Impressive success for DCU at intervarsities athletics meet
At the first Universities championships of the new academic year 2015-16, the DCU athletics club enjoyed another great day of success when it retained the men’s team title (despite some late changes) and was placed third to the powerful UCD ladies squad. In placing first in the men’s and third in the ladies competitions, DCU retained the best Overall University team title for the 13th successive year.
The day started with 4 complete ladies teams taking to the start line (26 teams finished the race). The A squad of Mary Mulhare, Maria O Sullivan, Ciara Wilson and Niamh Markham (Una Britton withdrew with injury) raced to an impressive 3rd place behind UCD and UL. The B team of Ciara Cummins, Harriette Robinson, Hannah McGowan and Claire Brennan performed strongly to finish 8th just ahead of the equally impressive third team of Greta Streimkyte, Laura Power, Orla Bollard and Jessica Drohan in 9th place. The fourth team of Niamh Quinn, Aoife Mulroy, Aoife Laste and Emer Treacy finished 11th from 26 finishing teams.
The men’s race was a much closer encounter between DCU, University of Limerick and UCD – DCU retaining their team title with 29 seconds to spare! The B squad of Darragh Lynch, Padraig Moran, David Scanlon, Jonny Whan and Conor Duncan finished an impressive 6th overall with the C team of Peter Gaffney, Eoin Strutt, Killian Gargan, Neil Greaney and Glen Gaffney finishing in 10th place. The DCU’s D squad of Sean Mc Cabe, Damian Murphy, Matthew Horrigan, David Danagher and Oisin Harney finished 18th overall from 30 finishing teams.
Thanks to the coaches, Anne Keenan Buckley and Linda Byrne, who witnessed another great day in the history of DCU athletics – Linda raced on 7 winning DCU ladies teams at these championships in the past! There was great support from the many jumpers, sprinters, throwers, walkers and parents who all travelled to Maynooth to support the teams despite the weather conditions. Thanks also to main sponsors Bank of Ireland for their continued support!
Many of our athletes will now compete at the European Cross Country trials in Santry Demense on November 22nd – we wish them well.