The Connacht Indoor Track and Field championships were held over two days in Athlone Indoor Arena last weekend. Galway clubs travelled in huge numbers and gained a huge medal haul over the 100 plus events on the programme.
Craughwell AC had a superb weekend as the club again finished as top club in Connacht with 24 Gold, 23 Silver and 18 Bronze medals.
Craughwell winners on Saturday were U12 Boys 4×200 Relay, Luke Quinn in the 600m, Danny Kieran in 60m Hurdles and Ross Hoade in Shot Put.
Olivia Rooney for the U12 Girls High Jump, Matiss Ozolins in the U13 Boys Long Jump, Halle Feerick in the U14 Boys 60m and the High Jump, were also winners. The U14 Girls claimed 4×200 Relay gold, and Lauren Kelly won the 60m Hurdles and High Jump.
On Sunday for Craughwell the Gold winners from the older groups were – U16 Boys 4×200, 60m Hurdles: Oisin O’Donovan, 800m: David Frazer, Shot Put (4Kg ): Killian Burke, U16 Girls 4×200, U17 Girls 60m Hurdles: Rachel Warde, U18 Boys 400m: Sean Hoade, 4×200, 60m: Cian Brady, 800m: Keelan Moorhead, U18 Girls 400m: Lauren Kilduff, 4×200, U19 Boys 60m Hurdles: Darragh Kelly, U19 Boys High Jump: Darragh Kelly.
New club West Coast AC again performed superbly with six wins of the Connacht Indoor Championship held earlier in TUS Athlone winning 16 medals, with six of them gold. Taking gold were at U18 a double via Angela Cielecka over 60m and 200m, at Senior level Fauve Alymer in 800m, U18 Sizothini Ndhlovu in 200m and U19 Lemar Lucciano in 60m and 200m.
South Galway AC have gone from strength to strength, doing well over both days with a notable seven gold medals on day two, with gold for Luke Walsh in U17 Boys 800m and 1,500m, a double for Orlaith Mannion in 60m and 60m hurdles, wins for John Whiriskey in the Masters 800m, Cathal Walsh in the U15 boys Long Jump, Claudia Coyle in u17 Girls 800m and relay gold in the U15 Boys relay via Conor Joyce, Dylan Henry, Donal Coyle, Cathal Walsh and Daniel Brennan.
Galway City Harriers were well up the medal table with wins for the likes of Maneli Frizeli with gold in the Girls U12 600m and Girls U12 Long Jump via Thea Lynch, along with Relay U12 victory for Elliana Magnetti, Matilda McGlynn, Katie McGlynn, Thea Lynch and Ribeaca Gibbons.
GCH secured Multiple Relay golds at U12, U14, and Mixed relays across the two days.
At older ages there were wins at U13 Girls in the 1km Race Walk for Mia O'Toole, Shot Put gold for Aoibhinn Van De Ven, the U14 Boys won 4 x 200m Relay Gold Medals via Darcy Noel, Louis-Jean Hounkponou, Luke Collins and Joshua Danker, and there was an U14 Boys 60m Gold Medal for Louis-Jean Hounkponou.
The Seniors and Masters events for GCH saw a terrific double by Jim Phelan to take the Masters 50 gold in the 200m and 400m, while Ben Sheehan took gold in the Senior Mens Triple Jump and Richard O'Hanlon threw a fine 8.72 in the V65 Shot Putt to take gold.
Athenry AC were another to claim a number of medals, via the likes of Owen Gannon who won gold in 1km Walk, Noah Brady claimed gold in Shot Put, and Eva Carroll, Cian Casserly and Harry Melia all won medals.
Clare River Harriers continue to grow, notably Stephen Toner claimed gold in the Triple Jump, while Patrick Lee claimed silver in the 800m.
Castlegar AC dominated the Senior 3000m events, as Aimad Belyad finished off an impressive week with a win in the Men's 3km in a time of 8.57, and Triona Moran who won the Women's 3k in 13.25.
At Juvenile level, there was an U13 Girls Relay Gold medal win and Gold for Ciara Murphy over 60m.
Tuam AC were on fire across the Walks and Field events, notably via Jack Hession who won his first Connacht Senior long jump title today in a new club record of 6.42m.
Tuam dominated the Race Walks with wins for Chloe Haverty at U12, U14 Girls win for Emma Howson, an U15 win for Cuisle O'Callaghan and U 19 gold for Ciara Gilmore, with Boys wins for Cumhall O'Callaghan and Grofu Newell.
Tuam secured an amazing 11 golds on day two, with Rachel Treacy topping the bill with three golds over 60m, 200m, and Hurdles, at U16 level, wins on the double for Aoibhinn Reddington and Danielle Moynihan over 800 and 1500m and 200 and 400m, wins for Lincoln King, Chris Zefai and Jack Hession.
