Mayo athletes excel countrywide
The Mayo AC women's team who finished second at the Dunshaughlin 10k, from left to right, Ruth Carney, Úna Mayock and Michelle Heneghan.
Athletics: Over the past couple of weekends Mayo AC had significant success in two events in the current Pop Up Races Peugeot Series.
13 members travelled on a club outing to Dunshaughlin, Co Meath for the annual Michael Manning Memorial 10k on June 20.
This race is recognised for its fast times and attracts club runners from all over the country, with a total of 1,297 finishers this year.
Leading the charge for Mayo AC was club coach Matt Bidwell, who finished strong in 37:32, one of five Mayo AC members competing in the M50 category.
Michelle Heneghan had an exceptional race, finishing 14th among women overall and continuing her impressive form from the recent Mayo AC 5k Series.
She played a key role in leading the women’s team to a brilliant second place in the team category.
With three runners scoring, Michelle was well-supported by teammates Una Mayock and Ruth Carney, making their achievement even more remarkable as they secured second place out of 37 competing club teams.
Ruth Carney also shone as an individual category winner, taking first place in the F55 category with a time of 44:40.
John Jennings finished in 47:41 to claim first prize in the M70 category. His pacing was impressive, crossing the halfway mark at 23:48.
Huge congratulations to the women’s team and to category winners Ruth and John.
On Saturday, June 27 Mayo AC competed in Roscommon Harriers AC’s 11th Annual 10 Mile where a top class field of elite runners continued their participation in the Peugeot Race Series.
The Dunshaughlin 10k Series race winners triumphed again in Roscommon with Sean Tobin of Clonmel AC first home in 49:29 and Sorcha Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC first woman home in 55:02 – and fifth overall.
There was great running by Mayo AC’s six finishers with Trevor Dempsey leading them home in an excellent 10th place overall in 59:56 and second M40.
Norah Newcombe Pieterse made a brilliant return to racing with a superb run to finish second woman in 1:04.32 and second F40 behind Nic Dhomhnaill.
Angela O’Connor was next across the line in 1:11.33 – an excellent 11th overall and first F60. She was followed by Úna Mayock 1:14.29 , Eimear Fitzmaurice in 1:20.19, with Ambrose Gaughan 1:26.10.
Congratulations to the Mayo AC’s individual prizewinners in Roscommon, Trevor, Norah and Angela, and to Mayo AC’s women’s team of Norah, Angela, Ùna and Eimear who finished second of 17 teams.
