Kerry Athletics AWARDS NIGHT - Friday 12th April 2019 Kenmare Bay Hotel
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Kerry Athletics
AWARDS
NIGHT
Lios Tuathail
Spa Fenit Barrow
St Brendan’s
Tralee Harriers
An Ríocht
Farranfore Maine Valley
Star of the Laune
Gneeveguilla
Killarney Valley
Iveragh Kenmare
Friday 12th April 2019
Kenmare Bay Hotel
Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Kerry Athletics Award Winners 2o18
CLUB AWARDS COUNTY AWARDS International Awards
Shauna McCarthy, FMV
An Ríocht Track & Field Cillian Griffin, TH
Darragh Lynch Juvenile Men Luke O’Carroll, TH
Melissa Ahern Jordan Kissane, TH Travane Morrison, TH
Junior Men Jordan Lee, KV
Farranfore Maine Valley David Kenny, FMV James Doran, AR
Eabha McCarthy Senior Men Colm Lynch, IV
Malachy Kirwan Denis Finnegan, AR Ger Cremin, AR
Master Men Jim O’Shea, FMV
Gneeveguilla Kevin Lynch, LT
Danielle O’Riordan Patsy O’Connor, TH Hall of Fame
Frank O’Riordan Jer O’Donoghue, AR Michael O’Connor (FMV)
Juvenile Women
Iveragh Ciara Kennelly, KV Kerry Men’s National
Deirdre Kelly Junior Women League Team
Adam Quigley Shona O’Brien, GG Tralee Harriers:
Senior Women Travane Morrison, Cillian
Kenmare Solange Diogo, TH Griffin, Basit Oyebanji,
Abbie Dunlop Master Women Cathal Fitzgibbon, Oisin
Liam Palmer Ursula Barrett, ST B Spillane, Luke O’Carroll,
Catherine Moynihan, GG Patsy O’Connor, Alan
Killarney Valley Sheila O’Donoghue, GG O’Connor (Captain).
Aoibhinn Gleeson Farranfore Maine Valley:
Sam Griffin Cross Country Dermot Dineen,
Juvenile Men Sean O’Shea, Rossa Foley,
Lios Tuathail Luke Merrigan, KM David Kenny.
Saoirse Dillon Junior Men Lios Tuathail:
Sean Keane Oisin Spilliane, TH Michael Tony, Kevin Lynch,
Senior Men Ben Sheehan.
St Brendan’s Conor O’Mahony, AR St Brendan’s:
Lilly Nowak Master Men Aaron Malik,
Tom O’Flaherty Tim O’Connor, AR Darragh Courtney.
Juvenile Women Iveragh: Adam King.
Star of the Laune Niamh O’Mahony, AR
Marina Eager Junior Women
James Clifford Alyce O’Connor, KM
Senior Women
Tralee Harriers Shona Heaslip, AR
Elinor Dennison Master Women
Basit Oyebanji Niamh O’Sullivan, AR
Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Fáilte
You are very welcome here this evening to our annual Awards Banquet. We
are celebrating the excellent performances of our athletes during 2018 and we
acknowledge the great effort which they all made in training and competition.
Congratulations to all our award winners and well done also to the very many other
athletes who did not receive awards this year.
Thanks also so the many club officials, coaches, parents, friends and volunteers
without whom our athletes would not be able to reach such levels of performance.
We look forward to another very good year in 2019.
Finally, thanks to all who helped in the organising of tonight’s banquet.
Martin Fitzgerald
(Chairperson Kerry AAI)
2 3 4
1
5
Photo: Paul Askins
Above: Kerry Winners at the Munster Athletic Star Awards held in Rathkeale on 1st February 2019. 1 – Alyce
O’Connor (Kenmare) Kerry Track & Field. 2 – Rossa Foley (Farranfore Maine Valley) U23 Men Track & Field.
3 – Orla O’Reilly (Tralee Harriers) Senior Women Track & Field. 4 – Jordan Kissane (Tralee Harriers) Kerry Track
& Field. 5 – Níamh O’Mahony (An Ríocht) Kerry Cross Country. Gneeveguilla – Best Masters Track & Field Club.
Front cover from left to right: Kerry athletes representing Ireland in 2018 – Cillian Griffin and Luke O’Carroll
(Tralee Harriers), SIAB Track & Field Championships; Jordan Lee (Killarney Valley), European Para Athletics
Championships; Shauna McCarthy (Farranfore Maine Valley), SIAB Cross Country; Colm Lynch (Iveragh) and
Jer Cremin (An Ríocht), European Masters Relay medal winners.
1Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
An Ríocht – Club Award Winners
Melissa Ahern
Melissa has enjoyed great success over the past year. She started
the year by placing 3rd in the U14 60m at the Munster Indoors
and followed this with bronze at the National Indoors, winning her
first National medal. She claimed gold and a CBP in the U14 80m
at the County T&F Championships and placed 3rd at the Munster
Outdoors. Melissa had an excellent run at the National Outdoors
making the final of the 80m sprint and just missing out on a
podium place finish. We wish her every success for the future.
Darragh Lynch
Although Darragh has not been a member of the club for very long
he has certainly proven to be a very promising athlete. He has a
love of long distance running and medalled in both cross country
and road races over the past year. Darragh is a very dedicated
athlete and has a great attitude towards training and also shows
great leadership skills. Darragh was 3rd in the Even Age Cross
Country and 2nd in the Uneven Age Cross Country this year and
he also came 3rd in high jump in the North Munster Schools.
Farranfore Maine Valley – Club Award Winners
Eabha McCarthy
Eabha has been a member of our club since the age of six. Her
main involvement is in Cross Country and Track events. Winning
individual medals at County XC, Munster XC and County Team
Nationals. But her love has always been Track racing. Since a very
young age she has been on the podium at all track events and
representing Kerry at the National Community Games on four
occasions. Eabha is now focusing her time to Hurdles and short
distance. We wish well and congratulations on her award tonight.
Malachy Kirwan
Malachy is a fine young athlete who has been competing with
the club for many years. He is an all-rounder with county medals
in Track, sprints, middle distance, and Cross Country. He is
coming through to be a very talented middle-distance athlete
securing individual & team medals at the County Cross Country
Championships and been well placed at the Munster XC. Malachy
has a very bright athletic future ahead of him and congratulations
on his award tonight.
2Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Gneeveguilla – Club Award Winners
Danielle O’Riordan
Kerry County Championships: 1st U13 shot, 1st U14 hammer
Munster Indoor Championships: 3rd U13 shot
Munster Outdoor T&F Championships: 4th U13 shot
Munster B T & F Championships: 1st U13 shot
National Indoor Championships: 7th shot.
Frank O’Riordan
Kerry Indoor Games: 1st U12 shot
Kerry County Championships: 3rd U13 shot
Munster Outdoor T&F Championships: 5th U12 shot
Munster B T & F Championships: 1st U12 shot
Iveragh – Club Award Winners
Deirdre Kelly
Kerry Schools Cross Country: 1st.
South Munster Schools Cross Country: 5th.
Kerry Schools T & F: 1st 800m.
South Munster Schools T&F: 1st 800m.
Munster Schools T&F: 2nd 800m.
Irish Schools T&F: 6th 800m
Kerry Community Games: 1st U16 relay, 2nd U16 1500m.
Adam Quigley
Kerry U13 and U14 Cross Country: 2nd.
Kerry Primary Schools Cross Country: 3rd.
Kerry Primary Schools T & F: 1st 5th class 600m
Kerry Community Games Cross Country: 1st.
Kerry County T & F: 1st U12 600m.
Kerry Community Games: 2nd U12 600m.
Munster Cross Country: 4th U13.
All-Ireland Cross Country: Gold Munster team medal
3Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Kenmare – Club Award Winners
Abbie Dunlop
Kerry Schools Cross Country: 1st.
South Munster Schools Cross Country: 6th.
All Ireland schools Cross Country: 52nd
Kerry County Cross Country: 1st U14 and 5th U15
Munster Cross Country: 56th U14.
Munster B Cross Country: 5th.
Liam Palmer
Kerry Schools Cross Country: 1st Junior boys.
South Munster Schools Cross Country: 1st Junior boys.
Munster Schools Cross Country: 7th Junior boys.
All Ireland Schools Cross Country: 24th Junior boys.
Munster B Cross Country: 2nd U15.
National B Cross Country: 5th U15.
Kerry Schools Cross Country: 2nd Intermediate boys.
Killarney Valley – Club Award Winners
Aoibhinn Gleeson
Aoibhinn is a very versatile young athlete whose 3rd place finishes
at the County Championships in both U13 80m and 600m shows.
She started the Cross Country season with a 5th place in the U13
race, and culminated in a fantastic bronze medal at the Munster ‘B’
Cross Country Championships. Her speed, stamina and will to win
together make for a very bright prospect in the coming years, and
all in Killarney Valley congratulate Aoibhinn on her award tonight.
Sam Griffin
Sam has been competing in athletics since he was U9, but it was in
2018 that his flair for the jumps really came to the fore. Sam won
the U16 high jump at the County Championships and his years of
training finally paid off when he won his first Munster medal at
the indoors earlier this year taking a bronze in the U16 long jump.
Killarney Valley AC congratulate Sam on his award and wish him
all the best in his preparations for the National Indoors.
4Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Lios Tuathail – Club Award Winners
Saoirse Dillon
Saoirse has been a member of Lios Tuathaill since she was seven
years old and was a talented sprinter from the very beginning.
Her success at County, Munster and National level is a highlight
for the club each year. In 2018 Saoirse won bronze in the National
U12 60m indoors and followed this up with a silver medal in the
National U12 60m outdoors. 2019 is off to a good start having won
the Munster U13 60m indoors. Lois Tuathaill A.C. congratulates
Saoirse on her award and wishes her every success in the future.
Sean Keane
Sean is a relatively new member of Lios Tuathaill and has shown
a real talent for field events. In the past two years Sean has had a
top 3 finish in Munster schools and Munster AAI championships.
The foundations were beginning to show progression and his
technical ability to adapt from the shot to the hammer showed
his talent. This was evident in the 2018 National finals when Sean
secured gold in the U15 hammer. We wish Sean every success and
continued progress in the future.
St Brendan’s – Club Award Winners
Lilly Nowak
Lilly is one of the competitive Nowak sisters. She has been involved
with the club for several years. Lilly has competed at both county
and Munster competitions. She is also a very avid triathlete and is
very encouraging to her fellow athletes at all events. We wish Lilly
all the best for 2019.
Tom O’Flaherty
Tom is a keen middle distance runner. He has competed with the
club for several years now. He is very committed to his training
and eager to improve on his times and placings.
Tom is looking forward to the 2019 season in the hope of
competing in Castleisland at Munster level. The very best of
luck to Tom for 2019.
5Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Star of the Laune – Club Award Winners
Marina Eager
Marina is one of a very talented athletic family, who is willing to
try anything from track to cross country to 5km on the road.
Her achievements include 2nd in the County Primary Schools
600m, 4th in the County U14 Cross Country Championship, and a
5km Parkrun time of 22:50.
James Clifford
James has been the most consistent attender at training for a
number of years and it has certainly paid off, as his results in the
past year show. He was 2nd in the County Junior 3000m, 5th in
County Junior Cross Country as well as recording times in road
races such as 5km in 19.06, 10 miles in 71 minutes and clocking a
1.36 half marathon.
Tralee Harriers – Club Award Winners
Elinor Dennison
Elinor has been a staple member of Tralee Harriers performance
training squad for several years. 2018 saw her win Junior county
titles in both the long jump and triple jump and she also medalled
Photo: Angela Kelly
in both events at the South Munster Schools. At the Munster
Indoors she won silver in the U18 girl’s long jump, and bronze
in the Senior Women’s 60m. She transferred this success to the
Munster Outdoors taking bronze in the Senior Women’s 100m.
Basit Oyebanji
Basit is one of Kerry’s rising sprinting stars covering the 100m,
200m and 400m. Last year he competed at all levels earning
notability in both school and AAI events and earning a place on the
Photo: Angela Kelly
Munster Tailteann Team where he won a silver medal. Basit holds
two team relay records with Mounthawk Inter and Tralee Harriers
Juniors. Basit took home a total of 9 Gold, 4 Silver and 5 Bronze
medals in 2018.
6Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Kerry AAI Awards – Track and Field
Juvenile Men: Jordan Kissane – Tralee Harriers
For Jordan 2018 was the year he was waiting for, setting
off the season with a National Medal in the pentathlon.
In Munster his dominance in the U16 age group, was
outstanding taking 5 gold medals in the T&F which he
Photo: Sportsfile Matt Browne
followed with National double Gold in T&F.
He earned the Munster Star Award and the National Kerry
Juvenile Athlete of the year. His medal tally is 11 Gold, 5
Silver and 5 Bronze.
Junior Men: David Kenny – Farranfore Maine Valley
David is one of Kerry’s most talented Race Walkers. He has
broken all his personal best times, second in the National Indoors
Junior 3K & senior 2K. National Outdoors T&F he was First in
the Universities IUAA 3K, First in Junior 3K & third in the Senior
10K. The highlight of his season was made at the National 20km
Outdoor Race Walking Championships event in Raheny where
his performance has placed him third in the all-time list for an
U20 athlete in a time of 1hr 29mins.
Senior Men: Denis Finnegan – An Ríocht
In 2018 Denis won his 9th National Senior triple jump title and the
7th in a row. This equals the record of the most triple jump wins
ever in Ireland alongside Michael McDonald.
Denis jumped a season’s best of 15 metres and finished in 7th place
in the Australian Senior Championships.
7Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Masters Men: Kevin Lynch – Lios Tuathail
Bronze British Masters 400m.
Munster Outdoor Masters 100m and 400m Champion.
National Indoor Masters 200m and 400m Champion.
Masters Men: Patsy O’Connor – Tralee Harriers
Patsy is one of Tralee Harriers top athletes. Competing in
athletics since he was a wee toddler, he has been on top of the
Irish rankings for many decades.
Concentrating on throws and high jump in the past few years
he continues to bring home the golds from every event. His
infectious personality is felt by all his competitors as well as the
athletes he coaches. Patsy’s medal tally for 2018 is 14 Gold,
4 Silver and 1 Bronze.
Masters Men: Jer O’Donoghue – An Ríocht
Munster MO35 champion in 100m in a record time of
11.37secs.
National M35 Champion in 100m.
He was part of An Ríocht 4 x 100m team that has won 4 in a
row 4 x 100m master relay titles
Jer has been Ireland’s fastest man O35 for the past 2 years.
8Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Juvenile Women: Ciara Kennelly – Killarney Valley
2018 was a very significant year for Ciara. She won several
provincial and national titles and set championship records. These
included Munster Schools and Club titles and National School and
Club titles. Ciara set new records at Munster level for senior and
junior high jump as well as new National Juvenile Records at both
indoors and outdoor competitions.
In the Summer of 2018 she qualified for three International
Competitions: The SIAB schools athletics in Grangemouth,
Scotland, The Celtic Games, also in Scotland and the Under 18
European Championships in Györ, Hungary. At this event Ciara
competed with elite athletes from all Europe.
Junior Women: Shona O’Brien – Gneeveguilla
Munster Indoors: 1st U19 800m
National Indoors: 1st U19 1500m in a CBP and 1st U19 800m.
National Track & Field Championship: 1st U19 1500m.
Senior Women: Solange Diogo – Tralee Harriers
Solange is one of Tralee Harriers promising triple jumpers,
competing both for the club and Tralee IT and was part of the
Irish Colleges Celtic Team.
She has earned National and International medals and titles.
Working very hard on her training last year she pushed herself
and changed her run and jumping technique to help her gain
success. At nationals this year she pushed hard on her last jump
to gain a bronze medal in very stiff competition.
9Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Masters Women: Ursula Barrett – St Brendan’s
Munster Indoor Championships: 1st 60m, 1st long jump with
a new CBP in her age category.
National Indoor Championships: 1st long jump, 2nd 200m,
3rd 60m.
Kerry County Championships: 2nd 100m 2nd 200m,
2nd long jump.
Munster T&F Championships: 2nd 100m, 2nd 200m,
2nd long jump.
AAI National T&F Championships: 2nd long jump, 3rd 200m.
Masters Women: Catherine Moynihan – Gneeveguilla
Munster Indoors 035: 3rd 60m, 1st long jump.
Kerry County Championships 040: 1st 100m, 200m and
long jump.
Munster T&F Championships 040: won 100m, 200m and long
jump, setting three new Munster records.
100m –13.83 seconds.
200m – 28.90 seconds.
Long jump – 4.68m.
National T&F Championships 040: 1st 100m and long jump.
Masters Women: Sheila O’Donoghue – Gneeveguilla
Munster Indoors: 1st Shot, 2nd WFD. Created new Munster
O50 indoor record in the shot putt of 12.76m.
Munster Track & Field Championships: 1st shot, WFD, 60m,
2nd discus, hammer and javelin
Photo: Sportsfile Hary Murphy
National Indoor Championships: 1st WFD, 2nd shot.
National Track and Field Championships: 1st Shot, WFD and
hammer.
10Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Kerry AAI Awards – Cross Country
Juvenile Men: Luke Merrigan – Kenmare
Luke is a very talented athlete and swimmer. At the Kerry
Track and Field Championships in May Luke came 1st in the
U10 500m and 2nd in the 60m. Later in May, he won the Kerry
Community Games 60m hurdles and went on to win silver at
the National Community Games finals. Luke came 1st in the
U10 500m at the Munster T&F Championships. Cross Country
wins came thick and fast with Luke taking the Kerry U10 and
U11 titles with ease. He then secured double gold in Munster
winning the U10 and U11 races. Although a year under age,
Luke came in 3rd place overall in the National Cross Country,
the first boy home for Munster which gave him a gold medal
for the provincial team.
Junior Men: Oisin Spillane – Tralee Harriers
Oisin achieved more than he hoped for in 2018, having missed
Nationals last year due to illness, he was out to prove a point.
Taking the County Juniors in fine style, he was 5th in the
Munster U18s and followed that with 15th at Nationals and
earned a national Silver team medal.
In Track and Field he earned several silver and bronze medals
over the 1500m and 3000m in both schools and T&F.
Senior Men: Conor O’Mahony – An Ríocht
County Road Championships: 3rd.
Kerry County Track & Field Championships: 1st 3000m.
County Intermediate Cross Country: 1st.
County Senior Cross Country: 1st.
Munster T&F Championships: 3rd senior 1500m.
National Senior Cross Country: Part of 3rd place club team “B”
grade and winning County “B” grade.
11Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Masters Men: Tim O’Connor – An Ríocht
Kerry County Masters Cross Country: 1st.
Kerry County senior Cross Country: 3rd.
Munster Masters Cross Country: 1st.
National Masters Cross Country: 3rd.
Munster Master Road Championships: 2nd.
Senior Women: Shona Heaslip – An Ríocht
Irish University Athletics Association (IUAA) Cross Country
Championships: 1st.
County Road Championships: 1st.
Great Garmin Run and National 10km Road Championships: 1st.
Great Birmingham 10km Run: 2nd.
Munster Senior Track and Field Championships: 1st 3000m in
a new championship record of 9.19.
21st Kortrijkse Guldensporenmeeting: 8th in 5k in PB of 15.50.
National Senior Track and Field Championships: 2nd 5000m.
County Senior Cross Country Championships: 1st.
Autumn Open International Cross-Country Festival: 1st
Masters Women: Niamh O’Sullivan – An Ríocht
Kerry County Senior Cross Country: 2nd.
Kerry County Masters Cross Country: 1st.
Autumn Open Cross Country:1st in age category.
National Masters Cross Country: 1st in age category..
Britain and Ireland Masters International Cross Country
Swansea: 2nd in age category; 3rd team.
World Masters Athletics Champs, Malaga: 3rd in age category 8k.
County Road Race Championships: 3rd Senior.
National Road 10k: 1st in age category.
World Masters Athletics Champs Malaga: 4th in age category 10k.
Munster Masters T & F 3k: 1st in age category in Munster record
of 10.54.
National Masters T & F 3k: 1st in age category.
12Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Junior Women: Alyce O’Connor – Kenmare
Munster Schools T&F: 2nd 1500m.
All Ireland schools: 2nd 1500m – Represented Ireland in Celtic
games where she won silver.
Munster T&F Championships: 1st 1500m and 800m.
National T&F Championships: 1st 1500m.
Kerry Cross Country champs: 2nd U18, 1st U19.
Munster Cross Country Championships: 7th U18, 5th U19.
Kerry Colleges Cross Country: 1st.
South Munster Schools Cross Country: 3rd.
Munster Schools Cross Country: 8th.
All Ireland Schools Cross Country: 20th.
Munster Indoors: 1st U19 1500m and 800m, CBP for 1500m.
National Indoor Championships: 2nd U19 1500m.
Juvenile Women: Níamh O’Mahony – An Ríocht
Kerry Schools Cross Country: 2nd Intermediate.
North Munster Schools Cross Country: 3rd Intermediate.
Munster Schools Cross Country: 2nd Intermediate.
All-Ireland Schools Cross Country: 2nd Intermediate.
12th overall at the S.I.A.B. cross country in Nottingham and the
first Irish girl home. The Irish team won bronze.
Kerry Colleges T & F 3000m: 1st intermediate.
North Munster Schools T & F 3000m: 1st intermediate.
Munster Schools T & F 3000m: 1stintermediate.
All Ireland schools T & F 3000m: 1st intermediate.
Tailteann Games: 1st 3000m.
Finished in second place at the S.I.A.B. track and field
international in Scotland and received the Sean Nyhan medal for
best female athlete from Irish team management.
Kerry Cross Country Championships: 1st U17, U18 and Junior.
Munster Cross Country Championships: 3rd U17, 1st U18.
National Cross Country Championships: 11th U17.
National Cross Country Championships: 5th U18.
Selected for developmental U20 Irish team for the Antrim Open/
Celtic Cross Country in Belfast. Níamh was the 2nd Irish girl
home securing a silver in the team event.
At the Community Games finals, Níamh won 4 national medals
with her favourite being the 8km marathon gold medal.
13Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
International Awards
Shauna McCarthy – Farranfore Maine Valley
Shauna, competing for the first time in a Schools competition,
was part of the Junior Girls Irish Team to compete in the SIAB
Schools Cross Country, Nottingham, where she was a part of
the team to win Bronze.
Travane Morrison – Tralee Harriers
Travane is a recent addition to Tralee Harriers and he has
created quite an impression on both Tralee Harrier club athletes
and the Irish Sprinting community. Competing for both club
and Tralee IT he has excelled himself.
Earning several titles along the way, he took International
medals in Scotland with the Irish college’s team, and at
Photo: Angela Kelly
International events Le Cheile, Morton and Cork City Games,
and narrowly missed out on the National 100m title just 100s of
a second behind Leon Reid.
Colm Lynch – Iveragh
Munster Indoors: 2nd 60m, 1st 200m, 1st 400m CBP
Munster T&F Championships: 1st 200m 1st 400m.
National Indoors: 1st 200m, 4th 400m.
National T&F Championships: 1st 200m, 2nd 400m.
Part of the European Bronze Medal 4 x 200m relay team in Irish
record time of 1.37.01.
14Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Luke O’Carroll – Tralee Harriers
Luke had a very successful 2018 athletic year, taking both the
U18 National Indoor and Outdoor Track and Field long jump
titles. In the national outdoors he leaped over the 6.87m mark
which earned him a spot on the Irish Schools team and the Irish
Celtic Games team where he brought home silver with a new
PB in the long jump.
He was captain of two record breaking relay teams. Luke has a
2018 tally of 18 Gold, 10 Silver and 3 bronze medals.
Cillian Griffin – Tralee Harriers
Photo: That One Moment – Bobby Galvin
2018 saw Cillian’s speed increase and increase, putting him a
position for national awareness at junior level. Having dipped
under the 11 seconds several times, he earned his place on the
Irish schools team competing in both relays and sprints earning
silver medals.
Cillian competed in several events throughout the year as well
as relays all the while breaking records. Cillian’s tally for 2018 is
17 Gold, 13 Silver and 16 Bronze medals.
Jordan Lee – Killarney Valley
Although still a relative newcomer to the athletics world,
Jordan has shown that it is possible for people with physical
disabilities to compete at the highest levels not just in para
sport and also in able bodied sport. His recent jump of 1.90m
places Jordan in the top 2 of world rankings in Para Athletics
for the 2019 Season thus far as he prepares for the World Para
Athletics Championships in Dubai in November and also the
qualification period for Tokyo 2020.
Photo: Sportsfile Luc Percival
European Para Athletics championships Berlin Germany:
World Para Grand Prix Rieti Italy: 1st.
National Record Para Athletics: 1.84 meters.
Munster Indoor Championships: 2nd U19.
Munster Outdoor Championships: 3rd Senior.
National Indoor Championships 2019: 3rd
15Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
James Doran – An Ríocht
County Senior Cross Country: 2nd.
National Senior Cross Country: Part of 3rd place club team
“B” grade and winning County “B” grade.
Masters International 10k (Birmingham)
England vs Celtic Nationals: 2nd over 35.
European Masters Indoor Championship (Madrid) cross
country 5k event: 14th individual and scoring member of 2nd
placed Irish team.
European masters non stadia Championship (Alicante)
Half marathon: 6th over 35.
British & Irish Masters Cross Country International: 13th
over 35 and scoring member of 2nd place Irish team.
Ger Cremin – An Ríocht
European bronze 4 x 200m relay medal in M35 Irish record
time of 1.37.01
60 metre hurdles indoor in M35 and 110 hurdles outdoor
National Champion for the 5th year in a row.
400 metre M35 National indoor title in 53.19 secs and outdoor
title M40 in 52.59 secs.
National record in M40 outdoor pentathlon.
Munster outdoor 200 metre record in M40 in 23.68 secs.
Jim O’Shea – Farranfore Maine Valley
Jim competed in the European Masters Indoors, Madrid, where
he was first in the M75 long jump at a distance of 4 meters. An
outstanding achievement for a great ambassador in the sport of
athletics.
16Kerry Athletics Awards Night – 12th April 2019
Kerry Men’s National League Team
By Paul Griffin, PRO Tralee Harriers
Above: The Kerry Men’s National League team, August 19th 2018. Back row left to right: Michael Tony (Lios
Tuathail), Basit Oyebanji (Tralee Harriers), Rossa Foley (Farranfore Maine Valley), Luke O’Carroll (Tralee Harriers),
Patsy O’Connor (Tralee Harriers), Oisin Spillane (Tralee Harriers), Travayne Morrison (Tralee Harriers), David
Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley), Captain Alan O’Connor (Tralee Harriers). Front row left to right: Darragh
Courtney (St Brendan’s), Aaron Malik (St Brendan’s), Cillian Griffin (Tralee Harriers), Ben Sheehan (Lios Tuathail),
Cathal Fitzgibbon (Tralee Harriers). Missing from photo: Adam King (Iveragh), Kevin Lynch (Lios Tuathail),
Dermot Dineen (Farranfore Maine Valley), Sean O’Shea (Farranfore Maine Valley).
A thletics in Kerry got a real boost in 2018
with the return of the Kerry Athletics
Men’s National League team. Built with
Athlone was the venue for round two with
the lads meeting a totally different group
of teams. A series of great performances,
athletes from across the majority of Kerry including 8 first place finishes, saw them
clubs, the team consisted of 11 junior athletes clock up 109 points to finish second on the
with a few seniors and a handful of seasoned table – putting them in safely into the final.
veterans thrown in for good measure.
Off to Tullamore in August for the final
The National League consists of two rounds where fantastic performances all round,
of two groups with the top 8 teams going including two thrilling relays, saw the
through to the final. The first round was in men take the silver medals and move from
Templemore on a very warm sun-baked day Division 1 to the Premier Division on their
and with 19 events to contest and the top 15 first outing. Not bad for a team that on
to score, the Kerry team finished in second the day included 9 athletes under 18 years
place overall with a total of 7 first place of age. Well done men and best of luck for
finishes for maximum points. 2019 from all at Kerry Athletics!
17Hall of Fame: Michael (Mike) O’Connor
Farranfore Maine Valley
M ichael (Mike) O’Connor made his
athletics debut at Ballyhar Sports in
1966, when as a tall lanky youngster, he
entered and won the 880 yards under 18
run. He was awarded for his efforts with a
prize of a cake stand. He was then hooked
on the sport!
Joining Farranfore Athletic Club, on the
invitation of John Crowley, he trained
regularly and made great strides (pardon
the pun). In 1967, he competed in The
Kerry Junior Road championships over
two miles and won the individual title
from Listowel’s Jerry Kiernan in the
runner-up position.
Other highlights of his career:
1968 – Won the Kerry Novice Cross
Country Championship. Championships. (Madrid, AnCona and
1972 – Won the National Novice Road Seville). He also competed in the Dublin
Walking Race Title at Kilkenny and also City Marathon completing the distance in
in this year he won the Kerry Senior Cross a time of 2hrs 57mins.
Country Title held in Ballymacelligott.
Mike has been a very regular and loyal
During the 70s and 80s, he was a regular club member for well over fifty years
member of Kerry Cross Country teams and still retains his love for the sport in
and won Munster and National team athletics. He is still a regular competitor
medals. Also, as a member of FCA, he won with no intentions on stopping. He is our
the Defence Forces Cross Country title. resident public speaker at our club sports
day and Farranfore Road Race.
As a veteran / Master athlete, he has won
numerous county, Munster and national Mike’s favourite read each week is
Titles in both middle distance and Race Athletics weekly magazine to which he
walking events. has been a subscriber for many years. He
can be found on several week mornings
Mike has competed for Ireland in doing Race walking training in Killarney
three European Masters race walking National park and along the Fossa way.
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