100mH results

Ailis qualified for the semis yesterday, finishing 4th in her heat in 11.52.

100m results

Full results

Full results

Photos from relays below.

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Individual results

Final team placings

Premier Division Men:

Premier Division Women:

Division 1 Men:

Division 1 Women:

Full results

Patrick was happy with his run as he qualified comfortably, however he stated “that he will have a go at it tomorrow”.

Heats results

Patrick went in the third of this afternoon’s semis, where he finished a very creditable 6th in 52.46 in windy, wet conditions. This places Patrick as 14th Junior in the world, which is an outstanding achievement. The level that Patrick is now competing at and the experience that he has gained this year, makes him a real medal prospect ate the European Junior Championships next summer.

Semi-final results

Full results

For seven days in July 2010, more than 1400 athletes representing 170 member federations will gather in Moncton, Canada to compete in 44 medal events. These are some of the best athletes in the world.

Patrick Maher has traveled to Canada to represent himself, Leevale and Ireland in the 2010 World Junior Championships. Patrick has already broken the Irish Junior record twice this year, first at the Leevale Open Sports when he smashed the record that had stood for 28 years. He followed this up last Sunday with his first National Senior title with a new Junior Record of 51.53. He will compete in the first round of the 400m hurdles on Wednesday 21st July at 9:35am local time and carries the best wishes and support of everyone in Leevale with him.

World Junior Championships home page

Next year, Orla plans to compete at the World Senior Championships in New Zealand. Orla was also in action at the AAI National T&F Championships in Santry last weekend, where she took part in the wheelchair javelin event. Although the javelin is not her primary discipline, she still finished a creditable second.

Ailis is reaching peak form at just the right time. On Sunday she demolished a top class field to win the 100m at the Woodie’s DIY national championships in Morton Stadium, finishing well clear in a time of 11.60.

The time also qualifies her for the European championships in Barcelona, allowing her to run in the individual event as well as the sprint relay of which she is a member.

In recent years she has competed at the World University Games in 2005 and 2007 and the European championships in 2006. Indoors she competed in the European championships in 2005 and 2009, and the World championships in 2006 and 2008. Her international experience should stand to her in Barcelona.

Meeting international d’athlétisme de la Province de Liège BEL
100 m Women Race 1
Heat:1 Wind : 0.8
1 MCSWEENEY AILIS IRL 11.40
2 DAVIN ELISABETH BEL 11.71
3 ZAGRE ANNE BEL 11.81

Full results

Click on the player below to see a video of the race.

(As published in the “Evening Echo”, Tue 13 July 2010)

IT’S a journey that started out in Wexford, continued in Dublin, but it was only when she went abroad that our June winner, Lizzie Lee, got her first taste of competitive sport. And she craved it. MARK WOODS found out more about her remarkable rise.

WE’RE going to bend the rules a bit on this one.

Technically, we should be really confining Lizzie’s jaw-dropping achievements to last month.

But, that would prevent us from recalling her gold medal performance in the European Age Group Triathlon Sprint Championships in Athlone at the start of July.

And anyway, what transpired in June led directly to her historic podium finish in the middle of Ireland.

And the sprint element is a touch off, too, because it ‘only’ involved a 750m swim in the Shannon, followed by a 20km bike ride and a 5km road run.

That’s considered chicken feed compared to other greater distances, but Lizzie’s been there, too, and more than survived. She prospered.

Yet, the 30-year-old IT Project Manager with Core International in Ballincollig (‘don’t forget to mention them because they’ve been great’) doesn’t believe she’s a ‘genuine’ triathlete.

“I consider myself a runner, who can bluff the other two and pull out a good triathlon.

“I was eighth out of the water in Athlone, 14th off the bike, but ran them down. That’s what I mean.

“I’m a runner. Later, I might do one or two of the small Cork events, like Fermoy and Youghal, which are lovely triathlons.

“Still, you could not do the I Europeans held in Ireland. It’s as simple as that,” she said:

Taking the gun in Athlone was in her season’s plans, provided Lizzie could do herself justice on the day and to gauge that she had to test herself.

Cue the Fastnet Triathlon in Schull, 750m swim, 23km bike and 5k run, on June 12, her first in a year since returning from Oz.

“I said if I finished three minutes behind Joyce Wolfe I wouldn’t enter for the Europeans.

“But, if I managed it I knew I wouldn’t disgrace myself in Athlone and in the end I was only less than a minute behind, so that made up mind.

“And I didn’t go hard in the run either, because I was running for Leevale in the National League in Tullamore the following day.”

Ah yes! Those of us who think Triathlon gorgers can be a bit tapped in the head at times feed on this kind of stuff. That’s because after her swim, her stint on the bike and the run, Lizzie fell into bed around 8.30pm that evening ready to run for her club the following day, half-way up the country! She tucked up, more than contented with her second-placed finish in Schull and boosted by finishing so close to one of the country’s finest.

There was little time to dwell, though, because Lizzie was on the bus the following morning at 8am, ready to do her bit for Leevale…on the track, new ground in her career.

She competed in the 1,500m and 3,000m, but hadn’t planned to run both, especially as Lizzie had never run a mile race before!

A quick call to her revered coach, Donie Walsh, mentioning Siobhan Doherty’s name in the process, and the advice was simple.

“He told me to race her and that’s what I did. And I won in a time of 4:39.61.

“I could hardly believe it, particularly as the only track race I’d run before that was the Leevale Open Sports at CIT in May.”

Back on the blower again to Donie and a ‘will I or won’t I’ chat about going in the 3,000m less than an hour later.

“At first I was saying ‘no’. Then, I started feeling a bit better, so we said we’d give it a try.”

Linda Byrne, the international runner, was the favourite and with Siobhan also in the line-up, Lizzie had her work cut out, especially as the other pair went off hard. Linda duly crossed the line first, but the Leevale athlete caught and overtook Siobhan to come second in 10.10.11. Another great performance in a hectic 24 hours. And there’s more to come! “I was definitely knackered after all that and I took Monday off work, but was out running again in the highly popular John Buckley Sports 5km the following night.

Needless to say Lizzie splintered the rest with a blistering opening mile and while she couldn’t sustain the break-neck pace her winning 17.07 time, meant she had over half-a-minute to spare at the tape.

Her thoughts then turned to another triathlon in Dunmore East the following Saturday, looking for confirmation of her form, though none was required, as the result showed.

Lizzie notched up another significant win, defeating Welsh international, Ellie Jones, in the process.

“I fixed the mistakes I made in Schull, like things in transition, the way I fixed my shoes and not taking on gell. You’ve got to be very prepared for a triathlon because the minute things can cost you 10 seconds.

“I went harder on the bike this time and it all felt better. I suppose my confidence was high, too.”

So, in the space of a week, Lizzie competed in two triathlons, finishing second and first, ran 1,500m and 3,000m races in less than an hour, again coming first and second respectively, and won a high-powered 5km road race into the bargain.

Some June! And that doesn’t include the Cork City Marathon on the Bank Holiday Monday, when she ran for Leevale in the relay in the company of Carmel Parnell and Nollaig Hunter. “I ran the last two legs of the marathon, 9.8 miles, in 59 minutes on a horrible windy day.

“I caught Lucy Brennan, who was winning the race outright, and ran with her for a minute or so, telling she was going to win and how great she was doing and to ignore me, because I was involved in the relay.

“It was only when I went by her and out of the protection of the lead car that the wind almost drove me back, it was so fierce.

“I thought for a second about going back behind the car, but I had told Lucy I was going on, so I couldn’t go back.

“Nollaig and Carmel were fantastic. A club mate was injured, that’s why there were only three of us.

“It was a groat thrill and sure the first girl across the line in the Cork Marathon, it doesn’t get any better than that.”

And it’s hard to imagine that she only started out five or six years ago, more out of boredom than anything else. “I was on my own in Wexford, working as a consultant with Accenture, and living in a hotel.

“We used get booted out of the building at 7pm and suddenly I was left to my own devices in the evenings. Accenture send a team to compete in their own Chicago Triathlon to help raise funds for Crumlin Children’s Hospital.

“A friend of mine from Cork, Matt Coughlan, urged me to get involved, saying you can swim, you can run and your dad is a cyclist, so he’ll sort you out with a bike.

“So, that’s what I did for three or four months of the summer and it all paid off because I was the first Irish woman across the line in America.

“Eamon Coghlan was presenting the prizes and he pulled me aside afterwards and said ‘you can run.’

“I got addicted to the track after that. It was only my second triathlon ever. I did one in Co Down before that. It was the Olympic style triathlon, 1.5km swim, 40km cycle and 10km run. I still remember that day as if it was yesterday.

“And yet I wasn’t really into it, because I didn’t buy a fancy wet-suit or bike until I went to Australia.

“I was living in Dublin for six years and wanted to get back to Cork, but I also wanted to try Australia. The plan was to go for a few months and then come home.

“I got a very good job with Coca-Cola in Sydney and decided to stay there an extra few months.

“I trained there with a club called the BRATS, under a brilliant coach, John Hill, the fastest man in the world over 50 in the triathlon.

“I got bitten by the bug. I won a 10km, organised by the Sydney Striders, in 36.52, the first time I broke 40 minutes. That was a big deal for me.

“I did a huge amount of work with the bike, doing about 200 miles a week.

“And because of all the other work I was undertaking, as well, I managed to tone up, getting fitter and stronger. I was training with a lot of the Irish blokes, fellows like Paul Doherty, the Irish iron-man record holder. They brought me on in the three disciplines and I was delighted with it all, especially as I was winning medals and the like.

“I won the New South Wales state triathlon championship, which was a massive deal for an Irish girl.

“I was really into it by now, watching what I was eating and drinking, training very hard and getting the right amount of sleep.”

When she eventually came home in June last year, Lizzie immediately got in touch with Donie Walsh at Leevale.

“I ran my first race in Kinsale. Nobody knew me.

“I remember Mary Sweeney coming up to me and saying ‘who are you?’”

“The Evening Echo the following day had a big headline about this surprise winner.

“But, the only person who wasn’t surprised was Donie, because he had been coaching me for the previous three weeks.

“The big goal last season was the half-ironman triathlon in Kenmare which were the national championships, as well. I was third in that, 1.8km swim (30 mins), 80km bike up the Healy Pass and Moll’s Gap, and then a half-marathon.

“I was eighth coming off the bike, but ran 1.27 and managed to pull them in. I was thrilled.”

Lizzie’s appreciative of all those who’ve helped her along the way, like her dad, Garry, aka her manager, and Donie Walsh of course.

“I’m sponsored by the Edge (thanks Tony and Simon) and the gear they’ve given me has been a huge help, like the carbon fibre bike, the pointed helmet.”

Her friends call her Cinderella, because she’s always home before midnight and drinks water for the night.

The sacrifices are all worthwhile, because Lizzie has most definitely made it to the Ball!

It is imperative that all athletes are available to compete for their team and club. Athletes who are not available must contact Donal Murnane ASAP 087 2508100.

A bus will depart Merchants Quay at 6:45am, athletes, parents and supportes are encouraged to travel on the bus. There will no charge for the bus.

Event programme

For further news and details check the AAI website.

Patrick Maher, who leaves for the World Junior Championships on Tuesday, led from the start of the 400m hurdles and fought off the strong challenge of defending champion Tom Carey, to win impressively. His winning time of 51.53 is a new PB and also improves on his own Irish junior record.

Derval O’Rourke won her eighth national title when she won the 100m hurdles in emphatic fashion in a time of 13.26 into a headwind of 1.9m/s. The win helps her preparations for the European championships in Barcelona.

The women’s 100m resulted in an emphatic win in 11.60 for defending champion Ailis McSweeney, who finished well clear of Amy Foster. Ailis is consistently running well and also travels to European Championships as part of the women’s 4x100m relay team.

Edmond O’Halloran, winner of the Woodie’s junior title, marked his first run over the higher hurdles with a win in a time of 15.26.

Lizzie Lee had an excellent second place finish in the women’s 5000m to Maria McCambridge. It is now only a matter of time before Lizzie is considered for international selection.

Deirdre Murphy, who is currently home from the US, finished second in the Discus and fourth in the Shot Putt.

Paul Rupprecht, competing in the men’s steeplechase, finished a convincing second.

Dave Tierney continues to improve as a thrower by finishing second in the 56lb for distance with a throw of 7.82m and second in the U23 men’s 36lb for height with a loft of 4.70m

David Quilligan finished in third place in the Long Jump with 7.17m, David is now jumping consistently over the 7m mark.

Leevale men rounded off the impressive medal haul with a win in the 10K team event. Team members: Barry Donovan, Chris Harrington, Donal Coffey, George Boyle and David Comber.

LEEVALE RESULTS:

Full results

Full results

Full results

Also in Mannheim, Patrick Maher posted a time 52.29 seconds to finish third in his heat of the 400m hurdles. This was just outside the national junior record of 52.14 that he set at the Leevale open sports in April. Since then Patrick has been consistently under 53 seconds. See Patrick in action in Mannheim below.

The Cork City Sports were held on Saturday for the first time at the revamped CIT stadium, complete with new stand, timing facilities and reoriented track. The standard of competition was more than worthy of the new facilities, the fields in many of the events stacked with world-class athletes, particularly in the sprints. Times were slowed somewhat, however, by a very strong headwind in the home straight.

Leevale’s Derval O’Rourke didn’t put a foot wrong in the women’s 100m hurdles, and yet had to settle for 3rd in 13.40 behind Canadian World Championships silver medallist Priscilla Lopes-Schliep. The race was run into a wind of -4.5 m/s.

In the women’s 100m A race, Ailis McSweeney finished 2nd behind Jamaica’s Sheri-Ann Brooks, recording a time of 11.84, which was impressive in the windy conditions. David Quilligan was another in action, this time in the men’s long jump, where he finished 6th, with a best of 7.12 in a legal tailwind of +1.9 m/s.

David Killeen had a step up in competition in the men’s 100m B race, finishing 4th in 11.57. In the men’s 1500m, Mark Hanrahan found the going tough, but finished a respectable 12th in 3:54. On a tough day for distance running as well as sprinting, Thomas Maunsell had a decent run in the men’s 3000m finishing 20th in 8:51, a time a little outside his best.

Canadian athlete, Paul Rupprecht, is a recent Leevale signing, and he started his Leevale career in style with a massive win in the development men’s 1500m, his winning time of 3:54 more worthy of a place in the A race. Paul is a cousin of Leevale’s Barry Donovan. In the same race, Graham O’Riordan showed some of his 800m speed, running a strong last lap to finish 8th.

The race of the day was the men’s 200m, where thousandths of a second separated Paul Hession and Brendan Christian at the end, the Athenry man losing out by the narrowest of margins on a photo-finish. There were also outstanding performances from West Waterford pair Jamie Costin and Kate Veale in the 3000m walk. Costin broke Robert Heffernan’s Irish record, set at the same meet last year, and Kate Veale was all of 47 seconds faster than the old junior record and is surely a fantastic prospect for the future.

Full City Sports results

We now look forward to Day 3 of the individual championships on July 24th and the inter-club relays on July 25th. Athletes who want to be considered for relay teams must attend training over the coming weeks and trails will be held to select the fastest four for each team.

LEEVALE RESULTS:

Full results

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Click on controller to hear Leevale’s latest hurdles and media star, Jack Murphy, on 2FM on Saturday morning! Can’t hear the audio? You may need to install Quicktime

Thanks to John Harrington for his contribution of photos for the Leevale website this year.

This is a fantastic achievement by Lizzie, whose hard work over the past year with Donie Walsh’s group has done wonders for her running, and was an ideal preparation for the sprint event this weekend.

Leevale entries for this event are listed below. If your name is not listed and you would like to enter for any of the events below or if you would like to change your current entry please contact your coach, secretary@leevale.org or Leevale Webmaster

Full results

LEEVALE RESULTS:

Full results

U10 Girls, Chloe McCarthy and Kaitlyn Coffey, finished second in the 60m sprint with a combined time of 19.76. They then teamed up with Saoirse O’Flynn and Dearbhail Ní Dheasmhunaigh for the 4x100m relay, where they finished in very strong third place.

U10 boys Adam Idah and Tareke Wright once again teamed up for the 60m sprint and long jump events. The boys finished third in the sprint with a time of 19.57. They subsequently went on to win the long jump event with a fantastic combined distance of 19.76m.

U9 Girls, Julie Lankford and Kate Sampson, competed in their first All-Ireland championships performed well in the sprint and ball throw events.

Full results