Second day of Nationals sees Clonliffe take another 7 medals

After the truely awful conditions of yesterday a new bright sunny day dawned for day 2 of the National track and field. The club`s athletes after enjoying an excellent first day with 5 medals gathered were again in inspired form and at the conclusion of proceedings the medal count had risen to a dozen: 5 gold, 3 silver and 4 bronze.

The first Clonliffe athletes in action on track were in the mens 110h where Chris Minn running his first race in the black and amber singlet for a while finished just out of the medals in 4th place (16.43) with Conor McCrossan one place behind (16.72). Dave Flynn was reasonably satisfied with his run in the 3,000sc running one of his fastest times to date (9:04.77) and was particularily strong over the last 600 where he pulled in a number of places finishing 5th. In the 800m final, Conor Healy who had qualified impressively for the final found the pace of the second lap too hot to handle finishing 6th in 1:51.89.

While all this action was going on on the track the club`s pole vaulters were quietly getting on with things, at the competion`s end Ian Rogers held the bronze with 4.60m, Dave Donegan gold with 4.70, and then Dave made a good attempt at a new national record of 5.05 going pretty close.

Speaking of gold Tomas Rauktys made it a superb double gold following yesterday`s shot putt silver with wins in both the discus (51.68m) and the 56 lbs. distance (7.89). Luke Mangan was 5th in that event (6.61). Martin Hunt was an unlucky 4th in the hammer (55.31). Unlucky 4th also for Paul Marry in the javelin (57.18), Marcin Klinkzow was 6th in the event, having been 2nd in yesterday`s high jump. 4th also for Tomas Dorina in the triple jump (13.36m)

Back onto the track for the 5,000m, where Alistair Cragg despite racing a fast 13.21 in Gateshead last night, arrived straight from the airport put on his spikes and was a class apart comfortably retaining his national title in 14:04.64. Young Dave Fitzmaurice was looking very much at home in that race until cramp forced him to call it a day with 1,000 to go.

Our 400m h men both ran very well today John Fagan capping an excellent season with national bronze (52.60) while Jeremy Lyons once again defied father time 6th in 53.04. The 400m caused a bit of a surprise as pre race favourite and defending champion Brian Gregan (46.89) was beaten into second place by Tullamore`s Gordon Kennedy, Kennedy in running 46.57 also getting the European QT. hn Laffey placed 8th (49.27).

Danny Kavanagh qualified for the 100m final where he placed 10th (11.32). Aidan Bailey maybe found today`s 1500m final a race too far as he was run out on the last lap finishing 13th in 3:56.03. In the junior men`s 3,000m Conor McGuinness was 15th (9:25.10) with Mark McKenzie 19th (10:02.68).

Our ladies also performed very well today. Leah Moore making the 100m final where she was 10th (12.33), having placed 4th in yesterday`s 200. Shauna Furman also ran very well in the 100h and was another Clonliffe athlete in the unlucky 4th place (15.54). Sarah Woods in the 400h placed 5th (68.84) and finally Becky Woods was 7th in the 1500m in 4:31.94 with Louise Reilly 10th in 4:33.69.

So really an excellent championship from a Clonliffe perspective with our athletes winning more medals than have been won in many a year, in addition, with a bit of luck some of those seven 4th places could well have been turned into medals. So to all our athletes in action these last two days very very well done.