Full Weekend Report
Date: 12/1/08
Togher athletes had a busy weekend competing in the Celtic International Cross-Country in Edinburgh, the AAI Games in Nenagh and the Munster Senior Cross-Country championships in Tipperary.
Craig Murphy traveled to Edinburgh as part of large group of Irish athletes for the Celtic International Cross-Country championships. The races were held in the wonderful surroundings of Hollyrood Park and the weather conditions were perfect for the athletes. The junior men were forced to line up in the same race as the Senior International men and it was held over a tough undulating 9.4km course. The early pace was fast as expected with the Africans setting a relentless pace led by the great Kenenisa Bekele. With over 100 athletes in the race Craig settled nicely towards the middle of the field and gradually worked his way forward. He ran a very strong race finishing in 42nd place and 6th junior man. This was all the more impressive as it was his first race since November and he is looking to produce his best form in early March and gain selection for the World Cross-Country Championships in Edinburgh. As expected Bekele won the race with Zersenay Tadese 2nd. The Irish junior mens team came 2nd. Congratulations also to Shane Coffey who took part in the Great Winter run 5km road race that preceded the Cross-Country races. Shane finished in 12th place out of 1700 competitors held on a very tough hilly course.
At the Munster Senior & Junior Cross-Country championships in Tipperary Togher had a senior mens team in action. The race was held over 10km on a tough course. Eoin O’ Sullivan ran a very strong race coming home in 15th place and he was followed closely by Kieran Ryan in 20th. They were ably assisted by Dan Weaver in 34th, Elton Heffernan 35th and Donal Coakley 42nd. The team finished in 4th place narrowly missing out on the bronze medals. Next up for the team is the National Intermediate Cross-Country championships in Wexford on February 10th.
The Indoor season got underway with the staging of the AAI Games in Nenagh. Marian Andrews opened her season with victory in the 400m with a time of 57.8 and will surely get faster over the coming weeks. The mens 400m had four Togher athletes competing and in heat number one Kieran Ware finished 3rd but no time is available. Next up was Kevin Walsh in the 2nd heat and he finished 3rd in 52.91. In the 3rd heat Ronan Foolkes produced one of his best ever indoor performances finishing 3rd in a time of 52.38. The last Togher man in action was Eoin Joyce in heat number four which he won with ease in 54.56 and he also won heat nine of the 200m. Tim Healy continued his outstanding recent form with yet another personal best with a time of 14.24 in the mens 3km walk. All in all a good start to the indoor season by the Togher athletes and I am sure coaches Frank Doherty and John Hayes are happy with the performances.
Next competitions up for Togher athletes include the D.C.U Schools Invitational Cross-Country championships on Wednesday and the Munster Senior & Junior Indoor T&F championships in Nenagh on Sunday. Best of luck to all the athletes competing. Also congratulations to Togher athletes Robert Heffernan, Craig Murphy, Shane Coffey and Peter Fennell who are award winners at the annual Cork athletics awards night. The event will be held in the Imperial Hotel on Friday January 18th at 8pm.
Photos from Edinburgh (including Bekele and co!!)
Togher athletes had a busy weekend competing in the Celtic International Cross-Country in Edinburgh, the AAI Games in Nenagh and the Munster Senior Cross-Country championships in Tipperary.
Craig Murphy traveled to Edinburgh as part of large group of Irish athletes for the Celtic International Cross-Country championships. The races were held in the wonderful surroundings of Hollyrood Park and the weather conditions were perfect for the athletes. The junior men were forced to line up in the same race as the Senior International men and it was held over a tough undulating 9.4km course. The early pace was fast as expected with the Africans setting a relentless pace led by the great Kenenisa Bekele. With over 100 athletes in the race Craig settled nicely towards the middle of the field and gradually worked his way forward. He ran a very strong race finishing in 42nd place and 6th junior man. This was all the more impressive as it was his first race since November and he is looking to produce his best form in early March and gain selection for the World Cross-Country Championships in Edinburgh. As expected Bekele won the race with Zersenay Tadese 2nd. The Irish junior mens team came 2nd. Congratulations also to Shane Coffey who took part in the Great Winter run 5km road race that preceded the Cross-Country races. Shane finished in 12th place out of 1700 competitors held on a very tough hilly course.
At the Munster Senior & Junior Cross-Country championships in Tipperary Togher had a senior mens team in action. The race was held over 10km on a tough course. Eoin O’ Sullivan ran a very strong race coming home in 15th place and he was followed closely by Kieran Ryan in 20th. They were ably assisted by Dan Weaver in 34th, Elton Heffernan 35th and Donal Coakley 42nd. The team finished in 4th place narrowly missing out on the bronze medals. Next up for the team is the National Intermediate Cross-Country championships in Wexford on February 10th.
The Indoor season got underway with the staging of the AAI Games in Nenagh. Marian Andrews opened her season with victory in the 400m with a time of 57.8 and will surely get faster over the coming weeks. The mens 400m had four Togher athletes competing and in heat number one Kieran Ware finished 3rd but no time is available. Next up was Kevin Walsh in the 2nd heat and he finished 3rd in 52.91. In the 3rd heat Ronan Foolkes produced one of his best ever indoor performances finishing 3rd in a time of 52.38. The last Togher man in action was Eoin Joyce in heat number four which he won with ease in 54.56 and he also won heat nine of the 200m. Tim Healy continued his outstanding recent form with yet another personal best with a time of 14.24 in the mens 3km walk. All in all a good start to the indoor season by the Togher athletes and I am sure coaches Frank Doherty and John Hayes are happy with the performances.
Next competitions up for Togher athletes include the D.C.U Schools Invitational Cross-Country championships on Wednesday and the Munster Senior & Junior Indoor T&F championships in Nenagh on Sunday. Best of luck to all the athletes competing. Also congratulations to Togher athletes Robert Heffernan, Craig Murphy, Shane Coffey and Peter Fennell who are award winners at the annual Cork athletics awards night. The event will be held in the Imperial Hotel on Friday January 18th at 8pm.
Photos from Edinburgh (including Bekele and co!!)
