Dunboyne AC had a big contingent in Tullamore on Sunday for what is the highlight of the year for most taking part, the National Masters Track and Field Championships. The 2016 edition of the Championships saw entry numbers rise significantly over those in the past couple of championships, and the number of participants from our own Club increased too which is good to see.

Most importantly we brought home a huge amount of medals!

100m

We started off on the right note with a win for Roisín Bell in the 100m, with a time of 14.17, just outside her PB. Angela and Fiona were up next but both were a fraction outside the medals, but ran good times. Kay managed a PB and a medal, bronze, with her 17.26 and John Cotter also won bronze, pipped out of silver position by 1/100th of a second, still a magnificent run with a time of 19.01.

Roisín Bell                                            Gold                      14.17

Angela Walsh                                     4th                         15.94

Fiona Tobin                                         5th                         16.62

Kay Gilmartin                                     Bronze                  17.26

John Cotter                                        Bronze                  19.01

200m

Results in the 200m followed a similarly successful pattern, with Roisín again leading the Club’s charge, this time with a time of 29.59 which was good enough for bronze. Angela fought hard in her category to also win bronze, with Fiona Tobin an agonizing 4th in the same race. Keith Eglington ran a super-fast time of 25.48 but such was the high level of competition in this category this year it wasn’t to prove enough to get among the medals. John Cotter was doubling up in the 100m and 200m, and he led for 180m of his 200m race before being pipped into silver with a time of 44.85.

Roisín Bell                                            Bronze                  29.59

Angela Walsh                                     Bronze                  34.18

Fiona Tobin                                        4th                         35.44

Keith Eglington                                  5th                         25.48

John Cotter                                        Silver                     44.85

400m

The 400’s were on later in the day meaning those doubling up with the 100 or 200 and 400 had some rest, although the legs were full of lactic. All Kay’s hard work paid off as she passed the athlete on her outside lane after 200m and went into 1st place before cruising to gold with a PB time.

Again Keith’s M35 400 was stacked, and despite a strong start the lane 8 draw was to prove detrimental as those inside him came through in the last 100m. Keith took half a second off his PB though, finishing a fine 57.35. Michael Cornyn has switched his focus back to 400’s of late and has been knocking down his SB at every attempt recently despite injury and he did that again on Sunday, running 61.35 in the M55 which was good enough for silver.

Kay Gilmartin                                     Gold                      85.09

Keith Eglington                                  7th                         57.35

Michael Cornyn                                 Silver                     61.35

800m

Ciara took on the women’s 800m and her event and category was one of the most stacked on the day, with Kelly Neely taking the win. Ciara ran strongly, despite having to tackle the wind in the back straight twice and wasn’t much outside the medals or her PB on the day.

Ciara Devitt                                         6th                         2:40

Ladies 4 x 100m Relay

Roisín, Fiona, Ciara and Angela were the brave ones who took on the 4 x 100m late in the evening. At this stage the rain was lashing down and fatigue had set in for many of our crew. Despite this the girls got round the baton in just outside the minute mark, but unfortunately this was less than two seconds too slow for a medal.

4th                         1:01

Field

With a wet start to the day, our throwers got off to a slow start but before very long the medals came a-flying in. There was no stopping Michelle and Chris, up against stiff competition they bagged a hoard of medals, competing in the close knit throwers community with the usual laughs, giggles and fun.

WFD

Chris Street                                        5th                         4.76m

Javelin

Michelle Pilkington Street            4th                         15.17m

Chris Street                                        5th                         17.65m

Shot

Michelle Pilkington Street            Bronze                  6.91m

Chris Street                                        N/A                        7.79m

Discus

Michelle Pilkington Street            Bronze                  20.19m

Chris Street                                        Bronze                  20.06m

Hammer

Michelle Pilkington Street            Gold                      23.70m

Chris Street                                        4th                         19.96m

A big thank you from the athletes to our coaches: Declan Nyhan, Paul Gannon and Liam Treacy for your hard work and encouragement throughout the season.

Check out our photos HERE.