Masterful show by Lucan athletes in Nationals

NIAMH Fitzgerald was among the local athletes who topped the podium at Irish Life Nationals Masters Indoor Athletic Championships in Athlone.

Following up on her victory in the provincials, the Lucan Harriers star stormed to victory in the W40 1500m contest, crossing the line in a time of 4:47.36.

And there was more for the club to cheer about after their 4x200m Masters Women’s relay team of Fitzgerald, Edith Coakley, Carol Kearney and Clare Johnston won out in a time of 2:01.55, just under three seconds ahead of closest rivals Galway City Harriers.

Coakley, repeated her Leinster performance securing a silver medal in the 60m hurdles while she finished fourth in the 60m flat and sixth in the 200m.

Kearney won silver in the 60m and 400m and bronze in the 200m while Johnston carded two PBs in her first National Championships with great runs in the 60m and 200m. 

In the men’s event Lucan’s Hugh Walsh reached the finals of both the 60m and the 200m before Eoin Fitzgerald finished fifth (and carded a new PB)  and Derek Lynch seventh in their respective 1500m Finals.

Also in action for Lucan Harriers was Claire Johnstone who finished up sixth in the Masters Women’s 200m while in the Men’s equivalent Derek Kennedy from Tallaght emerge fifth.

Shane Sheridan of DSD Athletic Club carded a double in the M55 age group after he came home first in the 60m (7.83 seconds) and 200m (25.79 seconds) while his Dundrum clubmate Avril Dillon finished runner-up to Snezana Bechtina in the W35 60m.

Another of the DSD contingent, Kevin Byrne also finished up second in the M45 and M50 Long Jump behind Halley Paschall with a leap of 4.90m before taking the High Jump title while Liam O’Dwyer cleared a height of 1.10m to finish third in the M65 High Jump.

There was a third place finish for Tallaght AC’s Derek Kennedy in the Masters Men 60m in which Rathfarnham’s Daryl Fanagan took fifth.

Ronan Kearns came home seventh in the Men’s Masters 800m while his Rathfarnham clubmate was second across the finish line in the Men’s 3000m behind Paul Moloney of Mallow.

Sportsworld’s Gareth Murran clocked 4:18.84 on his way to the M35 1500m, just over two seconds adrift of winner Niall Sheil of St Killian’s.