Next week Dunboyne will have a representative on the track at the Olympics for the first time since the Seoul Olympics in 1988. Back then it was Gerry O’Reilly, from the Summerhill Road, who took part in the 1500m. Sara Treacy is another elite middle distance runner from that neck of the woods, albeit a good bit closer to Summerhill than the O’Reilly’s. We’re all well aware of Sara’s exploits and her endeavours over the past two years which saw her focus ultimately on her goal, a spot at Rio and the prospect of making a high class Olympic final.
Sara’s athletic journey began long before now. The Olympic dream is one she’s held for 20 years. With both father Liam and mother Siobhan former international distance runners, Sara was destined to leave some mark on the sport and had declared her intentions to be an Olympian by the ripe old age of six! As a teenager she won National schools titles on the track and in cross country whilst running for King’s Hospital and in 2006 she became National Junior cross country champion, in the colours of her former club, Moynalvey AC. She represented Ireland at European and World Championships, again at underage and as well as U23 level.
Sara came to prominence on the senior stage with her National Intercounty XC title win in the colours of Meath on Sligo racecourse in November 2011, and in doing so also won her 3rd U23 XC title in a row. More success followed in 2012, this time on the international stage. Sara was part of a talented bunch of Irish athletes who won gold at the Euro XC championships. In 2014 she was again part of the team who went on to claim bronze at the same event. During this period she won numerous national titles at home and in the UK on the track, where the Birmingham based doctor represents Birchfield Harriers AC.
During that period unfortunately Sara’s former Club Moynalvey AC folded. The Club had been set up by her uncle Jim in 1982, and the Treacy family featured front and centre in the small Club. We were delighted that Sara chose the blue and white of Dunboyne AC as her new Club. Sara and Liam, who now coaches in the Club, have become an intrinsic part of the set up now at the Rookse Road. We’ve all looked on at the ‘Road to Rio’ with great interest and excitement and Sara’s acted as positive role model for our young aspiring Olympians in particular.
The latest chapter in Sara’s athletic career – the move to Steeplechase and the bid to run a qualification time for Rio – began in earnest in the 2015 outdoor season. Sara was joined in her efforts by Michelle Finn of Leevale AC and Kerry O’Flaherty of Newcastle AC. On a memorable night in July 2015 all three ran qualification times in a meet held in Letterkenny. 12 days later Sara ran a QT again at the Karlstad GP in Sweden. All three ‘Steeplechicks’ went on and ran excellently in the World Championships in Beijing.
In 2016 the Euros in Amsterdam were the challenge ahead of Rio. In the run into Amsterdam Sara set an Irish 2000m Steeplechase record. Sara went into the Euros with a PB of 9:44; she knocked this down to 9:42 in her heat qualifying for the final and then managed a top 10 finish in the race. Straight off the back of this she went to the Diamond League meet in London and knocked another chunk off her PB, which is now 9:39.
Everything appears to be falling into place at the right time for Sara ahead of her representing her club, parish, county and country in Rio on Sat 13th August. She’s currently in Rio. She won’t make the opening ceremony as our athletes are still at their training camp, but her heat takes place at 2pm Irish time on Saturday the 13th August.
We’re very excited and proud and we wish Sara all the best as she goes into her greatest challenge yet.
Cometh the hour….
Good luck Sara!
