Jul 9, 2011 [Noel Guiden ] The Clonliffe 125 Track and Field Grand Prix served up a thrilling nights athletics in the Morton Stadium last night. The highlight of the Meet was the Morton Mile won by crowd favourite Jordan McNamara (USA) in 3:56.83, McNamara leading seven athletes under the magical sub four minutes including the newest and youngest members of the Irish sub four minute mile club Ciaran O`Lionaird (Leevale) in 3:57.99 and Paul Robinson becoming the youngest Irishman to run sub four minutes in a time of 3:59.99.
The night was perfect for athletics. A nice warm summer evening, not a drop of rain and wind free. A night that would suit all the athletes from sprinters to milers to field eventers. It was also very pleasing to see a sizeable crowd in the Morton Stadium numbering in excess of 1000 athletics fans.
It was an athletics event that had something for everyone with the involvement in the Meet of a pre programme of races for juvenile athletes and also the elite athletes from Paralympics Ireland. The evening got underway with the unveiling by 1956 Olympic 1500 metre gold medallist Ronnie Delany of an audio plinth which commemorated the historic events of Santry from August 1958, the plinth being unveiled by Mr. Barry O Brien of the National Sports Campus Development Authority, Ronnie Delany and Billy Mortons daughter Yvonne.
On track the sprinters got the Meet underway and with the first race of the evening the womens 100 metres it was clear we were in for a special night�s athletics with all ten lanes being filled by arguably the best field of female sprinters gathered for an event such as this and in an absolute thriller Amy Foster prevailed winning the race and in the process setting a new stadium record and equalling the Northern Ireland record of 11.49. Foster�s run was 100th of a second faster than the stadium record of Donita Benjamin set on the 29th of July 2000. In 2nd place was Kelly Proper of Ferrybank AC 11.60 and 3rd in 11.86 Joan Healy of Bandon AC. Seven of the ten ladies set personal best times in this race!
Next up was the Brew Crew Mens 100, again all ten lanes of the track were filled. There was a great battle in this race which was won in considerable style by City of Derry AC�s Jason Smyth who got the crowd on their feet as he powered to a win in a very fast 10.39, in 2nd place was our Jamaican guest Kemar Bailey-Cole 10.45 and in 3rd place from Ferrybank AC Chris Russell 10.63. Jason Smyth had a notable double as later in the Meet he also won the 200 metres in another fast time, 20.94, Smyth`s first sub 21 200, in a very tight finish with Rolando Palacios of Honduras who ran 20.97. Chris Russell was again 3rd 21.11.
The Clonliffe Junior Mens Mile was won in considerable style by Raheny Shamrock Timmy Moriarty. This was a very good race which in the initial stages was led out by Liam Brady of Tullamore Harriers with Moriarty and Clonliffe�s Ian Guiden for company, these three pulled away from the chasing pack with Moriarty taking up the running at about 600 to go and winning in fine style in 4:23.76 from Brady 4:24.41 and Guiden 4:27.86 (a PB).
The IMC races provided great excitement with very close races in the 800s and very fast times to boot.
The A race was won by young Mark English (Letterkenny AC) in a fast 1:48.96 just holding off U/23 Euro-bound Anthony Lieghio (1:49.20) with Brian Kelly 3rd, another man to go sub 1:50 � 1:49.53.
In the IMC 800 B race Karl Griffin of Tir Chonill was the class of the field and got one of the biggest cheers of the night as he glided to an unbelievable time for a 16 year old of 1:50.94 from Gareth Hill (Ballymena & Antrim) 1:53.57 and Fintan Reilly (Dunleer AC) 1:54.28.
In the IMC Womens 800 pre-race favourite Ciara Mageean justified the favourite tag as she recorded a fine win in another fast time 2:03.21 from Laura Crowe (Riocht AC) 2:05.41 and DSD up and coming star Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner 2:06.57.
Fast times were also the order of the day in the IMC 1500 metres with Daire Bermingham of Raheny Shamrocks taking a fine win in a time of 3:50.46 from Alberto Sanchez (Sligo AC) 3:51.46 and Michael McKillop (St. Malachys) 3:52.53. The IMC Womens 1500 was won by Deirdre Doyle (Tinryland AC) 4:34.06 from Clonliffe girl Eleanor Alexander 4:35.94.
At 8.20 p.m. the Morton Milers were led on to the track and commentator Liam Moggan introduced them to a man to the crowd. Five minutes later the starters gun went and the 2011 Morton Mile was underway led out by pacemaker Feilim Kelly who did a fantastic job getting the athletes bang on target at halfway. Ciaran OLionaird was always in at the head of things as he had that sub four firmly in his sights. At the bell it was anyones race, however, at the final bend the very classy looking Jordan McNamara took off and crossed the line arms aloft as the crowd who had really got behind the athletes in the race, rose to acknowledge a worthy Morton Mile champion. McNamaras time was 3:56.83, a PB, as he was followed home by countryman Brandon Bethke 3:57.34 and first Irishman and first time under sub-four Ciaran O�Lionaird 3:57.99, 4th from Australian James Kaan 3:58.19, 5th Craig Miller (USA) 3:58.41, 6th Jack Bolas, last year�s runner up, 3:58.75 and 7th and also sub-four, and for the first time and becoming Irelands youngest sub-four minute miler Paul Robinson (St. Cocas AC). There were also excellent runs which were four minutes dead from Sean Connolly (Tallaght AC) 4:00.14 and John Coghlan (MSB) 4:00.79. Clonliffes Conor Healy also made a massive breakthrough taking chunks off his PB to run 4:03.35.
A clearly delighted Jordan McNamara received the Billy Morton Memorial Cup from Yvonne and Billie Morton. Also in the presentation party were Olympic gold medallist Ronnie Delany, Clonliffe Harriers President Paddy Marley and on behalf of the sponsors Noel Daly and Noel Guiden.
The action, however, was still not finished as there was an excellent mens 3000 metres race which followed. The 20 plus athletes in this race set off at considerable pace as they chased the 8 minute barrier. In the early stages DSDs Joe Sweeney took things in his own hands as he hit the front and wound up the pace, however, with a couple of laps to go he slipped back into the pack as the Irish U/23 European Cross Country winning team took over proceedings, Michael Mulhare (North Laois) wound the pace up from the front closely followed by Brendan O Neill of DSD. These two opened a gap on the pack, with a lap to go Mulhare had a considerable lead over O Neill with Rooney in 3rd place, however, the Raheny Shamrock man gritted his teeth and made up acres of ground on the last lap overhauling O Neill and then chasing Mulhare all the way down the final straight. At one stage it looked like Rooney would prevail, however, Mulhare held on to win in the end by a margin of half a second. An excellent win in a time of 8:02.08, Rooney 2nd 8:02.59 with Brendan O Neill 3rd 8:03.63. There was a very good run also in this race from Clonliffes Eoin Pearse recording a PB of 8:28.53.
The Pole Vaulters also provided great entertainment on the night particularly our US visitors as Jeff Coover of Team Indiana Elite vaulted one of the highest jumps seen in the Morton Stadium in a long time with a best of 5.30m and then came very close at 5.45m. His countryman Greg Woespse was 2nd with 4.90 with Crusaders Ruairi O�Briain best of the Irish with a seasons best of 4.70.
The discus competition was won by Clonliffes Tomas Racktys with a best of 46.47 from Jeremy Harpur of North Down and David Sweeney of Sli Cualann 3rd.
Ferrybank ACs Kelly Proper was the class of the field in the womens long jump as she recorded a sequence of six jumps all well over 6 meters winning the competition with a best of 6.18. In 2nd place was Chealsea Taylor (USA) 5.85 with Leona Byrne 3rd 5.70.
The performances of some of Paralympics Ireland athletes should also be commented upon as during the course of their events there were two Irish records set, both by Ray O`Dwyer. Firstly in the seated Javelin where he threw an Irish record of 21.20 and then in the seated shot where he recorded a best of 9.27m for his second Irish record of the night.
In all it was a great night in the Morton Stadium. The crowd in attendance enjoyed the event as the athletes clearly responded and equally enjoyed the nights proceedings. Post event there was a great gathering in the Clonliffe bar of Clonliffe people past and present, sponsors, supporters and athletes with food, drink, music and crack.
Full results:
100m WomenWIND 0.6
1. Amy Foster – NI – 11.49 (new stadium record)
2. Kelly Proper – Ferrybank AC – 11.60
3. Joan Healy – Bandon AC – 11.86
4. Claire Bergin – DSD – 11.89
5. Catherine McManus – Celtic/DCH – 11.99
6. Aoife MacNeill – DSD – 12.02
7. Leah Moore – Clonliffe Harriers – 12.05
8. Chealsea Taylor – USA – 12.21
9. Sandra Lawlor – Celbridge – 12.27
10. Sharon Kilduff – Clonliffe Harriers – 12.41
100m MenWIND 1.0
1. Jason Smyth – City of Derry AC – 10.39
2. Kemar Bailey-Cole – JAM – 10.44
3. Chris Russell – Ferrybank AC – 10.63
4. Dean Adams – Ballymena & Antrim – 10.92
5. Jamie Davis – Raheny Shamrocks – 11.03
6. Rolando Palacios – HON – 11.10
7. Patrick Phelan – DSD – 11.11
8. Deanna O’Brien – DSD – 11.16
9. Danny Kavanagh – Clonliffe Harriers – 11.19
10. Conor Coleman – Clonliffe Harriers – 11.34
200m MenWIND 1.5
1. Jason Smyth – City of Derry AC – 20.94
2. Rolando Palacios – HON – 20.97
3. Chris Russell – Ferrybank AC – 21.11
4. Mark Kavanagh – DSD – 21.86
5. Kemar Bailey-Cole – JAM – 21.98
6. Eoin Muldowney – Castlecomer AC – 22.13
7. Craig Lynch – Shercock – 22.19
8. Tope Odelade – Crusaders – 23.43
400m Men
1. Nick Hogan – DSD – 48.03
2. Darragh Kervick – Carraig-on-Suir – 48.43
3. Joe Dowling – DSD – 48.48
4. Ciaran Mackey – Clonliffe Harriers – 48.66
5. John Houston – NI – 49.31
6. Paul Scanlon – Leevale – 49.66
7. Brendan Murphy – NI – 49.73
8. Ben Maze – NI – 50.43
Junior Mile
1. Timmy Moriarty – Raheny Shamrock – 4.23.76
2. Liam Brady – Tullamore Harriers – 4.24.41
3. Ian Guiden – Clonliffe Harriers – 4.27.86
4. Liam Ashton – Clonliffe Harriers – 4.40.11
5. Eoin McCullough – Clonliffe Harriers – 4.49.42
6. Colum O’Leary – Raheny Shamrock – 4.50.73
7. Mark Ring – Clonliffe Harriers – 5.01.16
8. Johnny Bradley-Ward – Clonliffe Harriers – 5.07.20
Morton Mile
1. Jordan McNamara – USA – 3.56.83
2. Brandon Bethke – USA – 3.57.34
3. Ciaran O’Lionaird – Leevale AC – 3.57.99
4. James Kaan – AUS – 3.58.19
5. Craig Miller – USA – 3.58..41
6. Jack Bolas – USA – 3.58.75
7. Paul Robinson – St. Cocas – 3.59.99
8. Sean Connolly – Tallaght – 4.00.14
9. John Coghlan – MSB – 4.00.79
10. Brett Robinson – AUS – 4.02.46
11. Conor Healy – Clonliffe Harriers – 4.03.35
12. John Travers – Donore Harriers – 4.04.25
13. Mark Hanrahan – Leevale – 4.04.99
14. Tommy Schmitz – USA – 4.05.59
15. Eoin Everard – KCH – 4.06.26
3000m Men
1. Michael Mulhare – North Laois – 8.02.08
2. Dave Rooney – Raheny Shamrocks – 8.02.59
3. Brendan O’Neill – DSD – 8.03.63
4. Gary Thornton – Galway City Harriers – 8.08.47
5. Conor Bradley – City of Derry – 8.10.26
6. Brian Maher – KCH – 8.10.51
7. Joe Sweeney – DSD – 8.12.85
8. Eddie McGinley – Annadale Striders – 8.13.70
9. Andrew Agnew – Annadale – 8.19.30
10. Sean Hehir – Rathfarnham WSAF – 8.22.70
11. Andrew Monaghan – Lagan Valley – 8.23.45
12. Liam Tremble – MSB – 8.26.17
13. Barry Minnock – Rathfarnham WSAF – 8.28.30
14. Eoin Pearse – Clonliffe Harriers – 8.28.53
15. Pat McCartan – Limerick AC – 8.34.11
16. Dave Fitzmaurice – Clonliffe Harriers – 8.34.56
17. Gary O’Hanlon – Clonliffe Harriers – 8.37.20
18. Sergiu Ciobanu – Clonliffe Harriers – 8.38.26
19. Jarlath Falls – Ballymena & Antrim – 8.43.12
20. Jayme Rossiter – Clonliffe Harriers – 8.45.78
21. Emmet Jennings – DSD – 8.46.99
22. Rory McDonnell – Dunboyne – 8.49.20
IMC 800m Women
1. Ciara Mageean – City of Lisburn AC – 2.03.21
2. Laura Crowe – Riocht AC – 2.05.41
3. Siofra Cleirigh Buttner – DSD AC – 2.06.57
4. Siobhan Eviston – Raheny Shamrocks – 2.08.18
5. Lauren Scott – North Down AC – 2.14.99
6. Emma Mitchell – Banbridge AC – 2.16.38
7. Carol Finn – Leevale AC – 2.18.15
IMC mens 800m A
1. Mark English – Letterkenny AC – 1.48.96
2. Anthony Lieghio – Tallaght AC – 1.49.20
3. Brian Kelly – St. Abbans AC – 1.49.53
4. Tommy Carroll – North Sligo – 1.50.95
5. Darragh Greene – Dunleer AC – 1.50.99
6. Dave Campbell – UCD AC – 1.51.13
7. Robert Yorke – Mullingar Harriers – 1.51.87
8. Jordan Bransberg – Skyrack AC/UK – 1.52.79
9. Danny Mooney – Letterkenny AC – 1.52.83
10. Niall Robinson – North Down AC – 1.53.35
IMC mens 800m B
1. Karl Griffin – Tir Chonill – 1.50.94
2. Gareth Hill – Ballymena & Antrim – 1.53.57
3. Fintan Reilly – Dunleer AC – 1.54.28
4. Adam Ingram – Lagan Valley – 1.54.64
5. Michael Dyer – North Down – 1.54.90
6. Andrew Jenkinson – Clonliffe Harriers – 1.55.08
7. Patrick Hamilton – City of Derry AC – 1.55.26
8. Mark McDonald – Clonliffe Harriers – 1.55.80
9. Ronan Duggan – Bandon AC – 1.56.59
10. Stephen Harkness – Clonliffe Harriers – 1.57.48
11. Jordan Stokes – North Down – 1.57.98
IMC mens 800m C
1. Patrick Linden – Willowfield Harriers – 1.56.89
2. Brian Kirwin – St. Laurence O’Toole – 1.57.90
3. Samuel Millar – Ballymena & Antrim – 1.58.10
4. Derek Winters – Drogheda & District – 1.59.35
5. Graham Power – St Laurence O’Toole – 2.02.26
6. Ronan Daly – Crusaders – 2.02.66
7. Cathal Logue – City of Derry AC – 2.03.03
8. Adam Daly – Mullingar Harriers – 2.03.43
9. Tony Fogarty – Thurles Croke AC – 2.06.08
10. David Grange – Raheny Shamrocks – 2.09.12
11. Thomas Maguire – Fingallians – DNS
IMC 1500m Women
1. Deirdre Doyle – Tinryland AC – 4.34.06
2. Eleanor Alexander – Clonliffe Harriers – 4.35.94
3. Eimear O’Brien – Sligo AC – 4.36.86
4. Kate O’Neill – MSB AC – 4.39.50
5. Mary Ann O’Sullivan – Tinryland AC – 4.45.38
6. Lorna Fitzpatrick – Beechmount Harriers – 5.00.93
7. Amanda Crotty – Paralympics Ireland – 5.36.99
IMC 1500m Men
1. Daire Bermingham – Raheny Shamrocks – 3.50.46
2. Alberto Sanchez – Sligo AC – 3.51.45
3. Michael McKillop – St. Malachys – 3.52.53
4. Tommy Casey – Sligo AC – 3.52.64
5. Sam Kelly – Fingallians – 3.54.42
6. Mihcael Dowling – Ferrybank AC – 3.58.11
7. Owen Carleton – Annadale Striders – 3.59.08
8. Richard Owens – Sli Cualainn – 4.00.28
9. Ray Hynes – Crusaders AC – DNF
10. Shane Quinn – Ferrybank AC – DNS
Women’s Long Jump
1. Kelly Proper – Ferrybank AC – 6.18m
2. Chealsea Taylor – USA – 5.85m
3. Leona Byrne – St. Laurence O’Toole – 5.70m
4. Antoinette Stafford – DMP – 5.59m
Men’s Discus
1. Tomas Rauktys – Clonliffe Harriers – 46.47m
2. Jeremy Harpur – North Down AC – 44.17m
3. David Sweeney Sli Cualann – 36.77m
4. Larry Murtagh – Fr. Murphy AC – 36.43m
Paul Collins – North Westmeath – 1.5k – 42.01
Michael Hanlon – Dunboyne – 1.25k – 42.76
Cormac Ryan – Paralympics Ireland – 1k – 33.37m
Men’s Pole Vault
1. Jeff Coover – Team Indiana Elite – 5.30m
2. Greg Woespse – UCLA – 4.90m
3. Ruairi O’Briain – Crusaders AC – 4.70m
4. Ian Rogers – Clonliffe Harriers – 4.30m
Bobby Talley – UCLA – N/H
David Donegan – Clonliffe Harriers – N/H
Stewart Greene – Raheny – N/H
Tom Houlihan – West Waterford – N/H
Men’s Wheelchair 100m
1. Roy Guerin – 16.50
2. Paul Hannon – 17.61
3. Graham Merrigan – 21.46
4. Noel McCarthy – 29.12
Seated Javelin
1. Ray O’Dwyer – Paralympics Ireland – 21.20 (Irish record)
Women’s Standing Discus
1. Ailish Dunne – Paralympics Ireland – 19.47
2. Nadine Lattimore – 17.45
Seated Discus
1. Jamie Boyle – 30.39
2. Ray O’Dwyer – Paralympics Ireland – 29.25
3. Gareth Culliton – Paralympics Ireland – 16.49
4. Catherine O’Neill – Paralympics Ireland – 5.74
Seated Club
1. John McCarthy – 20.38
2. Catherine O’Neill – Paralympics Ireland – 13.56
Men and Women’s Seated Shot
1. Ray O’Dwyer – Paralympics Ireland – 9.27 (Irish record)
2. Jamie Boyle – Paralympics Ireland – 8.95
3. Eoin Cleare – Paralympics Ireland – 6.97
Men and Women’s Standing Shot
1. Cormac Ryan – Paralympics Ireland – 10.36
2. Ailish Dunne – Paralympics Ireland – 7.13
3. Nadine Lattimore – Paralympics Ireland – 7.00