Fintan Walshs weekly blog

Quinn second in Big East Championship in USA.


Competing at the Big East Collegiate Indoor Championships in New York
last week end Shane Quinn Providence College ran in races on Saturday
and Sunday. On Saturday he ran a very good race in the 5000 metres to
finish second overall in a time of 14 minutes 19.53 seconds not very
far behind the winner James Tiernan Villanova who clocked 14.18.04.
Then on Sunday Shane ran the 3000 metres where he finished 6 th in
8.22.58 the race was won in 8.17.58. In Boston last week end Kevin
Cooper finished third in a 1 mile race in 4 minutes 2 seconds his
second best time for the distance.At the National Cross Country
Championships in Rostrevor Co Down on Sunday Andrew Connick Ferrybank
was 11 th in the senior race,the winner was Mick Clohessy Raheny
Shamrocks an athlete very well known in the South East.

Busy Month

March will be an extremely busy month, with Munster and National
Indoor Championships, Schools Cross Country and of course the major
fixtures are the World Cross Country Championships in China and the
European Indoor Championships in Prague from this Friday March 6 th to
Sunday March 8 th and there was due to be a Waterford interest but
unfortunately Paul Murphy from Ferrybank AC who was chosen on the 4 x
400 Metres Relay squad had to withdraw due to a fractured bone in his
foot. Mark English carries the  hopes in the 800 metres of a very
young Irish team


Many Munster Juvenile titles won.

Nenagh was the venue on Saturday and Sunday last for the Munster under
13 to 19 Indoor Championships and athletes from Ferrybank AC and
Waterford AC did well.Ferrybank AC had a very good championships and
had wins with Phoebe Murphy under 18 60 and 200 metres, Niamh Casey
u18, 800 and 1500 metres, Praise Qweye u 13 60 metres and long jump,
Frankie Dolphin won the high jump under 17, Neasa Murphy the high jump
under 19,second placings were had by Steven Walsh 400 metres u 19,
Jake Bagge 800 metres u15 ,Kylie Heinen high jump u14, Patrick O'Neill
60 metres u18 and Sinéad O'Regan had thirds in the long and high jump
under17. Waterford AC had wins with Órla O'Connor u16 walk and Emma
Caulfield u15 walk, seconds with James Murphy u16 long jump, Ruth
Heery u16 walk,Hannah Jacob u 17 walk and third placings with Anna O'
Connor u16 walk, Evan Hayes u 13 high jump and James Murphy u16 high
jump. For Tramore AC Denise O'Connor was third in the u18 hurdles


All Ireland Schools Cross Country

On Saturday next with a 12 noon start the All Ireland Secondary
Schools Cross Country Championships are in Clongowes Wood College
Grounds ,Clane Co Kildare Many athletes from Waterford schools will be
competing in four grades boys and girls minor, junior,intermediate and
senior. A few individuals are expected to challenge for honours and
team titles are also up for grabs.

Munster under 9 to 12

Nenagh is the venue on Saturday and Sunday for the Munster under 9 to
12 Indoor Championships over two very long days. Many youngsters from
Waterford clubs will be competing and at this age they are basically
learning about their sport and any over emphasis on them at this age
can lead to a short time in the sport as happens in all sports,
enjoyment should be the keyword. Full programme is on Munster
Athletics website the first day starts at 10 am and the second at
10.30 am and remember Nenagh is a very cold spot keep youngsters
mobile and warm

 Other fixtures in March

Sunday 15 th National Masters Indoor Championships Athlone. Saturday
21 st and Sunday 22 nd National Juvenile Indoor Championships Day 1
and 2 Athlone Saturday 28 th National Juvenile Indoor Championships
Day 3 Athlone, Saturday 28 th World Cross Country China, Sunday 29 th
Munster Senior and Novice Road 4 miles Championships Kilmallock Co
Limerick