Mayo man smashes Irish record to secure world qualification

Athletics: It was a Super Saturday for Seamus Clarke of Moy Valley AC at the 123.ie National U20 Track and Field Championships in Tullamore.

In the Under 20 men’s 5000m walk, the young Ballina man took a big scalp off his previous personal best time of 20 minutes 33 seconds when posting a time of 19 minutes and 45 seconds to set a new national and championship record and break under that 20 minute mark for the first time. It’s a mark lots of people only dream of running 5k under, let alone walk.

Since completing his first year exams in the University of Limerick, Seamus dedicated himself to quality training, including warm weather training in Portugal, and all of this training was evident on Saturday.

There was a lot at stake in this championship race, with three lads on the start line all chasing qualification and selection for the two coveted places permitted per country for the upcoming World Athletics U20 Track and Field Championships in Hayward Field, Eugene, Oregon, USA.

Seamus had already met the qualification standard of 20:45min as had fellow competitor Matthew Newell from Galway (and Newell went into the race with the fastest time) but the Athletics Ireland selection policy specifies that an athlete who wins AAI’s National U20 Championship (in the event in which they are seeking selection) and has achieved the required performance standard within the qualification period, will be automatically selected providing that the conditions of form and fitness are met. So this was an important victory for the Ballina man.

The World Athletics U20 Track and Field Championships are to run from August 5 to 9.