Irish Masters on top form in Italy

Kelly Neely (City of Lisburn) and Joe Gough (West Waterford) have headlined a sea of wonderful performances by Irish athletes at the European Masters in Ancona, Italy.

Nelly hammered the W35 800m field running 2:09.04. In her prime Neely ran 55.21 for 400m, 2:03.21 for 800m and 4:10.2 for 1500m. The City of Lisburn athlete is enjoying a renaissance having married Ian Neely, a coach and member of North Down, and they now have a baby daughter.   

“I enjoy running more than ever,” said Neely afterwards. “It’s nice to be running with no pressure and the knowledge that if it doesn't go well I have a beautiful baby girl waiting for me at home! Priorities have changed, running used to be everything now family, friends and my coaching/business come first and running is just a bonus.”

She had the added bonus of coaching Joy McAleer to 6th in the W50 800m in 2:50.97. Other women who impressed over 800m included Lucan Harriers’ Niamh Fitzgerald who won bronze in the W40 in 2:18.69.

Joe Gough (West Waterford) continued his rich vein of form with gold in the M60 800m in 2:16.76 while Brian Lynch (North East Runners) was one of the first gold medallists with M60 gold in 10:28.78 over 3,000m. Mooreabbey Milers Stuart Moloney won M35 bronze over the same distance in 8:46.71. Denise Toner (Clones) won silver in the women's W35 3,000m while Ann Woodlock (Donore Harriers) scored W75 3,000m bronze in 16:10.74. Frank Reilly was second in the M70 3000m.

Geraldine Finnegan (NERD) continued her medal haul with gold in the W50 pentathlon. She added bronze in the high jump.  Also taking gold was Sean McMullen in the M70 3k walk.  In the M55 3km track walk while Pat Murphy was 3rd.

For a full list of the Irish team entered HERE

To keep up to speed with results by category and event click HERE 

For live results HERE