Kerryman Article 15/6/09

The British Milers Club met in Watford on saturday and once again brought
out the very best in athletes and big improvements in times were very much
the order of the day.
Laura Crowe made the qualifying standard for the European under 23
championships when she brought her 800m PB from 2:08.92 down to 2:05.95.

The first round of the National Mens and womens track and field league
were held in Cork yesterday with Kerry Senior teams competing for the
first time in both.Even though both teams are relatively young with more
juveniles than seniors after day one both the mens and womens team lead
division one with 108 points and 115 points respectively.
   The men had a total of 6 wins,3 seconds,3 thirds and 3 fourths to
score.James Nagle and Daniel Clifford had double victories in the
Hammer/56lb and Shot/discus.Niall Prendiville took the maximum nine
points in the 3k walk and the mens 4x100m team also took first with a
team of Cian Foley,Colm Lynch,David Boyd and Conal O Callaghan.Colm
Lynch powered to a close second in the 400m and Ed Murphy also finished
2nd in the 1500m to take seven points with the 4x400m team finishing
second with a team of Luke O Keeffe,Colm Lynch,Padraig Whelan and Cian
foley.Others to perform well individually were Michael Godley Triple
Jump,Arthur Fitzgearld 5k,Shane Delaney Javelin,Padaig Whelan High
Jump,Conal O Callaghan Long Jump,Luke O Keeffe 400 hurdles,Cian Foley
100m and Dara O Carroll 800m.
  The Womens team went one better with 7 wins,4 seconds and 4 thirds to
score.Claire Fitzgearld had double victories like her male throwing
counterparts in the javelin and discus.Ailbhe Courtney finished first in
the triple jump and second in the high jump and for good measure was
also fourth in the 400 hurdles.Sinead O Connor won the Long jump with
Margeurite O Connor vaulting to gold in the pole vault.Eilsih
Fitzpatrick blew away the field to take the 100m race and was also part
of the slick 4x100m relay team that won along with Emma Leen,Dearbhaill
Foley and Sinead O Conner.Seven pointers came from Caoimhe Casey in the
1500m walk even though she was up against olympian Olive Loughnane from
Galway,Katie O Shea in the hammer and Mary Fitzgearld in the
1500m.Others to perform well were Emma Leen Shot and 100m hurdles,Karen
Curran 3000m and 4x400m relay and Dearbhaill Foley 200m.
    On the day the Riocht mens team also competed.To the Fore for them was
Paul culloty 1st pole vault,Joe O Conner 2nd steeplechase,Donal O
Callaghan 2nd 5k and Ciaran Mcabe 2nd 100m.They go into the next round
in 5th place on 65 points.
  The second round of this competition is being held on Sunday July 5th in
either Athlone or Santry which is yet to be finalised.Well done to all
on a historic day for Kerry athletics with its first ever Kerry Senior
teams in the national league.We also wish David Boyd a speedy recovery
after a hamstring injury stopped him from taking gold in the 200m on the
day.