Drogheda and District AC enjoyed a standout day at Athlone’s TUS Indoor Arena on 31 January, with a series of impressive performances at the Leinster Senior and Masters Indoor Track and Field Championships.
One of the highlight performances came from Robbie Keane, who won the Leinster Masters 3,000m title in a time of 9:15.55. At 46 years of age, the result marked a significant personal best and a remarkable achievement.
The venue once again proved a successful setting for the club, with athletes collecting an impressive total of 13 medals over the course of the championships. This haul included six gold, four silver and three bronze medals, alongside a number of personal best performances.
Gold medals were claimed by Jimmy English in the M35 400m with a time of 56.24, Austin McCann in the M40 400m in 56.31, which was a personal best, Gerry O’Connor in the M60 400m in 62.02, Deirdre McFerran in the W65 200m in 34.01, Andrea McCabe in the W55 800m, and Mark O’Shea in the M50 1500m.
Another standout performance came from Sophie Kinsella, who competed at her first Leinster Senior Championships and recorded a personal best time of 2:28.60 in the 800m.
Leinster Juvenile Success at 4x200m Relays
The club’s relay teams also produced strong performances at the Leinster Juvenile 4x200m Relays.
The under 12 girls team of Áine McHugh, Laura Clarke, Lucy Cooney and Eabha Flynn finished fourth in the final with a time of 2:10.95. The under 15 girls team of Eve Russell, Emily Garvey, Emily Cooney and Hannah Cunningham placed fifth, recording a time of 1:55.28. The under 16 girls squad also performed well, finishing third in their heat in 1:59.38.
Congratulations were extended to all the coaches at Drogheda and District AC for their excellent preparation of the athletes for the championships.
Road Racing Success
Drogheda and District AC athletes also recorded strong results at the Trim 10 Miler on 1 February, where the club’s men finished second in the team competition. The team was led home by Sergil Raschupkin in a time of 54:14, followed closely by Colin Leonard in 54:29, Paul Smith in 54:36 and Paul Kierans, who recorded a personal best of 58:36.
In the women’s events, Nuala Reilly claimed first place in her category with a time of 1:21:08. A number of personal bests were also recorded on the day, including Thomas Breen in 59:50, David Cooney in 1:10:53, Rachel McCormack in 1:11:45 and Andrea McArdle in 1:12:42. Strong performances were also delivered by Katja O’Shea in 1:32:06, Barney Flannery in 1:33:48, Jane O’Callaghan in 1:38:14 and Aishling Reilly in 1:44:10.
At the Dundalk Lifestyle Sports races, Colin Dyas impressed with a time of 33:40 in the 10k event. In the half marathon, Colm Prone led the club’s runners home in 1:33:02, followed by Robbie Farrell in 1:35:06. Olwyn Foroughi also performed strongly, finishing third in her category with a time of 2:17:02.
Join the Success
Drogheda and District AC welcomes runners of all ages and abilities, offering a supportive environment led by experienced coaching staff. With proven success from juvenile through to masters level, the club caters for everyone from beginners taking their first steps in athletics to competitive athletes aiming to progress.
Training sessions are designed to suit all levels, and the club’s achievements across track, field and road reflect both the quality of coaching and the commitment of its members. Drogheda and District AC also benefits from having the only dedicated training field in Drogheda for its members.
Anyone interested in joining is encouraged to get in touch with the club through email or social media, or to attend one of the training sessions and become part of the club’s ongoing story.
Drogheda District Running Club, Run Together, Achieve Together
