There were outstanding performances from Clonliffe athletes at the season opening IMC meet at Morton Stadium today, the highlight of which was undoubtedly Cathal Doyle’s lightning fast 1.46.75 Clonliffe 800 club record.
Cathal’s fantastic run came in the 2nd last event of the programme a top-class 800, coming off the final bend he unleashed his trademark kick to propel himself up from 5th/6th closing in on the leaders and took 2nd place on a photo finish, his time of 1.46.75 bettering Declan Murray’s 2015 club record of 1.47.28 and also was a PB by almost 2 seconds.
In the opening race of the programme, the 400, Aaron Tierney Smith clocked a 49.42 PB, placing 7th
Through the course of the meet there were PB’s recorded by the majority of the Clonliffe athletes in action. Niamh Kelly was a class apart in the 800 C race winning in a new PB of 2.14.82 a winning margin by over 4 seconds. Sarah Bateson battled brilliantly in the 3000 and was rewarded with a massive 7 second PB of 10.17.36.
Clonliffe Harrier junior athlete of the year Tom Breslin took an excellent win in the 3000 B race as he ran a time of 8.43.44, a huge PB. Also in this race PB’s were recorded by Cathal McHale, 5th place in 8.54.72 and Sean Heaslip Owens, 10th, 9.04.34. Jack Quinn clocked a time of 9.47.35.
In the 1500 A race Sean Cronin finished 8th in a time of 3.52.11, a PB. There was a great interclub battle in the 1500 C race where Fintan Kerins finished 4th in a time of 4.00.39, also a PB with Jack Maughan 6th 4.02.73, in the 1500 D race Mahad Egaal finished 5th in 4.07.33.
In the USA Gavin Cougle continued his excellent form running yet another PB, this time over 400, of 47.16 at the Billy Hayes invitational positing himself now 5th on the Clonliffe all time list.
Also in the USA another excellent run by Craig Duffy over 100 in the Sunyacs conference placing 2nd in 10.63, however again the wind was over the legal limit (+3.4). Yesterday Craig clocked 10.64 (+2.8) in his heat. Also in the 4 x 400 relay the Brockport team took 1st place, with a 49.50 leg by Craig, to secure regional qualification.
Efrem Gidey was also in track action this evening competing in an international 5000 at the Meeting National De L’est Lyonnais (Lyon, France!) Where he finished 12th in a time of 13.39.56.
For IMC photos by Colm Rooney click: https://www.flickr.com/photos/146364500@N04/albums/72177720316708178