The 2022 national track and field league got underway yesterday. The Clonliffe teams headed north to the Mary Peters track in Belfast where the men faced DSD, Crusaders, Finn Valley, Ratoath AC and Kildare County. The women’s team were up against Finn Valley, DSD, Sligo County, Kildare County, Meath County, Louth County and Monaghan. It proved to be a very positive start to the league indeed by both teams and at the end of a long day the men’s team topped the standings in this particular group and the women’s team were sitting in an excellent 3rd position.
The men’s team really produced the goods with wins on the track by Leo Morgan in the 100 in 10.81, Daniel Lacey, the fastest barman in the West, flying over the hurdles in the 400 H (62.23), Niall Carbery who almost packed a season’s work of races into this week, gathered maximum points in the 3000 steeplechase in a new PB of 10.10.99. The relay squads also contributed maximum points, the 4 x 100 team of Kenji Miyachi, Keith Pike, Keith Marks and Leo Morgan crossing the line in 43.13 and the 4 x 400 team of Elie Nayrand, Rolus Olusa, Keith Pike and Daniel Lacey clocking 3.28.90. In the throws the club’s strength once again was evident, Eoin Sheridan contributing a winning double of discus (51.31) and shot (13.90). Rory Gunning in the javelin, although not officially on the results as of yet, took maximum points in that event. Simon Galligan also contributed double maximum points winning the hammer (59.73) and the WFD (4.82). In the jumps Keith Marks won the long jump with a best of 7.05 and was 2nd in the high jump at 1.75. Rolus Olusa took the triple jump 9 points on offer with a best of 13.54.
The were also major contributions made in rest of the track events, Keith Pike was 3rd in the 200 (22.48), Elie Natrand 2nd in the 400 (49.89), Mark McDonald and the 3rd in the 800 (2.00.61), Stephen Cashin, clocked a 2nd PB of the week over 1500, this time 4.05.20 when finishing 2nd in the 1500. 2nd also for Sean O’Leary in the 5000, despite being hampered by a back strain over the final laps (15.28.05) and 2nd also in the 110 H by Rolus Olusa (15.28).
The points standings currently show Clonliffe men 1st and 146 with DSD 2nd on 110 (results were seem to be incomplete).
The Clonliffe women also performed superbly with outstanding displays of not only athleticism but guts and determination as many took in unfamiliar events. Maximum points were contributed to the cause by Leah Bergin who ran an excellent 400 PB of 57.00 and by Emma Mitchell in the 3000 tearing away from the field was 600 to go as she clocked 9.47.96. In the 100 Anna Heavey was 5th (13.32), Lauren Carr placed 3rd in the 200 (26.29), Alannah Cooley was 6th in the 800 (2.28.33), Laura Tuite produced an SB of 4.46.50 placing 3rd in the 1500. Sneza Bechtina was 3rd in the 400 hurdles (69.75), Aisling Killalea was 6th in the 1500 race walk (10.26.22). In the relays great performances from the girls saw the 4 x 100 team of Snezana, Lauren, Anna and Leah take 2nd place in 54.18 and 4 x 400 team of Snezana, Alannah, Lauren and Leah finish 3rd in 4.06.07. All chipped in brilliantly in the field events, Denise Byrne was 3rd in the javelin (34.42) and 6th in the shot (7.89), Jenny Johnston was 5th in both the discus (24.03) and hammer (18.60), Laura Tuite was 6th in the WFD (2.71) and in the jumps Snezana Bechtina 5th in the triple (9.63) and Edel Maguire 5th in the high jump (1.35) and 8th in the long jump (4.05). The team finished the day in an excellent 3rd position on 100 points, DSD lead the standings on127 with Louth County on 106.
Round 2 takes place some way down the line – July 31, venue to be announced in due course.