Today after the Connacht Squad training Session, Dermot McDermott and crew organised a top quality graded track meet, designed to give people a chance to reach European standards.  This is a very brief report on some of the action.. Mike will probably add some more details later on.

The first event of Craughwell Interest was the 200m where Conor Duggan blasted to a new pb, dominating his race to win in a superb 24.14 (the digital clock was actually a hundreth off).  This pb bodes really well for him for this season. 

Next up was a race of general interest – the mile where Eamon Coghlan did a brilliant job of revving up the crowd and loud music boomed as his son John battled with a top quality field in an attempt to run Ireland’s first Indoor Sub-4. 

Four minute mile – can they do it?

His dad has done it enough times! Only one person has ever ran a mile indoors faster!

 Spent! The finish was impossibly close.. but what was the time?

Damn.. that was close – next time..! 

After a brilliant race from the spectators perspective, it was unfortunately not broken this time.  There’s no doubt that it will be broken soon however – and on this track too I’d say.  (Incidentally on the subject of indor miles, anyone that watched Ciaran O’Lionard’s emotional talk after the Olympics will be delighted to hear that the Cork man has just run an incredible 3:52 pb in the Wannamaker to become the 4th fastest Irishman ever over the indoor distance.)

Next of interest to Craughwell supporters was a series of brilliant graded 800m races, all of a very high standard.  Nicholas Sheehan was up first.  He wasn’t looking forward to the running today as he had a heavy weekend of sport, including a two hour soccer match yesterday.  At mid way in the race he looked tired and could easily have eased home for a still respectible time.  He is a fierce competitor though and dug deep to finish in a pb of 1.59.58, narrowly eclipsing his pb set in the aai games a month ago.

The next 800m race had three Craughwell AC athletes – Paul Joyce, Damian O Boyle and Conor Gillen.  The pacer in this race led the group through a punishing first half in under a minute.  Conor, Paul and Damian swaped positions, with Conor mostly doing the front running, and Paul sticking to the back of the group of three.

 As the bell sounded Paul eased up on Conor’s shoulder and timed his charge to perfection – just pipping him on the line.  All three can claim the same new PBs however – they all finished on 2.01!

Identical times, great finish!

The final 800m race had one Craughwell AC competitor.  Neil Greaney came into this race with a pb of 2.08, and a plan in his head.  The plan was to run harder than he thought he was able to – to basically aim to blow up, and count on his aerobic engine to take him home, leaving nothing behind him.  Neil ran a brilliant race – going with the leaders, and making an extra push to close with the breakaway leader on the third lap.  His final charge down the home straight took him to a pb 2.05, and also won him the race.  Excellent stuff!

An exhausted Neil is congratulated by Conor after his great win

More congrqats for a gutsy run

I unfortunately had to leave before the long jump concluded where Mairead McCann and Claire Ryder were competing with a flying Kelly Proper, but here are a couple of other pictures of the event.

GCH’s Allanah Lally competing with the best on her way toa superb 2.09 pb for 800m

Claire and the lads get some refreshments

Mairead shows good form in her Long Jump