Fintan Walsh weekly roundup

Jessie Barr a definite on Olympic Team.

Waterford's sole representative at the London Olympics Jessie Barr
from Ferrybank AC is a definite starter on the Irish 4x 400 Metres
Relay team that competes in the semi finals of the event on Friday
evening at 7.10 pm.The team comprises Marian Heffernan wife of walker
Robert Heffernan who runs leg one, Joanne Cuddihy runs the second leg,
Jessie does the third and Michelle Carey runs the final leg. The team
are very much outsiders going into the race but they will be aiming
for a new National record, but even achieving this may not get them to
the final the standard is so high. All in Waterford athletics wish
Jessie the very best and all are proud to have Waterford athletics
represented once again as it has been at every Olympiad since 1980.
Three athletes who are  graduates from Providence College USA where
Ray Treacy Villierstown coaches are among those competing at the
Olympics.

Looking back

Friday last saw the start of the athletics at this years Olympics in
London and at time of writing there have been mixed fortunes for the
Irish athletes competing. First into action was Joanne Cuddihy in the
400 Metres Heats where she finished fourth in her race after starting
off far too fast and fading in the straight but she made it through to
Saturday's semi final as one of the the fastest loser in 52.09 seconds
well outside her best time of 50.73, then on Saturday she ran a much
more balanced race to finish 5 th in 51.88 seconds but in much better
class and did not progress. Fionnula Britton in the 10000 Metres final
finished 15 th and again she may have fared better with a more
restrained run early on where at a very early stage she went up to
dispute the pace, while Ciaran O'Lionard was never a factor in the
1500 metres. Robert Heffernan on Saturday had a fine race in the 20 Km
Walk to finish 9th of the 58 competitors in a personal best time of 1
hr 20 minutes 18 seconds, he was 8th in Beijing in 2008  and Stephanie
O'Reilly had a reasonably good run in the 3000 Metres steeplechase
heats without progressing while Pole Vaulter Tori Pena was most
disappointing  Three  female Marathon runners competed on Sunday with
two of them running near their best Linda Byrne finished  66th and Ava
Hutchinson 68 th and the third Catriona Jennings who went into the
race with an injury in all probability should never have been a
starter and she eventually finished last of the 107 finishers having
been in considerable distress all the way. On Monday morning Derval
O'Rourke came up with her fastest time of the year 12.91seconds in the
100 metres Hurdles finishing 4th in a very competitive heat to qualify
for this evenings semi final a superb performance from a great
competitor for the big occasion regardless of how she fares in the
semi final

Ahead

Today Tuesday Fionnula Britton may run in the 5000 Metres semi final
and Paul Hession is in action in the 200 metres in Round One and he
may progress, on Wednesday Alastair Cragg is in the 5000 Metres and it
depends which Alastair Cragg turns up, Thursday sees Deirdre Ryan in
the High Jump and she has an outside chance of a final place, Friday
sees the 4x 400 Metres Women's Relay team in action in their semi
final and if Britton  progresses the 5000 Metres final is also on
Friday. Saturday could prove to be the best Irish day with Olive
Loughnane in the 20 km walk and Robert Heffernan in the 50 Km Walk
both expected to be prominent Heffernan will be joined by Brendan
Boyce and Colin Griffin and on Sunday Mark Kenneally goes in the
Marathon.

General Observations

At time of writing Usain Bolt Jamacia retained his 100 metres title in
style, up against the greatest field of sprinters ever.  The victory
of Mo Farah Great Britain in the 10000 Metres final was spectacular
and welcome as he relegated the much fancied Ethiopians- who had made
this event their own- to third and fourth place and this should give
hope to athletes from other countries hoping to do likewise especially
those from Europe. Jessica Ennis GB was superb in winning the
Heptathlon title and the stadium has been full to capacity for the
majority of the Track and Field Days and many from Ireland are present
including quite a few from Waterford.

Niamh wins in Sweden

On Saturday last Niamh Whelan had two good results at a meeting in
Goteborg in Sweden. She won a 100 Metres race in 11.84 seconds and
finished second in the 200 metres in 24.16 seconds. At the all Ireland
juvenile Development meeting in Santry on Sunday last Eoin Kenny was
second in the u 13 Shot Putt and Frankie Dolphin was third in the High
Jump u 14 both from Ferrybank AC

Morris Oil 10 Km

200 competed in the final race of the Outfield Sports Road Series
superbly organised by Carrck on Suir Road Runners in Piltown on Friday
last. Philip Harty Donore Hrs easily won in a time of 31 minutes 50
second, Andrew Connick Ferrybank AC was second and Ruari O'Donnell
Limerick third. Siobhan Doherty Borrisokane won the ladies section
again very impressively in 36 minutes, Angela McCann Clonmel was
second and Dymphna Ryan Dundrum  third The series was a  great success
with entries well up on previous years. Each competitor who competed
in three races in the Series got a special memento and there were many
athletes from Waterford among them.

Woodstown Road Race on Saturday

The Annual Alan Everett 5 Miles Road Race in Woodstown Co Waterford
on Saturday next has a 7 pm start. entries from 6 pm at "The Saratoga"
in Woodstown. The run will be preceded by a walk at 6.45 pm and is
over the usual course starting near the Public Toilets  .

August Track and Field Fixtures

Saturday 11 th Celtic Games, Aberdeen, Saturday 18 th All Ireland
Masters Championships Tullamore, Sunday 19 th National League Finals
Tullamore,Community Games National Athletics Finals. Saturday 25th &
Sunday 26th August 2012.

17th Annual An Tobar Bar Ardmore 5 Miles

The final race in the Ger Wyley Sports Summer series, the Ardmore 5
miles on  Friday August 17 th is a big night as the overall prizes are
also presented for the series. This race is sponsored by An Tobar Bar
in Ardmore and it begins at 7.30 pm. There will be prizes for men,
ladies and individual as well as the 12 Star Sign categories. Entries
will be taken at the Ardmore G.A.A. Club Pavilion from 6.15 pm..

5KM  Island Run

The Island Run, promoted by Balance Fitness, takes place on Sunday
August 19th at 1pm at Waterford Castle. 5km race, family fun day,music
and BBQ. Entries at Ardkeen Quality Food Store, race sponsor, or
runireland.com. More details at www.balance. Charity this year
Waterford Branch Irish Red Cross

D.M.P Athletics Club Co Wexford

70th Anniversary Open Sports 15th August 2012 Sinnottstown Lane
Drinagh Wexford. Reg 5.30pm Events Start 6pm Sharp Events for under 8
to 16 Senior Men and Women. Contact Dermot 0877412913/ Mick 0876211432