Some of the BARRS athletes at the start line for the 800m heats
Like the first swallows, the County Track & Field Championships is a harbinger for the arrival of summer. No more need for layered clothing. Time to soak up some sunshine and let the kids run amok. This year’s Juvenile and Masters events were held in tandem offering a contrasting blend of wily experience and exuberant youth.
Coach Fergus O'Donovan with his young protégé Flor O'Leary
Pride of place must go to BARRS veteran Flor O’Leary who ran 1:37.7 for the 400m knocking almost 25s off the M85 record previously held by Gerry Ward. Unphased by events of the track, the unflappable Flor stalked the grass like a leopard on the prowl. When the 400m gun went, Flor quickly found his groove and it was soon clear to all and sundry that the record was in mortal danger. As he hit the home straight, Flor’s coach Fergus O’Donovan became ever more animated beating his fists in the air. The pair had clearly done their homework well! Flor’s new 400m record performance ranks as the second fastest M85 run for the year to date.
Flor O'Leary with some BARRS colleagues after his record-breaking run
Other notable performances on the day; in the Field events Dan Kennedy was 1st O/65 in the LONG JUMP while Sandra Hickson scored a 1st O/35 in both the SHOT PUT and WEIGHT for DISTANCE throws.
In the Track events, the BARRS quartet of Dermot Woods, Enda Kiernan, Stephen Geoghegan and Paul Duggan combined fleet of foot with deft baton work to win the 4X100m RELAY in a time of 56.2s.
BARRS Relay Team - Stephen Geoghegan, Paul Duggan, Enda Kiernan & Dermot Woods
Anita Murphy was 1st O/35 in the women’s 200m and 2nd O/35 in the 100m. In the Men’s 400m, Dermot Woods was 1st O/40, Paul Duggan 1st O/50 and Flor O’Leary 1st O/85.
In the Men’s 800m, Dermot Woods was 1st O/40, Stephen Geoghegan 3rd O/45, Paul Duggan 1st O/50 and Michael Murphy 1st O/60. In the women’s 800m, Margaret Lillis was 1st O/35, Anita Murphy 2nd O/35 and Marion Lyons 1st O/60.
In a very competitive 1500m race, Dermot Woods was 1st O/40, Enda Kiernan 2nd O/45, Paul Duggan 1st O/50 and Michael Murphy 1st O/60. Margaret Lillis was the 1st woman O/35.
In the 3000m, Pat Murphy was 1st O/55, Eamonn McEvoy 1st O/60 and Dan Kennedy 1st O/65. Marion Lyons was the 1st woman O/65.