Track & Field Team Make History

Sunday last was another historic day for Tallaght A.C. after the men's Track & Field team were promoted to the Premier Division following some great individual and team performances which secured the Divison 1 title for the first time in the clubs history.

Tomas Fitzpatrick secured maximum points after he won the 3000m steeple chase in 9.41.18 and followed up with a great 2nd placed finish in the 1500m where he ran 3.55.87 after a very close finish. Sean Connolly also secured top points with a great run in the 5,000m in 15.16.51. In the 800m Artjom Kutjavin had another very good run when taking 2nd with a new P.B. of 1.56.55 whilst our National Multi-events Champion Patrick Curran also set a new P.B and club record of 16.71 after he crossed the line in 2nd in the 110m hurdles and he secured maximum points with a win in the Pole Vault and added more vital points after he ran 59.46 when taking 3rd in the 400m hurdles.

Michael Gassowski was also in top form and played a major role with wins in both the Discus and Shot Putt where he threw 35.76 (new club record) and 13.11m respectively, whilst Killian O' Donoghue secured important points after he took 3rd in the Hammer with a throw of 29.93m.

One of the youngest members of the team Keith Doherty also set a new P.B. and club record after he finished 3rd in the 100m in a time of 11.33 and his jump of 6.07m in the long jump secured the 5th spot whilst another of the younger members of the team, Killian Morris did likewise after he cleared 1.80m to take 2nd in the High Jump whilst his brother Sean finished 4th in the javelin with a throw of 36.32m, and although he finished 8th in the 200m he set a new P.B. of 23.57. In the 400m Eddie Healy secured valuable points after he finished 4th in 52.71 whilst Uchenna Uwechue jumped 9.65m in the triple jump.

The relay teams were a vital component in securing victory with the 4X100m team of Daniel Kilgallon, Alan Casey, Sean Morris and Keith Doherty combining to take 3rd with a time of 45.44. Keith Doherty also combined with Sean Mc Cabe, Artjom Kutjavin and Eddie Healy in the 4x400m where their combined time of 3.30 added vital points for promotion to the Premier Division.

Elsewhere some of our juveniles were in action in the National Community Games Finals in Athlone where KIllian Morris put in another series of great jumps to take the U16 Silver medal after he cleared 1.79m and Aloisa King took the same colour in the U13 900m walk, whilst Moses Ikepfua went top of the podium in the U8 80m and in the U16 Javelin Conor Murray threw a new P.B. of 38.07 to take 4th.

Many of our Seniors were also in action last weekend in the Phoenix Park where they contested the Frank Duffy/Dublin 10 mile Road Race Championships with Davy Byrne the first to cross the line for the club in 54.55, followed by Eoin Brennan 56.57, Keith Sherlock 57.30, Niall Coppinger, 59.20, Paddy Lyons 1.03.53, Gerry Woods 1.03.54, Gerry Dore 1.06.38, John Stokes 1.08.41, Viv O Hanlon 1.11.03 (3rd 0/60), Jacqui Boyle 1.14.12, Sharon Tighe 1.14.5, Marissa MC Millan 1.15.54, Peig Dunne 1.17.33, Tara Woods 1.20.18, Jenny O Connor 1.20.33, Pauline Madden 1.22.14, Susan Holland 1.23.00 and Grainne Coogan 1.27.01.

Our Men & Women's seniors and masters teams will be putting the final preparations in place for the National Half Marathon Championships in Waterford on the 3rd of September, whilst many of our juveniles will be preparing for the forthcoming cross country season which starts with the first league race in the grounds of Newbridge House, Donabate on the 18th of September.