Masters set for Athlone en masse

Masters set for Athlone en masse

The Irish Life Health Masters Indoor Championships take place in Athlone this Sunday (March 10) with good competition in store.

Many of the athletes will be fine-tuning for the World Masters Athletics Indoor Championships in Torun, Poland at the end of the month.

Once again there is a massive entry. Kelly Neely (City of Lisburn AC) will be one of the leading women and she is entered in the F40 1500m and 3000m.

Other women who will feature in the middle distance events include Annette Kealy (Raheny Shamrock A.C.) in the F50 3000m, Adrienne Atkins (Raheny Shamrock A.C.) in the F50 800m, Anne Gilshinan (Slaney Olympic A.C.) F50 800m and 1500m, and Pauline Moran (Mayo AC) F60 800m

Those that will compete in multiple events including technical are Mary Barrett (Loughrea A.C.) in the F60 and Geraldine Finegan (North East Runners A.C.) in the F50.

Jer O'Donoghue (An Ríocht AC) will aim to be the fastest man on the day in the M35 60m while John MacDermott (Sligo A.C.) will be one of the elder statesman in the M70 age group looking to run fast over 60m.

Jonathan Miller (Crusaders) will also be looking to run fast in the M35 section entered in the 60m, 200m and 400m.

Ger Cremin (An Ríocht AC) has been a standout performer and is entered in multiple events in the M40 age group including the 60m Hurdles and the 400m.

Trevor McGlynn (Omagh Harriers) is another who has been competing well over a myriad of events this indoor season and will look to compete well in the M40 category.

Shane Healy (Metro/St. Brigid's A.C.) has been generating headlines this indoor season and will compete in the M50 800m. Joe Gough (West Waterford) is another never far from the headlines and he goes in the M65 800m.

Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers) recently won the national senior indoor shot put title and will be the big favourite in the throws in the M40 section.

Francois Kulik (Sli Cualann) and Brian Peppard (Monaghan Phoenix A.C.) will be looking for good performances in their respective M35 and M50 high jump competitions.

Some of the oldest competitors on the day will be Micheal O'Beirne (Dundrum A.C.), Michael Hayes (St. Marys (Clare) A.C.), Flor OLeary (St. Finbarrs A.C.) and Patrick Naughton (Nenagh Olympic) in the M85 category. In the women’s, Mary Martin and Mary Walsh (Tullamore Harriers A.C.) compete in the F70 category.