Athletics

Wednesday, 4th July 2012

Barr's brilliant in Helsinki

Last week at the European Athletic championships in Helsinki a brother and sister from Ferrybank AC Thomas and Jessie Barr rose to the occasion magnificently in their 400 Metres Hurdle Races at their first major Senior Championships.

Jessie with top performances in her heat and semi final made it through to the final where eventually after three top class races in as many days she had no more to give eventually finishing 8 th in the final where fatigue took its toll. On day One in her heat she finished 2nd in 50.59 seconds easily going through, the next day she clocked a personal best of 55.93 in finishing fourth to go through to the final as one of the fastest losers and on day 3 she clocked 56.83 in the final. The (A) Olympic Qualification mark is 55.50 and Jessie is just outside it but she has the (B) standard. After her performances in Helsinki it would appear that there is great case for her to be given the chance in the Olympics.

Thomas too had an excellent Championships as he finished second in his heat on Wednesday in 50.59 to make the semi final easily and then in the semi final on Thursday- the fastest of the three semi's held- he finishes fifth again improving his season's best time to 50.22 seconds and again at just 19 years of age he is close to the Olympic Standards which are 49.50 for the (A) and 49.80 for the (B) he has a best time of 50.08. Either way both will now have great opportunities to get into the major races around Europe and look to have exciting careers ahead..

Successful Viking Marathon

The first Annual WLR FM Viking Marathon, Half Marathon and Relay was a great success with almost 1800 competitors taking part ranging in many ages from late teens up to the over 70 category. The race was started outside City Hall by Waterford's Marathon Olympic silver medallist John Treacy at 9am after Mayor Jim Darcy had greeted the runners there. The eventual winner Bryan Murphy, Carrick-on-Suir led from an early stage and despite encountering several difficult moments in the last mile or so he won easily from Frank Quinlan, Waterford who too had some problems, Peter Hickey was third. Angela McCann, Clonmel won the ladies section comfortably from Mags Kirwan-Bolger from Kill who ran a great race and Ann Marie Holland, Eagle AC, Cork was third. Alan Corcoran who had completed 34 marathons in successive days made it 35 as he finished in Waterford on Saturday. Seventy four year old Kay O'Regan from Slaney Olympic in Wexford completed the course her 108th marathon as did the well known Paddy Grace from Lisduggan in the over 70 category. The sole wheelchair competitor was Gerry Forde from Co Cork.

Marathon Results

Men: 1. B. Murphy, Carrick-on-Suir 2.38.36; 2. F. Quinlan, Waterford 2.42.08; 3. P. Mooney 2.44.32; 4. M. Morgan, St Finbarr's 2.46.52; 5. T. Kelly, Nth Sligo 2.47.34; 6. G. Brady Donore Hrs 2.49.33; O40 T. Kelly, Nth Sligo; O45 G. Taylor, O50 B Ryan, Tallaght; O55 E. Doherty, Sliabh Bhui Rovers; O60 E. Whelan, Nth Sligo; O70 P. Grace, Waterford. Women: 1. A. McCann Clonmel, 2.51.14; 2. M. Kirwan Bolger, Waterford 3.01.20; 3, A.M. Holland Eagle 3.04.06; 4. E. Murphy St Finbarr's 3.15.48; 5. A.M. O'Grady KCH 3.23.09; 6. D. Behan, Waterford 3.24.10; O35 A.M. Holland; O40 A. McCann, O45 M. Kirwan Bolger; O50 A. Srarvrou, St. Finbarr's; O55 M. Ryan Jennings Waterford; O60 T. Gough, West Waterford; O70 C. O'Regan, Slaney Olympic. First Team: Sarah S Honey

Half Marathon Results

Men: 1. A. Thompson 1.17.41; 2. F. Walsh Waterford 1.18.02; 3. A. Storey do 1.21.29; O40 M. O'Mahony Waterford; O45 M. Dunford, West

Waterford, O50 G. Cantwell do; O55 T. Burns Waterford; O60 P. Moore

Dungarvan. Women: 1. T. Cunningham Carrick on Suir 1.32.04; 2. J. Lacy

1.34.52,; 3. L. Nyhan West Waterford.1.36.03; O35 J. Lacy, O40 T. Cunningham, O45 J. Brazil Waterford; O50 B. Prendergast West Waterford, o 55 H Kennedy; O60 J. Matthew ; O70 M. Walls. 1800 competed overall

World Junior championships

Kate Veale West Waterford AC and Ben Kiely Ferrybank AC are both on the Irish Team for the World Junior Championships in Barcelona from July 10th to 14th. Kate goes in the 10 KM Walk final and Ben in the 400 Metres Hurdle heats, both on Wednesday morning July 11th.

Woodies DIY All Ireland Senior Championships this week end

Santry Stadium is the venue on Saturday and Sunday next for the All Ireland Senior Track and Field championships and all the country's leading athletes will be competing including all the Waterford stars. Last year four athletes from Waterford won titles Jessie and Thomas Barr both 400 Metres Hurdles, Cara Kennedy Hammer all three with Ferrybank and Kate Veale West Waterford 5000 Metres Walk. It looks as if three will be defending them as Kate is out of the country preparing for the World junior Championships in Barcelona from 10 to 14 th July. The above three will be fancied to retain their titles and others expected to figure prominently are Kelly Proper, Niamh Whelan, Billy Ryan, Chris Russell Ferrybank and the Houlihan's from West Waterford in the Pole Vault Thomas and Lisa, Zoe Scanlon and Clare Collins. This is probably the last chance that athletes have to get a qualifying time for the Olympics

Jamie's Last try

On Sunday at a meeting in Norway Jamie Costin competes in a 20 KM Walk in his final attempt to get an ( A )qualifying standard for the Olympics. He tried the 50 Km without success and hopes he can do the job for the 20 km on Sunday.

Lots of Juvenile wins

In Cork on Saturday and Sunday last at the Munster u 14 to 19 Championships there were many winners from Ferrybank and West

Waterford and also from Waterford AC and Tramore. The Ferrybank winners were Orlaith O'Brien u 14 Javelin and Shot Putt, Paul Murphy u17 400 M , Niamh Giles Doran u 17 Long Jump, Stephen Murphy u 16 200 M, Neasa Murphy u 16 High Jump, Aisling Quinn u 16 1500 M, Sorcha Murphy u 18 High Jump, Conor Giles Doran u 14 Hammer, Nicole Rowe u 18 Steeplechase, Girls u 17 and u 18 relay. The West Waterford winners were Jamie Mc Kelvie u15 Discus, Sarah Keoghan u 17 Pole Vault, Seamie Fennell u 16 Pole Vault, Lce Houlihan u 19 Pole Vault Josh Rockett u 15 Hammer, Laura Connors u 17 High Jump, For Tramore

Emannuel Ogbonna won the Triple jump u 18 and was second in Long Jump, Damon Crowley was 3rd u17 3000 Metres, for Waterford AC Richard Lucas won the 800 M u 19, Kathleen Heery the Javelin u 14

Glaxo Smithkline 5 Miles on Friday

The 13 th Annual Glaxo Smithkline 5 Miles Road Race is in Dungarvan on Friday next July 5th at 8 pm.Its race 8 in the Ger Wyley Sports Series. Entries will be taken at the Dungarvan United Football Club Pavillion, Kilrush, Dungarvan from 6.45 pm.