Louis in action in Arkansas

DONORE Harriers ace middle-distance athlete Louis O’Loughlin returned to action in the South-Eastern Conference (SEC) indoor track & field championships at Fayetteville, Arkansas on the weekend.

Representing his scholarship university team – the Auburn Tigers – the Clondalkin man ran the 3rd leg in the Distance Medley Relay (DMR) on Friday evening.

The opening leg runner Max Hardin ran 2.58.97 (1,000m) to take the lead, with Lebron Bessick running 48.44 (400m) to narrowly hand-off the baton to O’Loughlin in the lead position.

O’Loughlin put in a strong shift for the 800m leg, and whilst losing the leader spot he widened the gap on the chasing pack.

His leg time was 1.49.13. Auburn’s closing athlete Ryan Kinane (1,600m in 3.58.53) secured the silver medals.

The team’s overall time was 9.35.06.

Pre-race favourites South Carolina won in 9.34.50.

The team leader Kinane said afterwards: “Finishing second is pretty good.

“It was a tough tactical race.

“Max did a great job to get us out to a lead.

“Louis and LeBron held it and put me in a good spot.

“I wish I could have finished it off and got the win, but it was pretty good competition out there so I’m not too upset with it.”

O’Loughlin was back in action the next day in Section 1 of the Men’s 3,000m championship race and placed 8th in a personal best time of 8.13.60.