6 days ago
Kerry athlete Jack O'Sullivan wins US university scholarship
O'Leary has been developing as an 800m runner over the past few years under the guidance of Connie Lynch (father of scholarship-holder Oisín) and has a personal best of 1:50.40.
The move to the US will surely see his PB come under 1:50 in the next year and the sky's the limit beyond that. Jack, a Gneeveguilla native, is the third Killarney Valley athlete to gain a US scholarship, with Oisín Lynch and Mollie O'Riordan already signed up for Stateside universities.
Banna Run
The Banna Run over 5K and 10K on Sunday morning was the usual Bank Holiday weekend success.
There were 331 finishers with PBs and satisfying performances over all levels of competitors. The weather was favourable also with a clear sky after a misty early morning and a nice summer breeze rolling in from Banna Strand.
The men's 10K event resulted in a fine win for Denis Hegarty of Leevale who had a minute to spare over last year's winner, Karl Lenihan of West Limerick. The winner's time was a lively 33:29 while the West Limerick man times 34;34.
The women's 10K was won for the first time by Niamh O'Mahony of An Ríocht, home on holidays from Providence College in the US, in an impressive 36:22, despite having to overcome niggling injuries over the past few months.
The brave-hearted O'Mahony had four minutes to spare over last year's winner, Susan Glennon of Mullingar Harriers who loves Banna and was accompanied by a large family of Glennons in both the 5K and 10K runs.
The Glennons are an athletics-mad family. In fact, her brother John won the 5K event in Banna and her other brother Matthew won the silver medal in the national walk on Saturday. Susan timed 40:39 in this 10K while Siobhán Daly of An Ríocht came home in third in a time of 42:14.
RESULTS
Banna Run 5K Men: 1. John Glennon (Mullingar Harriers), 17:26; 2. Peter McGovern (Annascaul), 17:28; 3. Ciarán Diviney (Crusaders AC), 17:35.
5K Women: 1. Vuliia Tarasevo (Clonliffe Harriers AC), 19:49; 2. Margaret Foley (Crusaders AC), 20:48; 3. Hannah Redican (Tralee Harriers), 21:30.
10K Men: 1. Denis Hegarty (Leevale), 33:29; 2. Karl Lenihan (West Limerick), 34:34; 3. Derek Griffin (Tralee), 34:48.
10K Women: Vuliia Tarasove Clonliffe Harriers AC), 19:49; Margaret Foley (Crusaders AC), 20:48; 3. Hannah Redican (Tralee Harriers), 21:30.
Upcoming
The European U20 Athletics Championships will be staged in Tampere, Finland this coming weekend, Aug 7-10. Starring for Kerry will be Oisín Lynch in his favourite 800m event and will be wearing the green vest of Team Ireland for the third time.
The big event in Kerry on August 24 is the Jerry Kiernan 5K which aims at commemorating the late Listowel athlete in his native town. The race will take runners through the heart of the town that Jerry loved so well in his early days as a student in St Michael's College before going to live in Dublin and on to Olympic status.
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