A Masterful day of Athletics in Tullamore

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The track and field season concluded today with the Irish Life Health Masters Championships in Tullamore Stadium, to be followed by the National Club League Final on Sunday 19th in the same venue. The first event of the day began at 11am with the long day of competition continuing until near 7pm. Once again there was another massive entry to this year’s Masters competition.

For the Masters, the Irish Life Health Master Championships today was the last event before the World Masters Championships which begins on September 5th in Malaga, Spain. This year there has been a record-breaking number of Irish entrants, totalling 130.

The day got off to a great start with the Women’s 100m. Snezana Bechtina (Clonliffe Harriers A.C.) claimed her second W35 title in a row in the 100m, taking .26 seconds off her time from last year.  Roisin Bell (Dunboyne A.C.) who competed in the W45 100m did the triple, winning her third gold since 2016.

The oldest competitor on the day was Sean Cowler (Donore Harriers), who competed in the M90 100m. He finished with a time of 30.67 to win his first M90 Outdoor National Title. John Corr (Leevale A.C.) was in fine form this morning adding two titles to his name in the M45 100m, winning in 11.85 and again in the 200m, winning in 24.42.

Avril Dillon (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.) won the 100mH W35 in 16.17 claiming a new National Record which was previously held by Danea Herron (Finn Valley) in a time of 17.58 set in 1998.

In the field events Finola Moore (Celbridge A.C.) flew over 1.15m in her first attempt to win the W55 High Jump after moving up an age category from last year. Gabriella Sztojalovszky (Metro/St. Brigid's A.C.) took the double in the W35 Javelin and Hammer, winning gold in both events.

Aidan Gillespie (Rosses A.C.) leapt to victory in the M45 Long Jump with 5.71m and again later in the day in the High Jump, clearing 1.60. He didn’t stop there and decided to claim his third gold of the day, sprinting to victory in the 110mH with a time of 17.63.

The first ever Irish Master Women’s weight for distance (28lbs) contest took place this afternoon across eight age categories. The winners from each category are;

W35 - Emma Jane Hutton, St. L. O'Toole A.C., 4.27m

W40 - Eithne Ni Mhurchadha (Civil Service A.C.), 3.87m

W45 - Eileen O' Riordan (Gneeveguilla A.C.), 6.15m

W50 - Eithne Bermingham (South Galway A.C.), 5.00m

W55 - Mary Barrett (Loughrea A.C.), 4.44m

W60 - Lindie Naughton (Dundrum South Dublin A.C.), 3.02m

W65 - Margaret Higgins (Corofin A.C.), 4.35m

W70 - Frances Mansfield (Clonliffe Harriers A.C.), 2.51m

Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers A.C.) had a very impressive day of performances in the M35 category. Sean was four times on top of the podium winning a plethora of medals – golds in the Discus (45.41m), Weight for Distance (8.03m) and Shot Putt (15.43) and bronze in the hammer, throwing 35.24m. He is in great form this year, winning the Men’s National Senior Indoor title in the Shot Putt at the start of 2018 and then two National Outdoor Senior Titles last month in the Men’s Shot Putt and Weight for Distance.             

A day at the Irish Life Health Masters is always guaranteed to be full of friendly competition and great performances. Congratulations to all athletes who came out and competed and made it a great day of competition for all involved!

For all results on the day please visit HERE.

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