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Winning weekend for DCU track and field
Winning weekend for DCU track and field

Winning weekend for DCU track and field

It was a winning weekend for Dublin City University track and field athletes at both the AAI National Senior Indoors Championships (Saturday & Sunday February 18th & 19th) and the Irish Universities Duathlon Championships (Sunday, February 19th).

At the AAI National Senior Indoors Championships DCU athletes past and present won no fewer than 20 medals with DCU graduates Eoin Everard retaining his 3000m title and Brian Gregan winning the 400m.

Current students (and one year down athletes – eligible to run in universities competitions this year) won 4 other national titles with Sarah Mc Carthy winning the Long Jump, Saragh Buggy winning the Triple Jump, Elizabeth Morland winning the 60mH and Kate Veale winning the 3000m Walk. DCU collected 8 silver medals over the weekend with Eoin Doherty (6.81s for the 60m), Sarah Mc Carthy (200m), Paul Robinson (1500m), Catherine Mc Manus (60mH), Cian Mc Manamon (3000m Walk), Emily Rogers (High Jump), Keith Marks (Long Jump) and Lynda Ngankam (Triple Jump) just missing out on national titles.

Bronze medal winners over the two days included Brandon Arrey (400m), Lilly Ann O’ Hora (60mH), Fionnuala Britton (3000m), Shane Aston (60mH), Cillian Kirwan (1500m) and Cliodhna Manning (200m).

Many other DCU athletes placed highly in respective finals while others recorded personal best in their heats or semi-finals. Next up is the IUAA outdoor track & field championships hosted by Cork IT on April 7th & 8th.

On Sunday, February 19th, the Irish Universities duathlon championships were held at Punchestown race course in conjunction with Triathlon Ireland’s club duathlon series. This was the first of two annual University triathlon championships and a very successful outing for the newly formed DCU Sharks Triathlon Club.

The less than ideal weather conditions didn’t dampen the spirits or performances of our high quality triathlon squad. The race consisted of a 3.5km run followed by a hilly 20km cycle and finished up with another 3.5km run. The field featured many of Ireland’s top senior triathletes at both intervarsity and national level.

In the Ladies Universities race Elizabeth Carr (SSH4), Niamh Corry (CS1) and Ciara Wilson (PEB PhD) were in dominant form from the offset and impressively won DCU’s first ever Universities duathlon titles – testimony to all their hard work since the start of the year. Elizabeth Carr had the fastest running splits while Niamh Corry edged Carr in the cycle. A DCU first and second finish was a great day’s work.

The DCU men’s team of Paddy Peters, Niall Cornyn and Ciaran Madden matched the feat of the all-conquering girls, and equally were rewarded with DCU's first Universities Men’s Duathlon titles. Niall Cornyn was always in the leading pack on the run and was joined by Paddy Peters midway through the 20km bike leg before both pushed each other to a first and second finish in the Universities race. Ciaran placed 5th individually.

The DCU Triathlon Sharks squad now looks ahead to the upcoming intervarsity triathlon championships in April. Special thanks to coach Stephen Delaney from Triathlon Ireland (for his dedication, guidance and hard work to date), to Enda Fitzpatrick (President / athletics coach), DCU Sport (outstanding facilities) and CLC for all their support and encouragement.