Lucan Harriers trio scoop European Masters medals

LUCAN Harriers trio Carol Kearney, Annette Durkan and Leanne Wellings turned in very impressive performances at last week’s European Masters Indoor Championships in the Portuguese city of Braga.

The former captured silver in the Over 55 400m, setting a new Irish record time of 64.89 that surpassed the previous national best that she, herself, had set only few weeks previous.

She followed that up with bronze in the 200m on Saturday after having progressed from her semi-final with another Irish record time of 29.2.

Kearney was also part of the Irish W50 4x200m Relay team that struck gold, the Lucan athlete featuring in the second leg off that contest.

Durkan, meanwhile, went extremely close to making two finals throughout the week.

In the Over 45 200m semi-final she clocked a new PB of 28.44 in her heat, but missed out on further passage by just one place after having also just fallen short of a European 60m Final when she came home ninth with a PB of 8.63.

Competing in the same category and distance, Wellings was making her European Championship debut and finished 13th in the 60m – a fine achievement when considering her preparation had been hampered by injury in recent weeks.

In the W45 Relay, Durkan and Wellings helped Ireland to the top of the podium, the former subsequently landing her second straight European Championship medal.