National Masters Indoor Championships, Athlone

Great results for our Masters athletes competing in the National Indoor Championships in Athlone yesterday. With representation across a good range of events in both track and field, sprint and middle distance, DSD, in very well-attended and competitive field, managed to secure a number of medals, including 8 Golds and a National record! The ever-impressive Shane Sheridan did the double in the M55 winning the 60m in 7.83s and the 200m in 25.79s. Both of these were just outside his PBs and Irish records putting him very much on track for the World Masters Indoor Championships in Daegu, South Korea in two weeks time. This year’s ‘poster boy’ on the front of the programme was our own Kevin Byrne and based on his performance yesterday he most certainly earned his spot there! Kevin won the M45 60m hurdles, setting a new Irish Record! He also won Gold in the High Jump and Silver in the Long Jump. Peadar McGing, another multi-eventer, had an impressive medal haul in the M60, winning 2 Golds (60m and Long Jump) and 3 Silvers (200m, 400m and High Jump). Our Sprint Coach Avril Dillon looks set to have a promising Master’s career ahead of her, coming 2nd in the W35 60m, in only her second race in 9 years, her first one being last week! Mick Burke in the M40 category ran two PBs winning Gold in the 60m in 7.61s which was a big jump from his previous PB of 7.75s, and getting Silver in the 200m. Maxine Jones (W60) and Cathryn Brady (W50) both ran in the 800m and the 1500m races together. Maxine had stiff competition in both events with Pauline Moran from Mayo AC having just entered her age category! The 800m was a tough, crowded race and both Cathryn and Maxine secured Silver, also getting Indoor PBs. Cathryn got Gold in the 1500m and Maxine got Silver, having gained significant ground on Pauline Moran towards the finish, and improved on her time from last week’s race. Well done everyone – an impressive number of medals for such a small group of athletes! Hopefully these results will encourage more of our Masters athletes to participate in future track events. The Masters Indoor season does not finish there for us. The British Masters Championships take place next w/end in London and we have three athletes competing in that; Maxine, Cathryn and Kevin, while Shane will be flying the DSD colours for us In the World Championships in Daegu in two weeks time. Best of luck to all. (Thanks to Cathryn for report) Full results available on: http://www.athleticsirelandenterprises.com/results_05032017/schedule.html Cathryn Brady W.50; 1st 1500m5.29.55: 2nd 800m 2.39.33 Maxine Jones W.60; 2nd 1500m 5.46: 2nd 800m 2.54.86 Avril Dillon W.35; 2nd 60m 8.44 Shane Sheridan M55; 1st 60m 7.83; 1st 200m 25.79 Kevin Byrne M45; 1st 60mH 10.14; 1st H.J. 1.60; 2nd L.J. 4.90 Peadar McGing M60; 1st 60m 8.39; 2nd 200m 27.85; 2nd 400m 65.52 Mike Burke M40; 1st 60m 7.61; 2nd 200m 25.41 <img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5686de32a12f44306f7d3586/1488818017623-9VF7GJK0IPSV1NUM9ECV/national+indoors+2.jpg" alt="national indoors 2.jpg" />
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5686de32a12f44306f7d3586/1488818076112-7M5VP1TT6G5MJBDECS4J/national+indoors+3.jpg" alt="national indoors 3.jpg" />
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5686de32a12f44306f7d3586/1488818120780-VTYRL8EDLT5IVUDNHAWY/national+indoors+4.jpg" alt="national indoors 4.jpg" />
<img src="https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5686de32a12f44306f7d3586/1488818172957-F9IP2T8PC3PT199F30IP/national+indoors+5.jpg" alt="national indoors 5.jpg" />