Doyle walks away with Italian job

Tara AC athlete Michael Doyle has just completed a memorable few weeks of action at home and abroad. He started with the World Grand Prix walk in Italy where he was ranked 35th, but did very well in the high calibre event to finish 19th. The race included two Olympic champions and a world record holder. This race took place on the streets of Sesto, San Giovani, Milan in front of an estimated 15,000 spectators. Doyle was said to be very happy with his performance and was well prepared for this race after spending three weeks in high altitude training in South Africa. He shared the training camp with a number of professionals including Olympian silver medalists Francisco Fernandez from Spain and Irish walker Robert Heffernan. Doyle also competed in the Irish u-23 championship in Athlone. He performed well and claimed the gold medal. Doyle wishes to thank the Meath Local Sport Partnership for all their support over the past year. Bohermeen"s Darragh Rennicks claimed the silver medal in the junior 1500m at the Leinster Track Championships at Greystones. Rennicks achieved a personal best of 4.18 minutes in the event on his way to the second place finish. Darren Vahey contested the junior octathlon which comprised of eight different disciplines and he was placed second overall. He also took silver in the u-19 triple jump. Karen Dunne again showed she was back to her best when she claimed the bronze in the girls u-16 pentathlon and posted a personal best in the long jump of 4.67m. Three Navan athletes featured in the medals at Greystones. Robert Whelan completed a fine double by winning both the junior long jump and triple jump events. Joey Monaghan achieved a personal best in finishing second in the u-23 100 metres and when he was pipped on the line for top position. Niall Matthews also finished in the silver medal position in the u-23 400 metres event. At the midweek Mullingar Road League Derek Croal was third from over 300 runners for the third consecutive week and is looking good for a top-three overall placing. Bohermeen also has 60 athletes in action in round two of the Meath Track League at Claremont Stadium with 12 achieving victories in their individual events. Again Rennicks showed good form when he won the overall senior and junior 800 metres Meath title in a new personal best of 2.01 minutes. The race enthralled the spectators as he and Dunboyne runner Morgan McDonagh, the county"s 1500m champion, raced stride-for-stride over the final 400m with very little between them at the line. The margin of victory reflects an improvement of over six seconds for the metric half-mile distance. Also breaking new ground was Darren Vahey who was third in the junior event and he posted a best time of 2.12 minutes, a personal improvement of 10 seconds. Chris Reilly was second in the senior 800m, Declan Byrne was second in the masters event and Linda Gunning was third in the masters ladies race. Other Bohermeen winners in the league included Declan Byrne (masters shot putt), Sinead O"Brien (u-20 shot putt)), Karen Dunne (u-16 800m), Michelle Smith (u-13 long jump), Rose Finnegan (u-12 80m and ball throw), Zak McGowan (u-12 ball throw), Molly Fitzgerald (u-10 80m), Gearoid O"Brien (u-10 80m & ball throw), Jack Hilliard (u-9 80m). South O"Hanlon AC will host their annual four-mile road race on Friday, 5th June, 8.0. Registration will take place at Claremount Stadium, Commons Road, Navan from 7.0 where changing facilities and showers will be available. This race forms part of the Meath Road Race Series, but it is also open to runners and joggers of all abilities. The organisers encourage as many athletes as possible to take part. Registration is €12 for seniors and veterans and €6 for juniors. There will be prizes in all the usual categories including teams with three to score as well as €100 bonus for the first man under 19.20 and woman under 21.40. All entrants will receive a tee-shirt and goody bag. The race is sponsored by Keal-Ryan Properties and Nike, Further details from Declan Byrne (046)9071418. Peter Mooney from Na Fianna was fourth overall in the men"s race at the BHAA Intel 10k Road Race at Leixlip on Saturday. In the women"s section Linda Fahy (Dunshaughlin) won the o-35 category race while Breda Clifford (Navan) clinched first place in the 0-45 race. The 30th Dunshaughlin Michael Manning Memorial 10km Road Race and Fun Run Challenge will be held on Saturday, 27th June, 7.30. This is one of the oldest 10km road races in Ireland with the course presenting a test to the runners who take part. Always well attended, the race is renowned for being a friendly but competitive event. Athletes from clubs all over the country have already signed up on www.DunshaughlinAC.com and with many more confirming that they will be there, this year"s race is shaping up to become one of the best-attended yet. Online entry is only €12 or €15 on the day.