Togher Athletics

It was a bumper packed last few days on the Athletics calendar for athletes and spectators alike.

The weekend kicked off with 1st of 2 weekends action from Tullamore in the All Ireland Underage Club Championships.

Togher Ac sent a good crew of lads to compete in these Championships under the supervision of coach Steven Macklin.

Liam Hennessey lined up in the U17 Boys 800m. Shane McGown (City of Derry) took up the early pace and with 1 lap gone he had commanded a 15m lead. Liam started the move through the field but the distance from the leader to the pack did not get any smaller. Liam fought all the way to the line but had to settle for 2nd place behind McGown. It was a good result for the Togher man in a high-class field. Alan Ring also lined up in the same race and finished in 8th position. A credible result for the young man who has had a tough year with sickness and injuries.

In the boys U18 race both Eoin Bourke and Brendan Couch stepped onto the starting line. Aaron Hanlon (Clonliffe Harriers) proved to be a comfortable winner in a time of 8.40 with Eoin finishing in 8th and Brendan finishing in 12th. Brendan followed up this race with a 7th place finish in the U18 Steeplechase.

Young Rory Casey also did well to finish 10th in Boys U15 800m.

Results from the All Ireland’s found HERE

On Sunday the 5th round of Cork Leagues were held in CIT. There were 2 800m races held on the night. Cullen lynch, who was back for the first time on the track since his Leaving Cert ran a good race in the circumstances previously mentioned to finish in 3rd place. Tony Kelleher also raced in the 1st of the 800′s and he showed some good end of the season speed to finish in an impressive 5th place. Craig Harrington a novice at this short distance, did well to finish in 7th place in the 2nd 800m race. Well done to all. Results HERE

Finally Cork welcomed an array of International athletes for what was a jam-packed stadium to watch this years installment of the Cork City Sports.CIT never looked so good. The rescheduling of the event to a Tuesday night proved fruitful for the organisers and a number of our Olympic bound athletes where on show for all to see.

Unfortunately one of the crowds favourites, our very own Marian Heffernan had to withdraw late from the women’s 400m race and we hope that everything will be ok for her come London time in a few weeks.Fingers crossed.

Probably the most anticipated event of the night for the home crowd, would have certainly been the mens 3000m Race Walk. Togher’s Rob Heffernan recently returned from pre Olympic training camp in Guadix Spain especially for the event and it was great to have him there. The Field was sprinkled with Olympic qualifiers for both the male and female events.

Rob took up the pace very early on and Poland’s Jacub Jelonek followed. Lap after lap Rob seemed to be getting faster and faster and he soon was all on his own. The Cork crowd started to get loader as he was on pace for a new outdoor PB and take the Championship record. As Rob came down the home strait the time of 11.12 was certainly in his sights but it was not meant to be on this night and Rob finished in a time of 11.14. What a great race by the Togher athlete and it was certainly an exhilarating experience to see it track side. He looks in such good shape at the moment and I personally cannot wait to see him put on that Irish Singlet for a 4th Olympic time.

Congrats also goes to Cullen Lynch who finished 5th in the Junior Mile in a new PB and also Liam Hennessey who finished 13th in the same race in a new PB also (I think)

Results from the City Sports found HERE

Also HERE is an article from the Irish Times this week, all about Olympic couples :) and it features the Heffernans and Derval O Rourke