Spring is quite clearly in the air as already the 2019 Clonliffe Harriers a Grand Prix Series is set to kick off this Thursday March 28th in the Morton Stadium. Thursday nigh’s race is the Frank White 5 Mile, Ireland’s only 5 mile track race.
Last year’s Frank White race was won by Stephen Scullion in an Irish best time of 24.03 bettering the existing Irish best which had been set in this race by Sergiu Ciobanu of 24.14 in 2016. The previous record goes all the way back to 1946 held by Martin Egan.
The Frank White 5 mile is a memorial race in memory of a man who served Clonliffe with distinction as both an athlete and administrator for some 30 years (serving as Hon Secretary from 1983 to 85). Frank was a winner of the Clonliffe 2 in the 1950s on two occasions 1955 and 1957. The following year Frank ran in the World famous Clonliffe August Sports on August 9th in the 2 Mile when Ailbe Thomas set a 2 mile world record in the stadium.
The Clonliffe Grand Prix Series which was won last year by Mick Gleeson will run for most of the year right through the track and then into cross country concluding in late November after a marathon 16 rounds.
A note to those athletes racing on Thursday and indeed throughout the series: please be mindful that training for other Clonliffe athletes continuous, in the outer lanes, we cannot expect athletes and coaches to cancel their training every 2nd week. Therefore athletes are requested that once they finished the race on Thursday that they move straight away onto the infield at the finish line. Please do not walk straight across the track, be track aware! Also please do warm ups outside the track. With the co operation of all, the Grand Prix athletes can enjoy their racing and other athletes can get on with and “enjoy” their training. The Committee appeals to all on this point.