News from Tullamore Harriers AC: Hilary wins McNamara 5

The annual McNamara 5-Mile club race was held on Sunday last, March 15th, with 42 club runners lining out. Despite days of cold temperatures and rain in the lead-up, the weather held up for the race with dry but windy conditions which made for a decent morning for running.

This race honours the late John McNamara, a dedicated caretaker of Tullamore Harriers. John’s brother Michael was present for the race. It is a sealed handicap race, meaning all runners set off together with finishing positions determined by pre-assigned handicaps. This hidden handicap format adds an exciting element to the race and gives every participant a genuine chance of victory regardless of ability.

Long-serving club handicapper Joe Wrafter once again did a superb job in setting the handicaps for the race. This race marked Joe’s final event in the role, having provided extremely accurate predictions over the past number of years. He now passes the baton to John Cronin, who will take on the important role of club handicapper going forward, working alongside Competition Secretary Anna Hyland Guilfoyle.

The 42 athletes left the club grounds after completing two laps of the tarmac circuit - out the front gate onto the Charleville Road towards Mucklagh. They turned at the Mucklagh roundabout before returning to the club grounds to complete a final lap of the track.

Barry Mooney was the first man back to the club with a lead of 30 seconds over the next finisher. Fastest lady was Sarah Flanagan.

Once all the handicaps were applied it was Hilary Duncan who was deemed the 2026 McNamara 5 champion.

2nd place went to Emer Rigney, 3rd Rita Daly Ravenhill and 4th John Donegan,

Well done to everyone who competed including three new members - Mary Berry, Grainne Kenny and Oisin Kenny.

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Results:

Name Adjusted time Actual time Handicap

Barry Mooney 00:29:42 00:29:42 00:00:00 Fastest Man

Shane McGuinness 00:28:36 00:30:15 00:01:39

Jonathan Dunne 00:28:36 00:30:15 00:01:39

Darren Butler 00:29:16 00:31:51 00:02:35

Gearoid McHugh 00:28:42 00:32:18 00:03:36

Ollie Neary 00:29:20 00:32:22 00:03:02

Nick McGowan 00:29:50 00:32:43 00:02:53

Gaelan Elliffe 00:29:06 00:32:53 00:03:47

Sarah Flanagan 00:29:38 00:33:00 00:03:22 Fastest Woman

Alan Heffernan 00:29:18 00:33:09 00:03:51

Diarmuid Herlihy 00:28:43 00:33:24 00:04:41

Alan Mitchell 00:28:52 00:33:31 00:04:39

John Donegan 00:28:34 00:33:35 00:05:01 4th Finisher

Danielle Donegan 00:33:36 00:33:36 00:00:00

Jason McDermott 00:29:25 00:33:56 00:04:31

Fionnan Minnock 00:28:59 00:34:11 00:05:12

Seamus Hoey 00:29:38 00:35:13 00:05:35

Rita Daly Ravenhill 00:28:25 00:36:08 00:07:43 3rd Finisher

Justin Murtagh 00:29:50 00:36:09 00:06:19

Niamh McEnhill 00:31:20 00:36:26 00:05:06

James Fleming 00:31:00 00:37:02 00:06:02

Francis Mollen 00:29:57 00:37:03 00:07:06

Sean Spollen 00:30:14 00:37:23 00:07:09

Elysia McCormack 00:29:22 00:38:07 00:08:45

Karen Nolan 00:30:36 00:39:16 00:08:40

Mary Galvin 00:28:40 00:39:38 00:10:58

John Carroll 00:29:14 00:39:45 00:10:31

Emer Rigney 00:27:58 00:40:09 00:12:11 2nd Finisher

Sorcha Galvin 00:28:54 00:40:16 00:11:22

Mary Berry 00:40:21 00:40:21 00:00:00

Darren Ghee 00:40:38 00:40:38 00:00:00

Hilary Duncan 00:27:43 00:40:46 00:13:03 Winner

Ann O'Malley 00:30:05 00:43:16 00:13:11

Paul Hensey 00:31:28 00:43:37 00:12:09

Paschal Naughton 00:30:29 00:43:49 00:13:20

Andy O'Grady 00:29:00 00:44:48 00:15:48

Sharon Daly 00:29:19 00:45:10 00:15:51

Michael Kinsella 00:29:53 00:45:11 00:15:18

Sandra Busteed 00:30:56 00:47:45 00:16:49

Grainne Kenny 00:48:44 00:48:44 00:00:00

Oisin Kenny 00:48:45 00:48:45 00:00:00

Jim Langan 00:47:30 01:27:30 00:40:00

Victory for Ava O’Connor at the NCAA Indoor Championships.

Ava O’Connor travelled to Virginia Beach, Virginia, last week and after a series of very tough races capped off the 2026 NCAA Division II Indoor Track & Field Championships with gold and silver medals.

Ava was the first national champion crowned at the meet, when she won the women's mile with a time of 4:44.04. Ava had battled down the finishing stretch to edge foe Helen Braybrook of CSU Pueblo by just .45 seconds to secure the title. This time sets a new club record for the mile which Ava herself recorded in 2022 (4.46.18).

Ava returned to the track in the women's 3,000 meters where she finished second with a time of 9:19.24.

Great results Ava

National U20 & U23 Indoor Championships

The TUS International Arena in Athlone welcomed the rising stars of Irish athletics on Saturday March 14^th, to compete at the 123.ie All Ireland U20 and U23 Indoor Championships. The trio- Ally Duffy, Adelyn Walsh and Aurelia Crotty of Tullamore Harriers Juvenile squad competed in the middle-distance events.

First up were Ally and Adelyn in the Under 20 1500m. The race went out at a brutally fast pace, but both athletes stuck to their plan. When Ally and Adelyn passed the 800m mark at 2:22 and 2:24 respectively they were right in the mix. They needed then to dig deep to hold on over the final few laps to be rewarded with new PB’s. A fast last lap by Ally saw her run a time of 4:30.86 an improvement of seven seconds on her previous best. Ally only narrowly missed out on a medal finishing fourth just behind Jennifer O’Leary from Nenagh. Adelyn too ran a new PB of 4:40.76 three seconds faster than her PB.

Both girls are in their first year of eligibility for U20 competitions as is Aurelia who competed in the U20 800m. Aurelia got out hard and her aggression saw her get into a good position. As the race progressed Aurelia drifted out of contention for a medal but finished twelfth against a competitive field just a few seconds off her PB.

Jack Donegan competed in the U23 1500m. He placed 9th in a time of 4:09.37

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New club record for Katie

Katie Deverell competed in the U20 Indoor long jump. While she had a strong performance in the national senior championships two weeks previously finishing fifth with 542cm indoor personal best, she struggled in her first three attempts on Saturday, to get the rhythm and accuracy of the run up. She managed a 483cm best jump which was enough to squeeze into the final in eight places. In her fourth jump she nailed the run up and produced a 529cm jump to move into third place. With a boost in confidence, she then followed up with another very accurate run up. Unfortunately, her take off was poor to produce a jump of 517cm. After the fifth round Katie now placed fourth. On her sixth jump she nailed the run up again and jumped to 551cm to momentarily place second, before Cara Ryan Clonmel AC jumped 556cm pushing Katie into third and securing the national bronze medal. Katie’s 5.51m leap also broke an eight-year-old club record of 5.46m set by Katelyn Farrelly in 2018.

It was another excellent achievement for Katie and a performance that highlights her continued progress in the event.

Both Lucy Champ and Teagan Delaney were also in action in the U20 category. Teagan competed in the 200m and ran a strong race to take third place in a time of 27.88 seconds.

Lucy lined up in both the 60m and 200m events. Her 60m heat took place at 10:30am, which is early for sprinters, but she ran well to finish third in 8.17 seconds, narrowly missing out on a place in the final. Later in the afternoon, in the 200m at 2:20pm, she clocked a strong 25.99 seconds, her second-fastest indoor 200m time. Both athletes are currently preparing for their Leaving Certificate, with oral exams and project submissions at their peak, making their performances even more impressive.

Medal success at National Masters Indoor Championships

There was a nice haul of medals for the club at the 123.ie National Masters Track & Field Championships in Tus Athlone on Sunday the 15th of March,

Rory Deverell produced a strong performance to earn a National Silver medal in the 200m, clocking an impressive 24.88. He also competed in the 60m, finishing fifth in a time of 7.71 seconds, with both performances marking new personal bests.

Joe Mulligan also enjoyed a successful championship, taking home two silver medals in the O35 category. He finished second in the Shot Put (7.26kg) with a throw of 9.06m and claimed silver in the Weight for Distance (56lbs) with a throw of 4.91m.

There were further podium finishes from the club’s veteran ladies. Pat Kelly and Mary Walsh both competed in the 200m in the O75 age category. Pat claimed the gold medal in 42.03 seconds, while Mary followed closely behind to secure the silver medal in 42.78 seconds. Pat also lined out in the 400m, where she once again took gold with a time of 1:46.02.

Olive Mannion also had a successful outing. In the 800m she finished third in the O60 category in a time of 3:42. She also secured two silver medals in the field events, finishing second in the Weight for Distance (20lbs) with a throw of 5.64m and second in the Shot Put (3kg) with a throw of 6.20m.

Leinster Indoor Championships

Our juvenile track and field athletes enjoyed two fantastic days of competition at the Leinster Indoor Championships in TUS, Athlone on the 15^th of February.

A huge well done to all who took part and represented the club with pride.

Competitors

U12

Laoise Kelly - 60m, Long Jump

Eva Dunne - 60m

Maeve O'Halloran - 60m, Long Jump, 60m Hurdles

Fayah Shaugnessy - 60m

Eve O'Reilly - 60m, 60m Hurdles

Thomas Bourke - 60m, Long Jump

U13

Mollie Coughlan - 60m, 60m Hurdles

Elsie Kilmartin - 60m, Long Jump

Grace Cosgrove - 60m, Long Jump

Maebh Geoghegan - 60m, Long Jump, 60m Hurdles

Iona Geoghegan - 60m, Long Jump, 60m Hurdles

Ella Maher -- 60m

U14

Kate McLaughlin - 60m

U15

Emily Cosgrove - 60m, Long Jump

Meabh Jones - 60m, Long Jump

Rian Leamy - 60m, Long Jump

A special mention to Laoise Kelly, Mollie Coughlan and Elsie Kilmartin who made the 60m semi-final, Elsie and Rian Leamy who made the Long Jump final and Maeve O'Halloran who made the 60m Hurdles final.

All athletes are making great progress, showing lots of potential, and are now looking forward to the outdoor season.

U16 - U18 Performances

U16 Girls

Samia Akbar – 60m: 8.78s (PB), 200m: 3rd in heat, 29.05s (PB)

U17 Girls

Chloe McGowan - 60m -5th in heat, 8.82 seconds (PB); 200m - 5th in heat, 29.74 seconds (PB)

Fayth Byrne - 60m- 3rd in heat, 7th in final, 8.49 seconds (PB); 200m -3rd in heat, 29.01 seconds

Roisín Cotter - 60m -4th in heat, 8th in final, 8.59 seconds (PB),: 200m - 3rd in heat, 4th in final, 27.61 seconds (PB); Long Jump: 5th, PB of 4.72m

Roisín automatically qualifies for the U17 200m at the end of March - a fantastic achievement.

U18 Girls

Lucy Deverell - Long Jump- 5th, 4.49m

Every athlete showed tremendous determination, achieved personal bests, and demonstrated great potential. The future is bright as they now turn their focus to the outdoor season.

Spirit of Portumna award for Melissa

Congratulations to Melissa Hogan, who was presented with the Spirit of Portumna Award following the Portumna 10K race on Sunday, March 15th.

Melissa impressed race organisers with her determination (and smiles!) throughout the race and was deemed a deserving recipient of the special award.

Josie Lalor also took part in the event and recorded a time of 57:20.

BnM Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon

The annual BnM Tullamore Harriers Half Marathon is now open for registration.

Taking place on Saturday, 29th August 2026, this popular event continues to grow in reputation and demand. In recent years, entries have sold out quickly so early registration is strongly advised to avoid disappointment.

The race proudly hosts the Leinster Half Marathon Championships and the Offaly Half Marathon Championships and is Round 4 of the Offaly Endurance Series, making it a key date in the racing calendar for club and competitive runners alike.

Entry is via Myrunresults.ie.

Fixtures

March

22^nd March – Banagher 5K

April

12^th April - Revive Active Great Ireland Run – National 10k - Phoenix Park, Dublin.

19^th April – Rhode 5K

19^th April – Offaly Juvenile Track & Field Championships

26^th April - National Road Relays, Raheny

May

8^th May – Ferbane 5K

17^th May – Ashling Murphy 4 Mile

29^th May – Ballyskenach 5K

29^th & 30^th May – Irish Schools Track & Field Championships -Tullamore Harriers.

Senior Training

Training Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.30pm to 8.30pm.

For any enquiries contact club captains Glen 0868275228 or Rita

0868386687