Masters success at World Championships

In the same week our junior athletes won silverware in Israel, the Irish masters athletes recorded another massive medal haul at the World Masters Championships in Tampere Finland. A team of 89 athletes, aged between 35 and 78 years old, represented Ireland on the world master’s stage.

With twenty gold medals secured by the team, fifteen silver and seventeen bronze, it was a highly successful championships for all involved. Team Manager Anne Gormley (Donore Harriers) supported the athletes competing across track and field throughout the championships.

At 78 years old, John MacDermot (Sligo AC) won a gold medal in the 300m hurdles as well as playing a role in the standout performance from the men’s O75 relay 4x100m team, with Hugh McSweeney (Eagle Valley), Gerry O'Reilly (based In Laos Asia) and Mikey Kiely (Rising Sun AC) securing another gold medal for Ireland.

Denise Toner (Clones AC), Anne Gilshinan (Slaney Olympic AC) and Annette Quaid (Leevale AC) each secured gold medals at the championships after strong performances in the middle distances.

John Dwyer (Templemore AC) dominated the field events securing gold and silver medals for team Ireland.

It was championships filled with every emotion for Carlton Haddock (Leevale AC). In the 400m on Saturday Haddock faced a nasty fall in the finals, but after being cleared to still compete on Sunday, Haddock ran an outstanding third leg of the 4x400m relay to propel the M45 team to gold.

It was a family affair for Mullingar Harriers Mother and daughter duo Eileen and Michelle Kenny who enjoyed success at another international championships. Michelle won an individual gold medal in the W40 8K cross country while Eileen secured a silver medal in the W70 6K cross country and the 10K.

As these masters’ athletes return home, attention will shift to preparations for the Irish Life Health National Masters Track & Field Championships which take place on August 13th in Tullamore. 

Online Entry: HERE

Provisional Timetable: HERE

Full list of medal winners below: 

Gold Medal Winners

• Michelle Kenny W40 - 8k Cross Country
• Niamh O'Sullivan W60 - 8k Cross Country
• Niamh O'Sullivan W60 - 10k
• Donna Evans W55 - 8k Cross Country
• Donna Evans W55 - Half Marathon
• Team Gold W40 - 8k Cross Country (Catherine O'Connor, Zoe Quinn, Michelle Kenny)
• Team Gold W50 - 8k Cross Country (Niamh O'Sullivan, Carmel Crowley, Donna Evans)
• Denise Toner W40 - 800m
• Denise Toner W40 - 1500m
• Anne Gilshinan W55 - 800m
• Anne Gilshinan W55 - 1500m
• Annette Quaid W40 - 400m
• Sue Zlnay W60 - Steeplechase
• W55 - 4x100m (Moira Groome, Geraldine Finegan, Carol Kearney, Edel Maguire)
• W40 - 4x100m (Avril Dillon, Kathryn McDevitt, Snezana Bechtina Sinead O'Regan)
• W50 - 4x400m (Dara Carr, Katherine Markey, Ashling Smith, Linda Nally)
• W40 - 4x400m (Snezana Bechtina, Kathryn McDevitt, Sinead O'Regan, Annette Quaid)
• John Dwyer M35 - Hammer
• John Dwyer M35 - Weight Throw
• Mark O'Shea M50 - 800m
• Mark O'Shea M50 - 1500m
• John MacDermott M75 - 300m Hurdles
• M75 4x400m - Hugh McSweeney, Gerry O'Reilly, Mikey Keily, John MacDermott
• M40 4x400m - Ger Cremin, Shane O'Sullivan, Carlton Haddock, Kevin Lynch
• Team M60 - Half Marathon (Philip O'Doherty, Tom O'Connor, Pat O'Grady)

Silver Medal Winners

• Eileen Kenny W70 - 6k Cross Country
• Eileen Kenny W70 - 10k
• Donna Evans W55 - 10k
• Zoe Quinn W45 - 10k
• Geraldine Finegan W55 - 300m Hurdles
• Ciara Kearns W35 - Long Jump
• Edel Maguire W60 - High Jump
• Avril Dillon W40 - 80m Hurdles
• Catherine O'Connor W45 - Half Marathon
• Team - W45 - Half Marathon (Catherine O'Connor, Donna Evans, Tracey Guilfoyle)
• John Corr M50 - 100m
• John Corr M50 - 200m
• Joe Warne M35 - 800m
• John Dwyer M35 - Weight Pentathlon
• Ger Cremin M40 - 110m Hurdles

Bronze Medal Winners

• Carmel Crowley W - 8k Cross Country
• Catherine O'Connor W40 - 8k Cross Country
• Team Bronze M60 - 8k Cross Country (Eugene Moynihan, Paul Elliott, Joseph Monks) 
• Avril Dillon W40 - 100m
• Geraldine Finegan W55 - Heptathlon
• Geraldine Finegan W55 - 80m Hurdles
• Geraldine Finegan W55 - Triple Jump
• Eileen Kenny W70 - 5000m
• Niamh O'Sullivan W60 - 5000m
• Zoe Quinn W45 - 5000m
• Kathryn Casserly W40 - 5000m
• Irene Clements W60 - 10k
• Tracey Guilfoyle W55 - Half Marathon
• W45 4x400m (Edel Maguire, Carol Kearney, Moira Groime, Leanne Wellings)
• David Hayde M55 - 100m
• Sean McMullin M75 - 5000m Walk
• Pat O'Grady M60 - Half Marathon
• M75 - 4x100m Relay (Hugh McSweeney, Gerry O'Reilly, Mikey Kiely, John MacDermott)