by Perri Williams
Track and Field can often be a busy season with multiple competitions occurring simultaneously. From Cork to Dublin, Tullamore to Belfast and beyond our nation’s borders from the USA to Continental Europe, athlete are in action, eagerly testing their winter training, competing in early-stage championships or just doing their job like a pro.
Two competitors caught our eye – Peter Lynch (Kilkenny City Harriers) and Niamh Fogarty (Raheny Shamrocks). Early on a Dusseldorf Sunday morning, Peter Lynch along with several hundred other runners lined up to compete in the Dusseldorf marathon. Lynch was in the form of his life – recently setting a new national 10-mile record, a record he snatched from the great John Treacy. Last Sunday Lynch recorded 2:09.35 for the marathon to surpass the mark set by Hiko Tonosa last October in Dublin. In doing so he also obtained the B-qualifying time for the World Championships marathon next September in Tokyo. The Kilkenny City Harrier made his marathon debut last Autumn in Chicago. Since then he has recorded personal bests at several road racing distances along with the two aforementioned national records. In Run Republic, we predicted that two Irish runners have the capability of breaking National records and achieving qualifying standards for Tokyo. Now both Peter Lynch and Hiko Tonosa have realized our predictions.
In Oklahoma at the throw series, Niamh Fogarty (Raheny Shamrocks) was in the form of her life. After an average performance on Saturday, Fogarty returned to the discus circle on Sunday morning with renewed vigor. Her personal best of 56.49m has been looking shaky for some time now, with Fogarty knocking on the door of destruction for the past few competitions. Round two saw the Raheny Shamrock athlete throw a whopping 58.40m to smash not only her personal best but also the 41-year-old discus record of 57.60 set by Patricia Walsh (Waterford AC) back in 1984. In the sixth and final round, Fogarty threw another big throw recording 58.30m, two throws in excess of 58m, in one competition.
The providence 4x1500m relay team won the Penn relays with Finn Valley AC athlete Cara Laverty, part of the quartet. Coming into the first baton exchange it was Penn State who maintained a five-meter lead. Providence quickly went to the lead building up a 20-meter lead by the end of the first lap. From there on, Providence never looked back with their athletes’ running splits of; 4:13, 4:12, and 4:14 to widen their lead to over 100 meters by the time Kimberley May broke the finishing line tape in 16:59. This winning time was the third fastest ever recorded at the Penn State relays.
Elsewhere there were personal bests of Shay McEvoy, Laura Nicholason, Oisin Lynch, Billy Coogan, Nicole Dinan with many other athletes setting new seasons best.
On the domestic scene the National Road Relays were held in Dublin with Ennis Track winning the men’s event and Dundrum South Dublin AC winning the ladies. The team of Cian O’Boyle, Barry Conway, Niall Murphy and Mark Hanrahan recorded a time of 37.11 with Mark Hanrahan crossing the finishing line four seconds clear of Craughwell AC in second. The 2024 champions Clonliffe Harriers were third.
The Dundrum South Dublin team of Maria McCambridge, Emma McEvoy and Eimear Maher clocked 20:59 to take the gold ahead of UCD AC in second. Host club Raheny Shamrocks AC took the bronze medal.
International Results
Eset International Walk and Middle-Distance meet - Italy
- 1500m: Kevin McGrath 9th in 3.46.97
- 600m: Robert Hewiston 3rd 600m 1.18.63, Dara Donohue 6th 1.19.49
- 600m: Emma Moore 2nd 600m 1.29.31
Oklahoma Throw Series
- Discus: 3 Niamh Fogarty 58.40m
Drake Relays
James Ezeonu (Leevale) clocked 14.56 in the 110m hurdles at the Drake Relays. Ezeonu competes with Kansas State.
Charlotte Invitational
- Killian Fahy (Leevale) PB over 400m (North Carolina State) of 46.23 to win.
Slovakia
- Kate Veale 3rd over 10km, hoping her 49.35 is enough to gain selection for the European Cup in Podebrady,.
Joe Gillespie Invitational in Texas
- Lauren Roy won the 200m in 22.85. Roy competes with Tarleton State.
RMAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships 2025 at Golden Colorado
- 1500m: Fiona Hawkins 6th in 4.41.23
- 800m: Oisin Lynch 7th 1.52.60
- 400m Hurdles : Victoria Amiadamen 8th
Heptathlon Bresica
- Anna McCauley 10th
LSU Alumni Invitational Baton Rouge
- 1500m: Nicole Dinan 4.19.91 to finish 2nd.
- 100m: Lucy May Sleeman 11.61 to finish 15th
GSVU Meet Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI
- 1500m: Aimee Hayde 15th with 4.37.39
Penn Relays
- 5000m 29 Michael Morgan 14.12.42
- 3000m SC 17 Billy Coogan 8.54.37
- 5000m 55 Niamh O Mahoney 17.08.09
- 4x1500m relay: Providence 1st with Cara Laverty 5km HS Walk 1 Savannagh O'Callaghan
Payton Jordan Invitational California
- 5000m: Shay McEvoy 13.40