Mayo AC sweep up the medals at Connacht Indoor Championships
Men's 60m competitors at Connacht Indoors Championships in Athlone. From left, Paul Kelly, Mayo AC, silver, M35 in 9.09; Cormac Kearney Craughwell AC, gold, M35 7.92; Paddy Kearney, Mayo AC, gold, M65 in 10.59.
There was a huge entry for Day 2 of the Connacht Indoor Championships at Athlone TUS on Sunday, February 22 last for ages U15 to Senior/Masters.
In addition to 800 plus Connacht competitors, there were over 60 guests from the other provinces.
It was a long day for many multi-eventers. Mayo AC’s eleven competitors included seniors, and masters in three age categories: O35, O50, O65, for both men and women.
Competition was keen all day on the outer and inner tracks, and in field events. There were many exciting finishes to thrill a capacity crowd. Some of the sprint events had up to seven heats. Mayo AC’s competitors performed brilliantly, and a number won medals in both track and field events.
Shot putt, Brendan Staunton, M35, gold, 12.27; Declan Owens, Senior, gold, 6.06.
Weight For Distance: Brendan Staunton, M35, gold, 5.52.
60m: Dean Kenny Senior heat 1, 8:42, 8th Connacht competitor; Paul Kelly, M35, 9.09, silver;
John Jennings M65 silver 11.62, Paddy Kearney, M65, gold, 10.59 (ran 10:71 in 2025).
Paddy Kearney from Castlebar made a winning return to sprints after a few years break from competition. Significantly, he still holds the Irish M40 100m record of 11.40 which he achieved at Belfield, Dublin in October 1994 - over thirty years ago!
200m: Dean Kenny, Senior, 27.76; Paul Kelly, M35, 29.71, 6th Connacht finisher; Mike Griffin, M35, 26.43, 4th Connacht; Tony Hegarty, M50, 33.28; 5th; Patrick Moran, M65, gold, 36.18 400m men: John Jennings M65, gold, 1:19.92; Patrick Moran M65, silver, 1:20.44.
800m men: Mike Griffin M35, gold, 2:15.41.
F65 Women: Mary Browne was the only competitor in three races claiming gold in each: 400m, 1:30.25; 800m, 3:26.72; 1500m, 6:34.66.
In the second last event of the day, Mayo AC Senior men’s 4x200m relay team won gold 1:48.57 – Mikey McAndrew, Mike Griffin, Declan Owens, Dean Kenny. North Sligo were the only other club competing – their M35 came home in 1:46.40.
The next championships competition for many Mayo AC athletes is the National Masters Indoors at Athlone TUS on Sunday, March 15.
