Day 1 of the Woodies DIY National track and field yielded three national titles for Clonliffe athletes and medals in four other events. First title of the day came from Tomas Rauktys in the shot put. While Tomas has been in fine form of late, the shot may not have been his favoured event, however, with a best of 17.03 he turned the table on defending champion Sean Breathnach (GCH) to reverse last year`s result. Also in the field events Simon Phelan was joint first in the high jump with St. Abbans Barry Pender with a best of 2.05m. Andrew Heney was just out of the medals after a 2.00 clearance in 4th place.
On the track Mark Kenneally ran the field ragged in the 10,000 leading from the off Mark began tightening the screw after 4/5 laps, opening a lead on Joe Sweeney and Eddie McGinley that grew and grew as proceedings wore on, at the finish Mark had lapped the entire field up to and including Sweeney in 3rd place, to win in a time of 29.21.69. An excellent run on the track also from Gary O’Hanlon (30.44.91) finishing 4th and only two seconds off bronze as he hacked into Sweeney`s lead over him reducing the gap from 100m plus at one stage to touching distance at the line.
In the javelin Denise Byrne won national silver with a best of 41.63, only 8cms off her club record. Leah Moore had a great run in the 200m finishing 3rd to claim national bronze (24.32), Sophia Ellis was 7th in 24.92. Also in the 200s, Brian Gregan, the national indoor champion was 3rd in 21.34. There were three Clonliffe men in the final: national u/23 champion Paul Whelan 7th in 22.14 and Patrick O`Connor 8th in 22.46. Bronze also for the men`s 4 x 100 relay squad (45.45)
Other Clonliffe today Caoimhe Morris 11th in the hammer (37.71) and then 8th in the discus (31.43), Nadine Lattimore 11th in the discus (18.69), Lorna Begley 6th in her 800 heat (2.20.40), Kris Valters 3rd in his 800 heat in 1.55.20 with Mark McDonald 6th in his in 1.55.53, neither progressing to tomorrow`s final. Eoin Pierce, however, did qualify for the 1500 final after a gutsy run in the final heat, the fastest, Eoin running a very positive race and was rewarded with a time of 3.53.53 and a place in tomorrow`s final. Edgar Sumskis with a time of 3.59.38, however, didn`t progress.