2020 Kilkenny Graded Meet

Aug 17, 2020

TOP ATHLETES COMPETE AT KILKENNY GRADED ATHLETICS MEET

Competitions are like gold dust this year. The pandemic has seen to that. So when one comes on the horizon, spaces are at a premium. It took just under 3 hours before all the entries to the Kilkenny County Board athletics event held last Sunday were sold out. Entries opened on Tuesday and by Tuesday afternoon, the waiting list to compete in this event was getting as long as this pandemic is lasting. In March the spate of cancellations started with the Schools International Cross Country. This was followed with the National Indoors at all levels. With schools closed the National Schools Athletics Association cancelled all Schools competitions. By early May Counties and Leinster championships were off the cards. The National Juveniles were erased a few weeks ago and the National Juniors and Masters are looking dubious at this stage – depending on whether the gatherings move to 500. As it is the only competitions left at National Level is the Seniors and u23s. Which already has had to exclude lockdown counties.

Dublin managed to run some graded meetings – all sold out within an hour within this populous zone. In response to the recent Juvenile and doubtful Junior and Masters events – Kilkenny Athletics saw an opportunity for athletes across the county and country to end their season with a competition. For others it was a welcome chance to get in a much needed race in advance of the national seniors next weekend.

A new national record in the hurdles, PB’s galore across all events – it was undoubtedly a success story as far as events go and with everyone so gracious for being able to compete, it was an undoubted success. Operated under strict COVID regulations, it was not as difficult to operate as first thought, especially when everyone attending was so mindful of making this work. It is so good to have athletes and officials who adhere to the regulations.

Athletes came from Kerry, Galway, Dublin, Meath and a whole host of other counties – contributing to a great competition. The hurdles saw Pascal Hally of Waterford AC break the national masters over 45 hurdles record. With John Fagan of Clonliffe doing a mighty 53.58 to take the men’s title from Oisin McRory of Raheny. The ladies saw our own county athlete – Sophie Jackman (St Senans) take the ladies title from from Caoimhe Rowe (Trim) with Clodagh Monahan (St Senans) in 3d.

Moving on to the 100m. There were over 30 entered with some class action from David Murphy (Gowran) to take the mens title from Charles Okafor (Mullingar). Callan Byrne (KCH) was 3rd. Grace Rooney (Youghal) led the ladies home with Megan Lynch (Lios Tuathail) 2nd and Melissa Ahern (Riocht) 3rd. It is a long way from Kerry to Kilkenny but it was worth it.

The 400s again attracted alot of entries with four races in the mens. Jamie Pender (St Abbans) recording 48.68 to take the title form Jack Manning KCH (49.45) and Michael Bowler (Enniscorthy) – 50.26. Meanwhile the fastest lady of the day was Kate Bergin (Moyne AC) – the winner of the second of the two female races.

The 1500m proved a very exciting race for the ladies with four athletes locked together at the front for most of the way. In the end it was Faye Durvan (Tallaght AC) who out sprinted Greta Streimikyte (Dublin Track Club) to record a winning time of 4.39. Aoibhinn McGoldrick (Raheny) was 3rd with Meaths Holly Brennan (Cilles Ac) in 4th.

The mens was a Dublin 1,2 and 3 with Louis O’Loughlin (Donore) getting the better of clubmate Abdel Laadjel to win in a new PB of 3.56. Abdel also recorded a PB of 4.03 with another PB for the 3rd placed and u17 athlete Dara O’Donohue (Lucan Harriers) who ran 4.06.

The wheelchair athletes at last got a chance to compete. This was their first outing this year and it was a triple win for National record holder Cillian Dunne (Borrisakane) in the 100m, 400m and 1500m over Le Cheile athlete Sean McCullagh.

The field events proved very exciting with the opening event the Mens Javelin producing a PB for St Senans AC u17 athlete Peter McDonald with a mighty throw of 48.99 to be placed 3rd. The overall competition was won by Rory Gunning (Clonliffe) with a throw of 59.73 – that 60m barrier would just not budge. Kilkenny Carlow RDO Shane Aston of Trim AC was 3rd. It was great to see Euan Caniffe of Boyne AC back in action again after his injury last year. Aoibhinn Gordon was delighted to make the trip from Greystones in Wicklow this morning to take the ladies Javelin with a new PB of 34.85 to clinch that victory over Saidhbhe Byrne (Enniscorthy).

The ladies shot produced a fine win for Libby Murphy (St Senans AC) with a new PB of 9.94. Libby’s is u16 and had her last competition at the Leinster Juvenile indoors last March where she was 3rd. Mary Fitzgearld (Gowran) won the Para event with a new PB. Some excellent throwing from the ladies today – most thrilled with their first competition in so many months.

The mens shot saw Callum Keating of North Cork throw another sequence of powerful putts. His furthest today was 14.72 with Bandon AC decathlete Diarmuid O’Connor 2nd and Tadgh Connolly (St Senans) 3rd. Great throwing by Ted Doyle of St Senans AC with a new competition PB of 10.78 to finish 7th.

The mens discus saw some phenomenal throwing by young Cory Scanlon of Finsk Valley when as an u15 athlete moving up to throw the u16 weight of 1.5kg he beat all the senior and junior athletes to win the competition with a new PB of 44.03 – beating his old PB with a 1kg discus by over a meter. 2nd was Michael Healy of Youghal with 40.51 and 3rd was Padraig Hoar of DMP with 40.45. With athletes from as far away as Ennis – the 14 strong squad made a great event. Kilkenny interest included athletes from the well known Brow Rangers AC and St Senans AC.
The ladies title went to Kiana Nolan (SLOT) with Aisling O’Brien (DMP) and Emma Kelly (Brow Rangers) occupying 2nd and 3rd.

The seated throws were won by Cian O’Niell in both Javelin and shot.

A big thank you to all the organisers on the day and especially to all those from all the clubs who participated and made this event something great. Some travelled over 5 hours. Finally a big thank you to all the officials who assisted at the events. We sure an run a mighty event here in Kilkenny.

Results

Mens 400m Hurdles: 1 John FAGAN (Clonliffe Harriers) A.C. 53.58 2 Oisin MCCORRY (Raheny Shamrock) 56.54 3 Paschal HALLEY (Waterford A.C.) 1:05.50 4 Ronan GATELY (DSD) 1:09.02

Ladies 400m Hurdles: 1 Sophie JACKMAN (St. Senans) 1:09.44 2 Caoimhe ROWE (Trim) 1:11.10   3 Clodagh MONAHAN (St. Senans) 1:12.24 4 Eimear HALPIN (Menapians) 1:14.26

Masters Men 100m: 1 Sean CARMODY (Leevale)12.52 2 Padraig CRAWFORD (Gowran) 12.96 3 Tom CORRIGAN (Gowran) 13.07 4 Finbarr WHELAN (Liscarroll) 13.21 5 John LEAMY (Gowran) 13.38 6 75 Paschal HALLEY (Waterford) 13.39 7 Ronan GATELY (DSD) 13.41 8 John O`CONNOR (Enniscorthy)  14.31

100m Senior Men Race 1: 1 Joseph WALLACE (Ratoath) 11.47 2 Diarmuid O`CONNOR (Bandon) 11.49 3 Andrew EGAN (Galway City Harriers) 11.51 4 Dylan ROBERTS (Bandon) 11.82 5 Dara O`NEILL (Tramore). 12.38 6 Louis O`CONNELL (Lios Tuathail) 12.40

100m Senior Men Race 2: 1 David MURPHY (Gowran) 11.00 2 Charles OKAFOR( Mullingar Harriers) 11.18 3 64 Callan BYRNE (KCH) 11.26 4 Michael BOWLER (Enniscorthy) 11.28 5 Jack MANNING (KCH) 11.29 6 Kaodichinma OGBENE (Leevale) 11.30 7 Shane ASTON (Trim) 11.42

Women 100m: 1 Grace ROONEY (Yougha). 13.18 2 Megan LYNCH  (Lios Tuathail) 13.36 3 Melissa AHERN (An Riocht) 13.54 4 Nicole WALKER (An Riocht) 13.69 5 Nichola TIGHE (Waterford) 14.09 6 Genevieve ROWLAND (Templemore) 14.48 7 Margaret O`CONNOR( Enniscorthy) 14.96

100m Wheelchair: 1 Cillian DUNNE Borrisokane 16.72 2 Sean MCCULLAGH  Le Cheile 17.21

Mens 400m: Masters: 1 Sean CARMODY Leevale 56.98 2 Darren EVANS (Gowran) 59.14 3 Tom HALLEY (Waterford) 59.86 4 John LEAMY (Gowran)1:00.71 5 Adrian CUNNINGHAM (Gowran) 1:01.35

Senior Men Race 1: 1 Dara O`NEILL (Tramore) 54.07 2 58  Tom CORRIGAN (Gowran) 58.77 3 Tony FITZGERALD (Dooneen) 59.94 4 Yevgeniy CHIZHIKOV (West Waterford) 1:03.16 5 Tim RYAN (Dooneen) 1:03.98

Senior Men Race 2:   1 Eoghan SHANLEY (Lucan Harriers) 53.32 2 Sean HAYES (Nenagh Olympic) 55.55 3 Jordan KNIGHT (St. Joseph’s) 51.20

Senior Men Race 3: 1 Jamie PENDER (St Abbans) 48.68 2 Jack MANNING (KCH) 49.45 3 Michael BOWLER Enniscorthy 50.26 4 Lee BYRNE (Rathfarnham W.S.A.F.) 50.63

Senior Ladies 400m: Race 1: 1 Carol KEARNEY  (Lucan Harriers) 1:07.34 2 Rachel BUTLER (Moyne) 1:07.63 3 Alison BUTLER (An Riocht) 1:10.29 4 Angelina CHIZHIKOVA (West Waterford) 1:19.72

Race 2: 1 Kate BERGIN (Moyne)  1:01.59 2 Ailbhe WHITE (Menapians) 1:04.33

Wheelchair 400m: 1 Cillian DUNNE Borrisokane  58.63 2 Sean MCCULLAGH Le Cheile  1:00.77

Mens 1,500m: Race 1: 1 Sean GEOGHEGAN  (St Abbans) 4:06.13 2 Niall SHEEHAN(Gowran)4:21.29 3 Patrick LENNON (Gowran) 4:22.48 4 William KELLY (St Abbans) 4:24.88 5 Dean ROWE (Gowran) 4:31.97 6 Harry COLBERT (Waterford) 4:38.55 7 Ben KIELY (Waterford)4:42.58 8 Cillian DUNNE(Gowran)4:42.70 9 Peter ELLICKSON (Waterford) 4:43.16 10 Adrian CUNNINGHAM (Gowran) 4:45.33 11 Micheal CUDDIHY (Waterford) 5:02.83 12 Enzo MARY (Waterford) 5:10.97

Race 2: 1 Louis O`LOUGHLIN (Donore Harriers) 3:56.90 2 Abdel LAADJEL (Donore Harriers) 4:03.49 3 Dara DONOHUE (Lucan Harriers)  4:06.98 4 Matteo MARY  (Waterford) 4:08.43 5 Cathal O`REILLY (KCH) 4:08.94 6 Gavin CURTIN (Donore Harriers) 4:09.24 7 Ben KEANE (Waterford) 4:11.30 8 Dean RYAN (Newbridge) 4:13.19 9 Aidan BURKE  (Waterford) 4:16.78 10 James KELLY  (Castlecomer)  4:18.47 11 Dylan MCLAUGHLIN(KCH) 4:21.75 12 Mark BLACKWELL  (West Waterford)  4:39.87

Ladies 1,500m: 1 Faye DERVAN (Tallaght) 4:39.26 2 Greta STREIMIKYTE (Dublin Track Club) 4:39.60 3 Aoibhinn MCGOLDRICK (Raheny Shamrock) 4:41.35 4 Holly BRENNAN  (Cilles) 4:46.19 5 Sile MULDOWNEY (Liffey Valley) 5:00.47 6 Anna DUFFIN (Waterford) 5:08.85 7 Aoife ALLEN (St. Senans) 5:17.58 8 Emer MCGLYNN(Waterford) 5:22.66 9 Bonnie MCFEAT  (Dunboyne)  5:24.72 10 Aoife LANIGAN  (St. Joseph’s) 5:38.97

Wheelchair 1,500m: 1 136 Cillian DUNNE Borrisokane 4:20.07 2 Sean MCCULLAGH  (Le Cheile)  4:31.02

Javelin Men: 1 Rory GUNNING (Clonliffe Harriers)  59.73 2 Shane ASTON  (Trim) 53.80 3 Peter MCDONALD  (St. Senans) 48.99 4 Euan CANNIFFE (Boyne) 47.36 5 Diarmuid O`CONNOR (Bandon) 42.66

Shot Putt Ladies: 1 Libby MURPHY (St. Senans) 9.94 2 Saidhbhe BYRNE  (Enniscorthy)  9.32 3 Genevieve ROWLAND  (Templemore) 9.22 4 Catriona TWOMEY (KCH) 9.12 5 Cliodhna MANNINGK (KCH) 8.61 6 Emma KELLY ((Brow Rangers)) 8.55 7 Rachel POWER West (Waterford)  8.31 8 Cliona QUIRKE(Brow Rangers) 7.97 9 Mary FITZGERALD (Gowran) 7.27 10 Aislinn O`REGAN (West Waterford)  6.14 11 Mary BREEN (St. Joseph’s) 5.57

Javelin Ladies: 1 Ailbhe GORDON (Greystones & District) 34.85 2 Saidhbhe BYRNE  (Enniscorthy) 34.28 3 Amy WHELAN (Liscarroll)  31.76 4 Catriona TWOMEY (KCH)  27.11 5 Margaret O`CONNOR  (Enniscorthy) 21.77 6 Mary BREEN (St. Joseph’s) 9.15

Discus Mens: 1 Cory SCANLON (Finisk Valley) 44.03 2 Michael HEALY (Youghal) 40.51 3 Padraig HORE (D.M.P). 40.45 4 Diarmuid O`CONNOR ( Bandon) 36.85 5 Euan CANNIFFE (Boyne) 35.70 6 Noah MCCONWAY (Ennis Track)  35.17 7 Tadgh CONNOLLY (St. Senans) 34.73 8 Kieran KELLY (Brow Rangers) 30.98 9 Sean MULLARKEY  (West Waterford)  30.68 10 Patrick DARCY (Brow Rangers) 28.30 11 Joe ROCHE (St. Senans) 28.04 12 Adam KELLY (Brow Rangers) 27.35 13 Paul MULLARKEY  (West Waterford)  25.99 14 Ted DOYLE (St. Senans) 23.75

Ladies Discus: 1 Kiana NOLAN (St. L. O’Toole)  30.29 2 Aisling O`BRIEN (D.M.P.) 30.13 3 Emma KELLY (Brow Rangers) 26.80 4 Eimear HALPIN (Menapians) 24.92 5 Mary FITZGERALD (Gowran) 20.80 6 Aislinn O`REGAN (West Waterford)  15.45

Shot Putt Mens: 1 Callum KEATING (North Cork) 14.72 2 Diarmuid O`CONNOR  (Bandon) 13.50 3 Tadgh CONNOLLY  (St. Senans) 12.88 4 Cory SCANLON (Finisk Valley) 12.40 5 Noah MCCONWAY (Ennis Track) 11.81 6 Padraig HORE (D.M.P.) 11.74 7 Ted DOYLE (St. Senans) 10.78 8 Sean MULLARKEY (West Waterford)  10.59 9 Paul MULLARKEY (West Waterford)  10.29 10 Adam KELLY(Brow Rangers)  9.96 11 Patrick DARCY (Brow Rangers)  9.73 12 Joe ROCHE (St. Senans) 9.57

Seated Throws: Javelin: 1 Cian O`NEILL 19.82

Seated Throws Discus: 1 Cian O`NEILL 24.97