Three Clonliffe athletes have received nominations for athletes of the year, the winners will be announced at next Wednesday’s Athletics Ireland awards lunch.
Edel Maguire has for the 2nd successive year been nominated in the category of Irish Master athlete of the year. This year Edel gold in National Masters Indoors Championships in the W60 High Jump and W60 400m. Internationally Edel won gold in the W60 400m ,bronze in the W60 200m and silver in a Mixed 60 4×200 at the European indoor Masters championships. Edel’s success continued moving into W65. At the British Masters in Derby, ran an Irish Master’s W65 record for 400 of 68.84 for gold. Topping off an incredible season, at the World Masters championships in Gothenburg, She won gold in the W65 High jump with a championship equalling 1.39m some 8cm’s clear of 2nd position (and an Irish record) for good measure she also added W65 silver in the 400 and bronze in W65 200 with a time of 30.96 and another new Irish record. Edel then stepped down age categories and joined fellow Clonliffe athlete, Snezana Bechtina and 2 other Irish athletes in the W40 4×400 relay to claim further silver medal.
After a huge breakthrough year Cathal Doyle has been nominated in the middle distance athlete of the year category. Cathal enjoyed stellar seasons both indoor and outdoor. Indoor he ran a 1500 3.39.10 pb, also a Clonliffe Harriers club record and won the national indoor title following a battle to the line with Nick Griggs. On the outdoor circuit he lowered his PB over 800 (1.46.75), 1500 (3.33.15) and the mile (3.52.06), all 3 being club records. He also won for the 3rd successive year the 1500 national title in superb style. He bridged a 25 year gap by becoming the 1st Clonliffe Harrier to win the Morton mile since Niall Bruton and of course there was the small matter of the Paris Olympic Games! Cathal thrillingly won the repechage 1500 to qualify for the Olympic semi-final where he placed 10th in 3.33.15.
Efrem Gidey for a successive year receives a nomination in the endurance athlete of the year category. In 2024 Efrem has been in superb form on the roads recording breathtaking times culminating in his national half marathon record of 60:51 in Copenhagen. On the track Efrem came within a fraction of breaking the Irish 10,000 record recording a time of 27.40.02 and he represented Ireland in the European Championships. His attention has now switched to cross country with recent stellar performances in WA Gold XC Events, 8th in Atapuerca and 6th in Cardiff.
Congratulations to all 3 on their nominations.