Condon and Spring qualify for Nationals

Summer was rudely interrupted in Tallaght on Thursday night with persistent rain and gathering winds reminding us that the Irish weather can never be taken for granted.

It was a night fuelled with tension. On stage were Dublin’s finest 1500m runners in the U17, U18 and U19 categories.

At stake were qualifying places for the National Championships later this summer.  Covid rules around numbers restrictions ordained that only the first three across the line would gain that accolade.

Eight Raheny athletes toed the line, very aware that this was a chance to extend their Track season into August.

Heroes of the night were Adam Condon (4:14) and Shane Spring (4:23) who finished second and third in a very exciting Boys U19 1500m race and thus secured their qualification for the Nationals.

It was a race which was high on Raheny representation with Conall Rogers (4.28) and Dara MacRiocaird (4.31) both recording pb’s.

Personal bests too for Chris Hamill, Marcus O’Sullivan and Emmet O’Cleirigh in the Under 18 race.

Hamill and O’Sullivan chunked six and 11 seconds respectively off their previous times when recording identical 4.34’s with O’Cleirigh finishing strongly in 4.42.

Sam Kelly benefitting hugely from this level of competition recorded 5.22.

Our sole female representative Caroline ran a fine race in her U18 race, moving strongly through the field in the latter stages.

The night before on a far more benign evening at the same venue the second Dublin Graded Meeting was staged.

Story of the evening was Luke Murphy finally storming through the two minute barrier when recording a fine 1.59.24. Dylan Kirwan 2.07.05 and Jamie Sheridan 2.12.50 also ran in the same event.

Good to see Niall Power 2.19.29 back racing Track in the C 800m while Andy Kelly 2.22.39, Paul Curtayne 2.48.50 and Patricia O’Cleirigh 2.44.73 also saw action.

There was no shame for 2nd placed Lucy Barrett 10.19.96 and 3d placer Aisling Ahern 10.37.57 when chasing home the legend that is Maria McCambridge in the women’s 3000m.

In the Men’s 3000m there were fine performances from Rob Kelly 9.20.27, Philip McCarthy 10.01.38 and Aaron Tansey 10.25.93.

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