10-06-2025
Drogheda & District miler Christopher Keenan achieves podium finish on World stage in Greece
Organised by the International Workers and Amateurs in Sports Confederation (CSIT), the WSG brought together approximately 6,000 amateur athletes from 36 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa and America to compete in a wide range of athletic events.
Keenan is now officially one of the most talented middle distance runners in the country and this astonishing performance was all the more impressive given that he is so focused and dedicated on his full-time studies and got to Greece on the back of his usual training and a few races.
His time was not shabby either as he clocked 4:05.89 for the metric mile.
Closer to home, summer was in the air as several Drogheda & District AC athletes enjoyed the country lanes at the annual Patrick Bell & Nicky Philips 5K at Bohermeen on Saturday evening.
There was a good turnout, but down on previous yearswhich is odd considering the course is well suited to fast times.
The race was won by the in-form Sean Doran and fastest around the course for Drogheda was club favourite Paddy Murphy who ran a nice 19:16.
Brian Carrig was just 30 seconds behind, making a good return to racing after a short gap, and Katheryn Meade also broke the 20-minute milestone.
Colin Prone returned to racing and smartly took it easy, while Colin Cuffe found the course a little short after all the long miles he's been running so far this year, with both these athletes clocking just over the 20-minute mark.
Helga McDonnell and Linda Byrne Cruise took second and third place category prizes respectively in times of 23:34 and 24:05, and with plenty of food and drinks after it was a night to remember.
Elsewhere, there was much delight at the Dublin Graded Track and Field Meeting at Morton Stadium as talented track athlete Ernesto Saborio returned to the cauldron and made it count when he lit up the track two seconds quicker than his last outing in the 800m, running the distance in 2:04.46 which was good enough for third place.
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Saturday's Glenmore Challenge Running Festival on the Cooley Peninsula was enjoyed by several Drogheda & District athletes.
Conditions were favourable on the day and Olivia Reilly (22:50), Louise Irvin (26:16), Gerard Maher (27:53), Lorraine Reilly (28:56) and Amy Gregory (28:59) ran the 5K, while Maria Ward (1:24:26) completed the 10K distance.
Joe Carroll (1:21:14) and Mike Staunton (1:35:35) ran the 10-mile event.
Moving to the south, Yasmin Canning took a category prize in the 800m at the Leinster Masters Championships in Carlow - her time 2min 43sec.
