Tallaght Athletic Club featured prominently at a number of events last weekend.
Pride of place goes to 18 years old Brian Connolly who stormed to victory in the inaugural running of the Ras UCD at Belfield last Saturday.
The race was held to raise funds for UCD volunteers operating in Haiti and attracted almost 600 entrants.
Connolly made light work of the three - lap course over the classic 5K distance and although pressed a number of times by DSD’s Robert Corbally he held on to prevail and take first place on podium in a great time of 15.52. Peter Fitzsimons was another to feature prominently finishing in 14th place. Tallaght’s only female competitor was Gwen Baker and she produced a personal best performance to finish in 21.56.
A sprinkling of Tallaght’s Master athletes also ran the race and three of those made the podium. First up was Sean Walsh to take 1st place in the O/40 category while Desie Shorten and Ray Fitzsimons took 1st and 2nd place respectively in the O/50 category. Martin Haddock also ran a fine race in the O/45 category.
On Sunday the focus of attention was at the Dunboyne 4 mile road race and this well established event was celebrating its 41st year. The event attracted a record entry of 505 athletes and this time it was Tallaght’s Ladies team who made the podium. First up was Jacqui Boyle to accept her 2nd place award in the O/40 category and her Club mates Sharon Tighe, Paula Murray and Peig Dunne ran up to their best and their combined efforts secured third place in the Ladies Team awards. While the club’s male athletes didn’t make the podium they certainly made their presence felt. Niall Coppinger was first home in 31st place in 21.50 while Colm Barcoe and Billy Murphy finished in close proximity in 66th and 69th place. Richard Dunne, Domhall Sheridan, Terence Fayne and Jim Dwyer were also be well pleased with their efforts.
Tallaght juveniles also did well in the first two days of the National Indoor T&F Championships in Nenagh last weekend. Kayleigh Clarke was having her first outing at this level and despite her best efforts in the semi-final of the U13 600m, just missed out by one place for the final. Conor Murray contested the U15 60m hurdles and made it through the semis to the final where he finished 8th, unfortunately he suffered a groin strain during that contest and could not contest his high jump final later the same day.
Sean Mc Cabe and John Daly both contested the U16 1500m final and finished 6th and 8th respectively, whilst in the same age category Keith Doherty just missed out on the medals after he finished 4th in the 60m final. At U17 degree, Uchenna Uwechue in his first National Championships finished 5th in his 1500m semi-final but didn’t make the final 8 and at U19 degree Roisin O’ Hanlon finished strongly in 5th in her 1500m final with Niall Meehan 6th in the boys equivalent.
Conor, Sean, John, Uchenna and Roisin will again be vying for podium positions when they contest the 800m contests in two weeks time at the same venue, as will Jade Johnston and the U15, U16 and U17 4X200m relay squads.