Sports star Seamus walks into history

Seamus Clarke enjoyed a weekend that he certainly won’t be forgetting in a hurry. The Ballina teenager attended Friday night’s Western People Mayo Sports Stars Awards, where he collected the Young Sportsperson of the Year award, and on Sunday took part in his first National Senior Athletics Championships where he smashed one of the longest-standing records in Irish athletics. 

The Moy Valley AC racewalker competed in the 5000m walk at the National Indoor Arena in Dublin and crossed the line in fourth place in an impressive time of 21m31s, which not only shaved a massive 41 seconds off his personal best time but set a new Irish U18 track record in the process. The record had stood since 1994 and was held by Olympian Jamie Costin from West Waterford AC.

Seamus now holds the national records for both road and track in the U18 5000m walk.