Rennicks storms to victory at Claremont

Bohermeen athlete Darragh Rennicks (pictured) once again demonstrated his talent when taking the 3,000 metres title at the Meath Athletics Track & Field championships at Claremont Stadium on Sunday. Rennicks took a stranglehold on the race early on and put in a convincing display of solo running to win comfortably. The Bohermeen youngster is emerging as one of the best home-based middle distance track runners in the country and the manner of this win underlines his potential. The team competition within the same race for the Mattie McGrath memorial trophy went to the Dunboyne combination which included another very promising young talent Luke Forde as well as Neville Reilly, Morgan McDonagh and Phelim Glynn. The u-18 800m race was a clean sweep for Star of the Sea with Rob Tully powering home ahead of Cormac Costello and Ciaran McGinley. The women's 3000 metres was a tactical contest between Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin) and Brigid Clarke (Na Fianna). They ran the entire race at each other's shoulders until the Dunshaughlin runner made a break for home on the crown of the final bend to take her first county track title. The third woman home was relative newcomer Imelda Clarke (Na Fianna) who was a revelation in club and county colours at masters cross country running during the winter. In the under-age competitions there were two very competitive 800 metres races which give grounds for optimism for the future of middle distance running in Meath. The junior ladies 3,000m was claimed by Shauna Moran (Dunshaughlin) with Rachel Smyth (Dunboyne) first home in the 200m while Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin), Moira Peppard (Trim) and Moira Aston (Trim), Karen Dunne (Bohermeen), Brona Fanning (Cushinstown) and Orla O'Donnell were others to taste success in various categories. In the girls sprint events Niamh Hetherington from Dunshaughlin won the u-15 80m hurdles and the u-15 200 metres. In the u-18 girls 800 metres and long jump Karen Blaney from Navan AC put together an unusual double. The standard of competition and level of entries for this year's championships showed a marked improvement on recent seasons. "The county board were pleased with the cooperation it received from clubs in providing officials which ensured that the extensive and lengthy programme was run off very efficiently," added PRO Ciaran Tobin. The championships conclude at the Navan venue on Wednesday, 7.0 when the relay championships will be decided. At Claremont Stadium last Friday evening Paul Gleeson from the South O'Hanlon club won the men's senior category in the Simon Cumbers & Paddy Hyland Memorial road race. Gleeson who ran in the colours of the host club clocked up a time of 19.37 to take top spot with Thomas Moran (Dunshaughlin) in second place while third position was secured by Peter Mooney (independent). The senior women's event was won by Lucy Darcy (Sportsworld) with Shauna Moore (Dunshaughlin) securing second place while her club colleague Linda Fahy was third. Trim AC was well represented at the event with two of the club's runners getting among the medals. Conor Daniel was second in the junior men's race while Don Mahon finished second in the o-40 event. Thirty members of the Trimclub took part in the second round of the Mullingar road League at Belvedere House. First Trim finisher was Sean Murphy in a time of 17.02. RESULTS Simon Cumbers & Paddy Hyland Memorial race: men: senior - 1, Paul Gleeson (South O'Hanlon), 2, Thomas Moran (Dunshaughlin), 3, Peter Mooney (independent); o-40 - 1, Kieran Kelly (independent), 2, Don Madden (Trim); o-45 - 1, David O'Connell (Bohermeen); 2, Paul McQuillan (individual); o-50 - 1, Paddy Mangan (Dunshaughlin); 2, Tom O'Connor (Liffey Valley); o-55 - 1, Tommy Clarke (Star of the Sea); 2, Conor Cooney (Drogheda District); o-60 - 1, Patsy Fitzsimons (Star of the Sea); 2, Peter Curran (Navan); junior - 1, Keith Murray, 2, Conor Daniel (Trim); 3, Rhys Bruce (Dunshaughlin). Women: senior - 1, Lucy Darcy (Sportsworld), 2, Shauna Moore (Dunshaughlin), 3, Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin); o-35 - 1, Helen O'Connor (Na Fianna), 2, Rosemary Hutcheson (Star of the Sea); o-40 - 1, Emelda Clarke (Na Fianna), 2, Ursula Byrne (Dunshaughlin); o-45 - 1, Mary Watters (Navan), 2, Ann Hunter (Dunshaughlin); o-50 - 1, Angela Gallogly (Dunshaughlin), 2, Teresa Griffin (independent); o-55 - 1, Maura Reilly (Drogheda District), 2, Margaret McAuley (Drogheda & District).