It was truly a case of both the Clonliffe women and men’s teams getting the job done yesterday in Athlone at the preliminary round of the national track and field league. Both teams were depleted and resources stretched to the absolute limit. The athletes in the Clonliffe colours put in Herculean efforts, many competing in unfamiliar events the result: both Clonliffe league teams storm through to the Premier league final on Sunday 28th July in Tullamore.
On a day patchworked with torrential rain which saw the TUS track in Athlone abandoned several times with all athletes and officials seeking cover, fantastic individual performances and huge team spirit in both squads prevailed.
The women’s team finished in a fantastic 4th place. The team included 6 master athletes, 5 seniors and 4 juniors.
A special mention to Edel Maguire who broke 2 Irish National age group records in the high jump 1.35m and 400m in 69.39s and our fantastic debutante 4×100 relay team of Lily Scanlon, Ifeoma Enyoazu, Rachael Ogundimu and Maddie Njock who coolly took 12 points for the team and looking forward to many more great performance in Clonliffe colours.
A quick summary of the day’s performances:
Niamh Whyte speed walked her way to 10 points.
Snezana Bechtina hauled in a total of 35 individual points in 400H, Pole Vault and Triple Jump and Snezana also joined the fab 4, 4x400m relay team of Lily Scanlon, Niamh Kelly and Ifeoma Enyoazu, to take 4th place and a further 13 points.
Sarah McDonnell lept from the wet mucky sandy of the long jump into the 200m with a great gutsy run for 7th place.
Emma Byrne and Ciara O’Regan added 7 and 6 valuable points respectively with throws in the shot and WFD.
Julie Larkin earned 12 points in a rain delayed 1500m.
Sinead Hartnett added 17 points to the teams with great efforts in both the javelin and a late call up for the 3000m.
Niamh Kelly added 15 valuable points, winning her 800m heat comfortably from the front.
Jenny Johnston added 20 points with throws in the discus and hammer.
In addition to the 4×100 and 4×400 relay, Lily Scanlon bagged another 6 individual points with a 5th place in the 100.
Lastly, the one maximum pointer of the day, Sorcha O’Connor with a fantastic 1st place in the steeplechase for 17 amazing points!!
The men’s team likewise battled away all day long, and again it was about the team with athletes filling in where they could, if they could. Special praise must go to young Christopher Lynch who made a huge contribution gathering in 16 points courtesy of second-place in the 400, 7.5 points placing joint 10th in the high jump, 4 x 100 relay and 4 x 400 relay, 16 points in each.
Likewise an excellent club debut by Tadgh O’Muirteachaig winning the javelin for 18 points.
Epitomizing what club spirit is all about was the one and only Bart Rogers, back in the field of competition and scoring points in the shot put.
Also giving it is best for the club was Dave Donegan adding valuable points for 3rd place in the pole vault.
Aaron Tierney Smith also made a telling contribution doing a fine job in the 400 hurdles scoring 14 points and also like Christopher made a huge contribution to both relay teams.
Greg Hosseney did his usual professional job in the race walk placing 2nd and adding 16 points to the cause. Keith Pike also made a huge contribution 16 points in the 100, 14 in the 200 and 16 in the 4 x 100. Anthony Dillon was not only part of the 4 x 100 relay but he threw in 6 point in the long jump. In the middle distance events Sean Carrigg took 15 points in the 800, and for good measure threw in a leg in the 4 x 400, Fintan Kerins gathered in precious 15 points in the 1500 and Abdi Moaw 12 in the 5000.
With the task at hand being a top 8 finish to qualify for the final the job was completed as the men placed 5th. Both squads now look forward to July 28.
