Weekly Round up - August 16th

Celtic International:

Congrats to Frank O'Brien (Midleton AC) on being selected and competing for Ireland in Scotland in the Senior Boys 2k steeplechase. In a very high standard field Frank placed 4th and is still eligible next year. It is great to see local athletes racing at international level, especially when you can see the hard work that goes in week in week out over the winter and summer to get to this level.


Road Racing Scene:

As we have no athletes in the Diamond leagues track and field is effectively finished up for the year (the exception is Sean will be competing in the world masters in Spain in September and the national Masters is also on this weekend). Cross country is still a few weeks away so the roads are where everyone is chasing times at the end of the summer or trying to find out where their fitness is at leading into the winter sessions ahead.

Kevin O'Leary has continues his impressive form with two wins in two weeks, winning the Marine Bar 6 mile in 34.53 and moving up in the podium in the East Cork Harbour 10k from 3rd in 2016 to win in a healthy 33.49, blowing away the rest of the field in the process.

Conna and Castleyons:

Denis, Phil and John went to Conna to support the St Catherines annual 5k on August 3rd. Denis ran a tidy 20.37, Phil 22.04 and John 25.52. I'll leave it up to you to figure out who is chasing the times and who is gauging fitness!

Denis and John then popped down to nearby Castlelyons a few days later and ran the 4 mile. Denis somehow managed to run a faster pace here then the 5k in Conna, perhaps the expectation of local hero got to him.

The rarely ran 8km distance was the order of the day in Mitchelstown Friday the 10th and John was our sole runner, he completed the route in 46.36. This was won by Clonmels Kevin Mauncell in 23.57.

Musgrave 5km:

Michelle and Niamh tackled the Marina 5k route last night in the Musgrave 5k. Michelle improved her season best by 31 seconds to 22.33 and Niamh also knocked off 40 seconds from her last 5k race in Coolagown in April to finish in 21.27. There must of been something in the water in Ennistymon last weekend!
​