89By Martin Duffy
The esteemed sports journalist Con Houlihan once said that the skills needed by an athlete to win the 100m were the exact same as those of a farmer trying to escape a charging bull!
Houlihan wasn’t far wrong in what he said but the ability to move smoothly and hold good form while running flat out is usually the preserve of a minority group of talented athletes, and often dictates who will take home the medals.
To that end, the last few months for the Drogheda and District AC Masters Sprint Group has been all about endless sprint drills, explosive starts from the blocks, keeping a low centre of gravity, and rising to full height whilst maximising stride length and cadence.
Under the watchful eye of Coach Gerry O’Connor (pictured above), the athletes were put through the mill as they prepared themselves for last weekend’s National Masters Track and Field Championships in Tullamore.
The day began well with Mary McDonnell getting a blistering start on her way to taking the Gold medal in her W65 100m, and setting a new national record of 16.15, subject to ratification. Later in the day, McDonnell completed the sprint double when winning her 200m in a lively 34.73, another new national record, subject to ratification.
Training partner Mary Flanagan ran well to take the silver medal in her W65 100m in 20.92, and has reaped the rewards of her efforts in training.
A third Mary, Mary Kinsella, while relatively new to track running, showed a glimpse of her potential by taking the bronze in her W55 100m in 15.64, and later on just missed out on a podium place when she finished fourth in her W55 200m in 33.45.
In the W55 800m, run over 2 laps of the track, Andrea McCabe gave it her all on her way to the runner up spot in 3:10.33.
The M60 100m saw two of D&D’s most dedicated sprinters, Frank Cruise and Tony Corcoran go head to head in a hotly contested race, with some quality athletes settling into the blocks.
The crack of the starter’s pistol saw both lads get out quickly, with Corcoran just a shade ahead of his training partner.With no quarter asked for, or given, Corcoran held good form as he breasted the tape to take the National title in a lively 13.33, with Cruise finishing third in a solid 14.22.
Before long, it was time to do it all again as the athletes were called for the M60 200m which had the spectators on their toes, as there’s nothing better than watching quality athletes running a good bend, before pouring on the pace over the last 100m.
Once again, Corcoran and Cruise were well to the fore, and it was all down to the last 60m as this pair battled hard for the medals. Corcoran dipped well to take the title in a useful 27.77, with Cruise using all his experience to take bronze in 30.04.
Next up was the Men’s 400m, run over a single lap of the track. Often described as a controlled sprint, this race is more nuanced than the shorter distances, and you get the pace wrong at your peril!
In the M40 race, Paul Stuart gave a fine display of quality running on his way to a fifth place finish in 1:00.32.
Last up was Sprint coach Gerry O’Connor in the M55 400m. O’Connor is one of those athletes who’s good at getting a medal, and he didn’t fail to deliver, bringing home the silver medal with his run of 1:02.47, to round off another good season for this talented athlete.
