking Ben Guiden finished well off his best in 16.30.57.

Session 2: Unfortunately neither Niall Counihan or Keith Marks made the start of the long jump competition. In the men’s 400 heats Fionn Carroll was 2nd (50.19) but did not progress and Emer Treacy ran 66.43 in the women’s 400 and likewise bowed out.

Session 3: This evening saw John Fagan safely negotiate his was into tomorrow’s 400H final after qualifying with a 54.33. Likewise Jonny Whan into the 1500 final winning his heat in 4.02.44. Greta Streimyte although not progressing into tomorrow’s final impressed with a 4.38.54 1500 for 6th place only a fraction off her PB.

Tomorrow will see Shannon Sheehy in both the high jump and javelin and both Stephen Rice and Rory Gunning in the men’s javelin. On the track Efrem Gidey in the what will be a cracking 5000 final, likewise Jonny Whan in what should be a brilliant 1500 final and John Fagan in the 400H final.