The IUAA road relays took place in the picturesque surroundings of Maynooth University on a most pleasant early winter – (or late autumn depending on your view of the seasons!) afternoon with a dozen or so Clonliffe athletes competing, the biggest club representation at this event in a long number of years.
In the women’s race, 1 x 2 x 2 x 1 miles, the quartet of athletes bizarrely all ran on different college teams. Sarah Bateson the Maynooth captain had an excellent run on leg 3 – the 2 mile leg – running a time of 11.54 (splits 5.59 and 5.55), the 5th fastest 3rd leg of the day. Sarah’s team finished up placing 19th overall. Jools Hughes (Queens) ran the same leg recording a time of 13.06 with the Queen’s team finishing 12th overall. Jess Gallagher (DCU) ran the 2nd leg, also a 2 mile, clocking 13.05 on the DCU C team that finished 13th. Naoise Cullen (Trinity College) was on the final 1 mile leg running a time of 6.53 as her team took 21st. UCD A took the win comfortably clear of DCU A with Trinity A taking 3rd place.
The men’s race was over 1 x 2 x 3 x 2 x 1 miles. The crack UCD A squad made it a double, again with a comfortable win over DCU A with UL B taking 3rd place. The Clonliffe athletes competing were Jack Maughan (TCD) who ran a time of 5.06 on the opening 1 mile leg, also on this team was Stephen Cashin running the 3 mile leg – 15.12. On the TCD B team Oren Kenny in the 1 mile leg ran 5.33, Ben Coughlan on his return from injury in the 3 mile leg ran 15.47 passing on then to Sean Owens Heaslip on the 4th 2 mile leg (10.38). . Jack Woods on the TCD C team also ran the opening mile leg, time of 5.35. Cian Murray ran his 1st collegiate race on the DCU C team on the 2nd leg, 2 miles, running 11.15. Another collegiate debutee was Leon Brady (TUD) who ran a fine 2 mile leg of 10.28. Finally Cillian Sherran on that same 2 mile leg ran 12.30. Full results on popupraces.ie
To see photos click: https://www.flickr.com/photos/146364500@N04/albums/72177720312578196