Athletics Roundup by Fintan Walsh, County PRO

Belgian win for Jessie

On Wednesday last at the Flanders Cup meeting in Namur, Belguim Jessie
Barr in her first International race of the season won the 400 Metres
Hurdles in 57.83 seconds and on Sunday last in Loughboro in England
she finished second in another 400 Metres Hurdles event in a slightly
faster time of 57.38 sec, also in Loughboro her brother Thomas won the
a 400 Metres Hurdles race in 51.38 seconds and Niamh Whelan was fifth
in a 200 metres in 25.42 and 7 th in a 100 metres in 12.43. Kelly
Proper was due to compete in Germany last Sunday but withdrew with a
slight injury. From now on all athletes looking for Olympic
Qualification will be attempting to get suitable competition on a
regular basis.

AAI Games

 Santry Stadium was the venue on Sunday last where a number of
athletes from Waterford clubs competed in the AAI Games and there were
two victories. Thomas Houlihan West Waterford AC in winning the Pole
Vault had a personal best of 4.60 Metres and Leona Byrne Ferrybank won
the High Jump and was third in the Sprint Hurdles, Chris Russell do
was second in the 100 Metres and third placings were secured by Gavin
Downey 1500 metres and Kate Hickey West Waterford in the Discus. Laura
Behan KCK was fourth in the 800 Metres in 2minutes 15 seconds a PB and
she also had a PB in finishing second in  the 1500 Metres at a graded
meeting in Dublin last week 4.37.

Munster Schools

In Cork on Saturday last athletes from Waterford schools had numerous
victories and lots of second and third placings also at the Munster
Secondary Schools Track and Field Championship Finals.The following
were the senior winners: Ben Kiely Tramore CBS 400 Metres Hurdles and
400 Metres, Kate Veale St Augustine's 3000 M Walk, Clodagh Ryan do
Pole Vault and Sean Archer St Declan's Kilmacthomas Triple Jump.
Intermediate: High Jump Neasa Murphy Stella Maris Tramore, Pole Vault
Megan O'Connor St Augustine's, Long Jump Niamh Giles Doran Mercy,
Triple Jump Liz Devine St Augustine's, 2000 M Walk Tara Lacey Abbey
CC, Relay Stella Maris ( Lauren Gillane, Niamh Mc Nicoll, Neasa Murphy
and Vanessa Ogbonna). Junior: Pole Vault Catherine Hahesy St
Augustine's, 1200 M Walk Isabelle Morgan Ursuline, 200 M Patrick
O'Neill Abbey, Pole Vault Jurijs Kanass St Augustine's and Discus and
Javelin Mike Dineen De La Salle. St Augustine's won the Junior Boy's
Cup.

County Championships conclude

The final section of the County Track and Field Championships were
held at the RSC on Sunday last and a fine entry was again received and
all of the clubs in the County got among the winners, full results
have now been sent to all clubs. At Juvenile level Farrybank AC had
many athletes that won more than one title with Sean Archer taking
five under 18, Amy Foley four u 15 and Orlaith O'Brien four u 14 and
several had doubles. For West Waterford Tholm Reddy won three u 16,
Jurij Kanass three also in the same age group and for Waterford AC
Nathan O' Hallahan won two u 18 and Emma O'Brien two u 16u, for An
Ghaeltacht Ciaran O'Maoileoin won two u 14 and for Tramore AC Jessica
Wagenaar u12 and Niamh M Nicoll u 16 both impressed  At senior level
Paschal Halley Waterford AC won three senior and Clare Grant do two.
The County Board wish to to thank all the people who helped out over
the two Sunday's

Big Improvement by Kevin

Kevin Cooper who is in the USA at Brown University has been showing a
big improvement in his times especially in the 1500 Metres Recently he
clocked 3 minute 44 second for the distance and if he continues to
improve he could be heading for a sub four minute mile in the not too
distant future

International Meetings

On Saturday next Thomas and Jessie Barr and Niamh Whelan compete at a
meeting in Belgium and Ben Kiely may be at one in Germany the same
day.

Road Race in Clashmore

The next race in the Ger Wyley Sports Summer Series "The Old Still Bar
5 Miles"  is in Clashmore Co Waterford on Friday next May 25 th. The
race starts at 8 pm in the village of Clashmore. Entries for the race
will be taken at the Old Still Bar in the village from 7 pm and the
entry fee is €8 details from             086 8184762      

Munster Fixtures

Munster Juvenile U/9 to U/11 Team Games & U/12 & U/13 Track & Field
Championships, Saturday 9th & Sunday 10th June 2012 in Cork I.T.
Munster Senior & Masters Track & Field Championships, Sunday 17th June
2012 in Templemore, Co. Tipperary. The All Ireland Schools Finals are
in Tullamore on Saturday June 2 nd.

Coaching Workshops

 Wed May 23rd: High Jump Workshop at the Dr Pat O Callaghan Sports
Complex Track in Clonmel Co Tipperary from 7-9pm. The session is open
to all athletes/coaches aged 12+ only and the cost is €5 payable at
registration from 6.40pm-6.55pm. AAI Director of Coaching Jacqui
Freyne will be taking the session.Sun May 27th: Discus & Hammer
Workshop at Templemore Track Co Tipperary 10.30am-1.45pm. The cost is
€5 payable on the day at registration at 10am. National Coaches will
be taking the sessions and it is open to all athletes/coaches aged
13+.

Kip Keino

Clonliffe Harriers are delighted to announce that legendary double
Olympic champion Kip Keino will return to the Morton Stadium  They
will play host to him for ‘An evening with Kip Keino’ presented by
Irish Runner Editor Frank Greally from 9 pm. Kip Keino has competed in
Santry on two occasions and was the winner of the inaugural Morton
Memorial Invitational Mile in 1970. This presents a unique opportunity
to come and meet a true athletics and Olympic legend. Booking is
essential, the Clonliffe clubhouse had a limit of 120 people. Bookings
will be taken on a first come first served basis, in order to secure
your place at this once in a lifetime occasion please email your name,
club and email address to clonliffeharriersac@gmail.com.