Tallaght AC certainly made their mark over 400
metres in the Olympic Stadium Nenagh last Saturday and Sunday.
The famous cambered track was the venue on Saturday for the Woodies/AAI
National Indoor Masters Championships.
First into action for the Club was Paula Murray who was competing at the
venue for the first time. Paula joined Tallaght AC less than one year
ago after many years in Gaelic football and went to the line nervous but
hopeful of a good run. In front of a large crowd in a compact venue
Paula made light of her inexperience and sat behind the leader until 60
meters to go when she unleashed a devasting turn of foot to come home a
convincing winner with 8 meters to spare in a fine time of 67.93.
Also making his debut at the venue was Paula's husband Sean who lined up
in a very competitive field of 37 athletes that included last years
winner John Kelly from Tallaght AC.
Sean only joined Tallaght 6 months ago but had trained hard and was
hopeful he could make his mark. He took off a blistering pace covering
the first 200M in 27 seconds and this pace was fast enough to burn off
the chasing pack and Sean came home in the second fastest time of the
day to take the Silver medal in 57.52 with John Kelly also running well
to take 4th place.
Desie Shorten also from Tallaght AC competed in the Over 50 category and
ran a super race to win the Category Gold Medal in the 400M and narrowly
missed out on a medal finishing 4th in the 1500M. Billy Murphy also
acquitted himself well in the 60M and 400M.Pride of place must go the
husband and wife team of Paula and Sean Murray and they will go forward
to represent Ireland in the World Service Games in Liverpool in August.
The Club were also represented at the National Junior Indoor
Championships on Sunday. Several of the Clubs best young athletes had to
withdraw due to illness but Brian Gregan made the long trip to compete
in the 400M.
Brian is acknowledged as one of the country's best young prospects and
has recently run very well in Cardiff and Scotland. Sunday was to be no
different and after 180 metres the race was over as Gregan hit another
gear to come home in a very fast time of 48.69 just outside his personal
best for the distance.