Meath athletes best at hill running championships

Gerard Heery stormed to victory in the St Brigid's AC-promoted Mullaghmeen Hill Run which attracted over 100 runners for the first time with Dunboyne's Karen O'Hanlon taking the ladies title. Under Heery's direction the five-kilometre course presented a great challenge for the field which came from as far as Roscommon and Wexford. Heery, an international hill and mountain runner, was at the head of the five kilometre course at the midway point with two promising young distance runners in close attendance, Star of the Sea duo Rob Tully and Andrew Coscoran. The eventual third place finisher Alan Kelly from Roscommon was keeping a watching brief as the leading group hit the sharp descent into the woodland area near the Boolies. Tully and Coscoran will have every reason to be very proud of their performances while the third placed finisher, Kelly, has recently begun working at Beaufort College and will make an impression on the local scene in the next few months. He brought a team of competitors from the school and aims to increase and improve the school's profile in athletics this year. In the over-50 grade Wexford's Gerard Maloney took the plaudits ahead of cross-country and road specialist Paddy Mangan. Last year's first woman home was O'Hanlon (Dunboyne) and she defended her title ahead of the ever-improving local runner Elaine Plunkett . There was a strong Meath interest with third place going to former world champion age group mountain runner Mags Greenan, a native of Trim, running for Clonliffe Harriers. The fourth woman home was Ciara Rooney of Navan AC who is a colleague of Plunkett's on county cross-country squads. Laura Farrell (Fr Murphy) made light work of the steady climb and took the junior title. The Hunter family completed a successful day with Ann crossing the line as first o-40, Derek Hunter finished second to David O'Connell in the o-40 class and their son Alex showed the way home in the u-16 boys. RESULTS Men: senior - 1, Gerard Heery (St Brigid's); 2, Rob Tully (Star of the Sea); 3, Alan Kelly (Roscommon); 4, Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea); 5, Robert Caffrey (St Brigid's); 6, Sean McDaid (Innyvale). Over-40 - 1, David O'Connell (Bohermeen); 2, Derek Hunter (Dunshaughlin). O-50 - 1, Gerard Maloney (Wexford); 2, Paddy Mangan (Dunshaughlin). O-60 - 1, John Hardiman (North Westmeath). Boys: u-16 - 1, Alex Hunter (Ratoath); 2, Shane Hanley (St Brigid's); 3, Aaron Getty (St Brigid's). Women: senior - 1, Karen O'Hanlon (Dunboyne); 2, Elaine Plunkett (St Brigid's); 3, Mags Greenan; 4, Ciara Rooney (Navan/Clonliffe Harriers). Over-40 - 1, Ann Hunter (Dunshaughlin); 2, Maureen Getty (St Brigid's.) O-50 -1, Linda Gunning (Bohermeen). O-60 - 1, Geraldine Walsh (Mullingar Harriers), Junior - 1, Laura Farrell (Fr Murphy). Juvenile championship At Nenagh in the National indoor juvenile championships Bohermeen had several medal and non-medal performances. Karen Dunne, in her last year in juvenile athletics, took a well-earned bronze in the u-19 400m posting a best time of 61.30 while Kelly Brady also took a bronze in the u-16 shot putt throwing 10.99. Outside the medals were Rose Finnegan (fifth) in the u-15 800m while Dunne was fourth in the long jump. Molly Fitzgerald was fourth in the u-13 60m and Cian McBride completed with distinction in the u-12 long jump. Dunboyne AC was well represented at the popular Connemara Half Marathon. Over 3,000 runners were participating in three categories, half, full and ultra marathons. Emilia Dan came home in third place overall in a very good time of 1.31. She was followed by Warren McIntyre in 1.37, Paul O'Donnell 1.38, Aoife Kerrigan 1.47, Antoinette Howlin 1.48, Anne Gorman 1.54, Michael O Baille 1.57, Joanne O'Sullivan 2.11, Tom Muldon 2.11 and Rosemary Higgins 2.37. The club will have a representative at the 36th Paris marathon this Sunday when Deirdre Fitzsimons, one of the club's experienced long distance runners, competes.