No hassle in Castle’ for Mayo runners
The Mayo AC tea, who took part in the Castlegar AC races in Ballybrit. Back row, from left: Donna Gallagher, Colette Tuohy, Angela O’Connor, Paraic Sweeney, Breege Blehein and Mags Glavey. Front row: Eimear Fitzmaurice and Katie Gibbons.
Athletics: Castlegar Athletics Club hosted their 29th Open Cross Country event at Galway Racecourse at Ballybrit on September 28.
The Open Cross Country was also a leg of World Athletics Bronze Tour.
Moy Valley AC’s Keelan Kilrehill was the winner of the men's race in 23:50. That was over a distance of 8350 metres while the women’s race was over 6150m, which saw Caitlín Hughes of Swinford AC finish fourth woman overall and first junior in 23:13. The overall women’s winner was Lauren Tinkler in 21:47.
Mayo AC had eight men and women competing in the over 60s races, five of whom had run at the Mayo Cross Country Championships in Doolough the week before, namely Colette Tuohy, Angela O’Connor, Mags Glavey, Donna Gallagher and Paraic Sweeney. They were joined by new member Katie Gibbons (recently transferred from Castlebar AC), Eimear Fitzmaurice, and Breege Blehein.
Colette Tuohy led the eight home in 13th place overall (25:57) and second place in the F50 category. She was one of four who had top three category finishes, with Angela O’Connor third F50 (26:26), Paraic Sweeney second M70 (29:56) and Mags Glavey first F70 (30:01). Mags was delighted to turn the tables on Eileen Kenny who finished in gold just ahead of her in the recent National Half-marathon in Charleville.
“The day was perfect, the course tough, and the grass quite long in places and so many twists and turns. However, it was great training for the Abbottstown Autumn trials,” she explained.
Mayo AC’s other finishers were Eimear Fitzmaurice, 4th F40 (26:06), Donna Gallagher, F40 (27:17), Katie Gibbons (29:07) and Breege Blehein, 5th F50 (29:17).
