Kilkenny athlete helps shatter Irish best at European Festival

What a week for Team Ireland and Kilkenny City Harriers athlete Molly Daly in Skopje, at the European Youth Olympic Festival this week. Daly was representing Ireland in the 200m and was also the second leg of the Girls’ medley relay.

Molly placed third in her 200m heat on Wednesday to advance to the semi-final that evening, where she finished fifth in her race.

On Friday morning Molly ran with Destiny Lawal (Dooneen AC), Ellis McHugh (Ferrybank AC) and Erin Friel (Letterkenny AC) in the girls’ medley relay. They placed first in the heat but also set a new national under-18 record of 2:09.20.

The girls were up against it in the final on Saturday and although they narrowly missed out on a medal, finishing in fourth place, they went on to knock two seconds off their previous record set the day before, to set a new national under-18 record of 2:07.06!

Molly’s summer of running is not over just yet. She has been selected for the under-20 4x100m relay team at European Championships in August, where she’ll run alongside her clubmates Pia Langton (800m) and Alex Cullen (400m and 4x400m). Best of luck to the trio, who will embark on their journey from August 7 to 10.

Pink Rock

The annual Pink Rock 10k road race was held on Sunday last in the sunny South-East of Kilkenny. It was hosted effortlessly again by the mighty crew of St Joseph’s AC.

The 10km race, which is open to runners and walkers and also incorporates the county 10km, is a beautiful scenic route which attracts good numbers from both local and travelling clubs. The hosts always deliver a well-organised race with great support and refreshments after.

Alan Duffy (Sli Cualann AC) was the first male home in 33:29, with James Kelly (Castlecomer) hot on his heels in 33:48 for second place and Eamonn O’Connor (Kilkenny City Harriers - KCH) third in 34:15. In the women’s race Fiona Kehoe (Kilmore AC) was first across the line in 38:39, with Adele Walsh (St Senan’s) home in 39:07 for second place. Grace Reilly finished in 39:16 to secure third and a place on the podium. Well done to all involved for hosting another superb race.

National Masters

The Masters All-Ireland was held in Tullamore on Saturday with numerous athletes from Kilkenny clubs represented on the day in both track and field events. It was day two for some as the long hurdles and steeplechase events were held the previous week. Well done to all those who competed.

The Kilkenny City Harriers women were competing for their first time at All-Irelands, while the experienced throwers and walkers of Brow Rangers and St Joseph’s topped the podium again in various events.