Newbridge and St Coca’s shine at Kildare Track and Field Championships
Naas girls U12 Relay team that finished second. Photo: Naas AC.
The opening day of the Kildare County Track and Field Championships delivered a vibrant showcase of emerging talent, seasoned competitors, and remarkable individual performances, with several athletes producing standout displays by securing multiple medals across disciplines.
Held in favourable conditions, the event saw clubs such as Newbridge AC and St Coca’s AC assert early dominance in the medal standings, while a host of young athletes displayed promising performances. At the close of Day 1, Newbridge AC led the club standings ahead of St Coca’s and Naas.
In Clonmel at the Irish Milers Meet there was a victory for Theo Hanlon in the shot putt. Hanlon is on a trajectory to secure the qualifying standard for this year’s world junior championships in Oregon. A short distance away in Gowran, Kilkenny, the Leinster Novice and Masters road race was held. Highlights of the event included: Gillian Clyne (Clane AC) finished third overall in the ladies masters race. Ger Forde (Naas) was 3rd in the over 45 men.
The Irish team for the European 100km championships was announced last week. Amongst those included were Terry Shanley (Clane AC) and Patricia McLoughlin (Le Cheile AC).
Two Kildare athletes are amongst the seven member squad selected by Athletics Ireland for the IUA 100km World Championships in Ames, France this coming September. The women’s team is spearheaded by Irish 100km record holder Caitriona Jennings (Letterkenny AC). Joining Jennings will be Kildare’s Patricia McLoughlin (Le Chéile AC).
McLoughlin is no stranger to ultra events, having an almost annual appearance in the Irish vest for event such as the Anglo Celtic Plate, along with a variety of other ultra running competitions. She has demonstrated impressive progression in recent seasons, her most recent being the Connemara Marathon.
Terry Shanley (Clane AC) will compete on the men’s team alongside Irish 100km record holder Ciaran McGonagle (Letterkenny AC), Rob Kelly (Raheny Shamrock AC), Matthew Collins (Portmarnock AC) and Sean Meehan (Cherry Orchard Running Club). Shanley ventured into the International Ultra Running recently, having been selected for the Irish Team who competed in the Anglo Celtic Plate held earlier this year in Limerick.
This time last year Theo Hanlon produced the first of his two qualifying standards with an 18m throw at the Clonmel IMC. Hanlon was back in action again, to continue his journey towards qualification for the world u20 (junior) championships in Oregon. For the Irish Milers meet, the emphasis is for most athletes not on winning but on securing the times or distances they need for qualification for major championships or indeed for just personal bests.
His throwing showed a continued upwards trajectory last Saturday. However his 17.71m best coming from the third round is still shy of the 18.60m required for qualification. Still lifting heavy weights, it may not be until May or even June before we see some plus 18m performances from Hanlon as he turns his attention from the weight room to the track, sharpening speed and adding the speed dimension to the required power in the shot putt circle.
Meanwhile the leaving cert student will continue to compete to validate his training efforts. One positive thing about Hanlon’s throwing so far this year, is his ability to master the rotation technique. In 2025, like many athletes his age, as high as 50% of his rotation throws can result in fouls. This year foul throws are almost non-existent in the Suncroft athletes throwing competitions so far. Winter training has turned into fine spring technical performances.
The only other Kildare athlete in action in Clonmel was Harry Cahill (Donore Harriers) who finished 7th in the 3,000m in a new PB of 8.49.60 seconds.
A big turnout for the first day of the Kildare County Track and Field signified a promising prospect for this summers athletics in Kildare. While every athlete has their own individual goals, with many achieving them, there were some stand out performances and multiple medal winners.
Starting with the older girls, it was Hannah Cash (Newbridge AC) and Abbie O’Leary (Celbridge AC) who were the most prolific medal winners. Cash is a constant over Cross-county and track and field, a winner of National medals as part of team events, she has individually qualified for both track and cross-country nationals.
Last Saturday she won the u17 400m before returning to the track to claim the silver junior 3000m title, finishing second to clubmate Mia Lennon. Abbie O’Leary (Celbridge) emerged as a promising athletes some years ago, securing medals at distance and steeplechase at the Leinster Championships. It was good to see her return to the track again after an absence. O’Leary took gold in the senior 400m and topped with a sliver in the senior 3000m behind Ruby Jo Cadwell (Naas). Eabha Brennan continued to show good form as she won the Junior 400m.
There is no stopping May Rus (St Coca’s AC). The national indoor 60m and long jump u12 record holder dominated her favourite events with an explosiveness that is almost impossible to match at this age. She took the both the 80m and Long Jump titles last Saturday, with everyone eagerly looking forward to see what she can do in the forthcoming Leinster and National championships. Equally impressive was her clubmate Amelia Brogan who secured gold in the u11 80m and silver in the long jump. Both Rus and Brogan were integral members of the St Coca’s silver medal winning relay team at the recent National Indoors. Elsewhere Ava Waugh (Eire-Og) produced a stunning display of speed as she took the u14 80m title from Mia Doughty (Newbridge) and Ella Murphy (Crookstown-Millview).
Among the boys, Nate Keane (St Coca’s AC) delivered a strong all-round performance, taking silver in the U9 60m and adding another silver in the turbo javelin. While Sean Markey (Tir na Mona) was another athlete showing impressive versatility when he won the U17 walk and later added a bronze medal in the junior 3000m National Indoor Shot Putt champion James Dooley (Newbridge) took to the track in the absence of his signature event, the Shot Putt. Competing in the u13 80m, Dooley used his power and obvious speed to take victory from a fast finishing Cillian McManus (Naas) with last year’s winner Glen Galloway (Suncroft) in third.
Crookstown-Millview continue to show their dominance in the relay events. The club claimed gold in the girls u14, 15 and 16 4x100m relays, along silver in the u13 and bronze in the u12. In the boys 4x100m relays they took gold in the u14 and u16s. St Coca’s u12 silver medal winning national indoor relay team continued to impressed with a decisive victory in the u12 4x100m while Naas AC produced a strong performance to win the boys u13.
National Indoor long jump medallist Hayley Dunne (Clane AC) continued to display her depth and versatility of talent. Dunne took gold in the u13 high jump and then went on to claim bronze in the shot putt and long jump. The Clane u13 girls have a reputation for making clean prodium sweeps in this age group. Last Saturday they did it again with a clean sweep in the u13 long jimp.
It was Amelia Owie, who took gold on this occasion with Annie Gray second and Hayley Dunne third. It was Layla Ni Draighneain (Naas) who intercepted their potential for a clean sweep of the u13 80, with O'Jane Bangura taking gold, Amelia Owie silver and Clane occupying fourth and fifth positions.
In the distance events it was Matthew Keane (Naas AC) and Elliot Moran (Naas AC) secured gold and silver respectively in the junior 3000m, while the senior 3000m podium was dominated by Naas athletes, led by Chris O’Sullivan (Naas AC). In the ladies it was Mia Lennon (Newbridge) who took the u20 title from clubmate Hannah Cash while Ruby Jo Cowdell (Naas) secured victory over Abbie O'Leary (Celbridge). The distance athletes have plenty more to come as the 800m and 1500m will be run at future dates.
Naas AC produced a plethora of winning performances in the throwing events. For the boys it was the turbo jav and shot putt. Starting with the Turbo Jav, the club took the u9, u11 and u12 victories. These came from Sam Reid, Sean Fay and Leo Killilea with only St Coca’s Paddy Beirne preventing the club with a full suite of Turbo Jav victories.
It was Michael MacAobhain from St Coca’s who won the u14 shot, with two Naas athletes Harry Kearney and Daniel Sheehan winning the u15 and u16 respectively. The girls throwing events will be held in later iterations of the counties, where Naas will hope once again to achieve dominance.
Amongst the Masters it was Alison Duff (Newbridge AC) who led the way, claiming gold in the 3000m, while Emma Boland (Newbridge AC) and Olivia Birmingham (St Coca’s AC) added to the podium finishes. The St Coca’s ladies; Denis Fox, Emma Wallace and Deirdre Phelan won the over 45, 50 and 55 respectively.
St Coca’s continued their winning masters performances in the men’s races with Marc Augustine taking gold in the over 45s and Bernard Phelan in the over 55s. Derek Gilmartin (Celbridge) took the over 40s. The oldest man in the field Seamus Kelly (St Coca’s) won the over 70 3000m. Perhaps the most exciting race of the entire county championship programme was the men’s 3,000m.
With all the categories competing in one race, you had the over 70s and the younger athletes racing together, making it more competitive. With 500m to go the pace notched up a gear, with a battle ensuring between David O’Connor (Celbridge) and Chris O’Sullivan (Naas). Racing to the full capacity of their lungs, the two athletes generated an aura of excitement across the stadium.
Stopped in their tracks, the sideline cheers where most definitely heard by the athletes. Close to the line it was O’Sullivan who was just a fraction ahead. However, he was caught by O’Connor right on the line – giving the masters over 40 competitor the victory over the younger O’Sullivan.
From a team perspective, Newbridge AC’s dominance was built on both individual excellence and relay success. Their athletes consistently appeared on podiums across age groups, particularly in middle-distance and relay events. St Coca’s AC, meanwhile, showed strength in sprints and jumps, with athletes like Maya Rus (St Coca’s AC) and Amelia Brogan (St Coca’s AC) contributing significantly to their high medal count.
Naas AC’s third-place standing reflects their strong showing in boys’ distance events and consistent podium finishes across multiple disciplines. Crookstown-Millview AC, despite finishing fourth, will take great confidence from their relay dominance and depth in sprint events.
Once again the Kildare volunteers produced excellent displays of their own as they kept the day going with their relentless organising, sorting and documentation of the days activities. Its not easy manoeuvring hundreds of kids on a Saturday afternoon – but the fantastic officials in Kildare had it down to a T. Events were run off on time, medals delivered and results produced – all without a hitch or complaint.
The first of three iterations of the South Leinster schools track and field took place last week in Carlow. These Leinster regional competitions (of which there are four regions) are mandatory for those wishing to qualify for the Leinster schools competition. In action over last weeks mostly minor and junior events were clubs from all over Kildare.
The minor boys Clane Community School took silver in the 4x100m relay behind another Kildare school Clongowes Wood College. Both teams will now contest the Leinster’s later this month. Relay success continued as the Junior boys from Naas CBS took silver. It was silver too for the Junior Girls with Cross and Passion from Kilcullen storming home to qualify for the Leinster Championships.
Naas CBS finished 3rd in the u16 boys 4x300m. Newbridge College put in a phenomenal performance to sprint clear of St Leo’s Carlow to take the 4x300m u16 girls relay. Clongowes Wood College took silver in the Inter boys 4x100m relay with Holy Family Newbridge taking gold in the Inter girls.
It was a clean sweep for Kildare in the Junior boys walk with JJ Hill (Naas CBS) taking gold followed by the Clongowes Wood pair of Evan Cunningham and Conor Landy. Kildare success in the walks did not stop there. Beth Grogan (Newbridge College) took bronze in the Junior girls 1200m walk. Cathal Kelly (Naas CBS) was another bronze medal winner in the walks as he finished 3rd in the Inter boys 2,000m event. Holly Kearns (St Mary’s Naas) continued her run of schools championship successes as she took gold in the Inter girls 2,000m walk.
Rhys Johnson is no stranger to schools championship wins. The Pipers Hill Leaving cert student in his final South Leinster Schools Championships produced yet another gold medal winning performance – this time over the longer distance of 5,000m. He dominated the race from start to finish to finish ahead of Riley Connolly (Monsterevin) and Matthew Sheeran (Naas CBS). In the field events Killian Gilroy took silver in the u16 shot putt. It was 1,2 for Newbridge College’s Naomi Deasy and Meabh Moore in the girls u16 long jump.
The championships continue this week with action from the Inter and Senior athletes across a wider selection of events.
Top Kildare Athlete in the Dublin City Half Marathon Sean Tobin may have been the man on everyone’s lips as he won the Dublin Half Marathon in 63 minutes. For Kildare the results were a little further down the field with many adopting a little less competitive approach to the event. It was Kevin Kelly (St Coca’s) who clinched the title of being the first Kildare athlete home.
The St Coca’s athlete raced the 21.2km event in 67.41 minutes – an average of 3.41 minutes per kilometre. Kelly finished 42nd Senior and 81st overall. Consider this in light of the 12,289 athletes who completed the course. There were several athletes across Kildare clubs that competed in the event.
