Offaly athlete runs World Championship qualifying standard

An Offaly athlete has met the B qualifying standard for the World Championships.

Ballycommon man James Dunne raced a world-class field in the 1500m at the Duke Twilight at Morris Williams Track & Field Stadium in Durham, North Carolina, on Sunday night.

Dunne toed the line at 01:10 Irish time in what was the premier race of the track meet. He showed his class by going with the fast pace right from the starters gun. His splits tell just how fast the race was. After a 42 second opening 300m, the young Offaly athlete, wearing his Georgetown University singlet, was able to stick with the lead pack running both the next two laps in 58 seconds, before being able to pick up the pace to run the last lap in 56 seconds.

He crossed the finish line in fifth, having run a new PB of 3:35.17, which knocked almost three seconds off his previous best. The time moves James to 10th on the Irish all-time list. The fact that his run pushes Eamonn Coughlan back to 13th on the list gives you an idea of what a breakthrough run this is. Offaly Olympian James Nolan’s best of 3:35.69 was also surpassed by Ballycommon native Dunne. The run is also ranked as the 12th fastest run ever by an athlete in the NCAA (the US collegiate athletics system).

If these statistics haven’t brought out the track nerd in you, then what follows might. James' time is inside the qualifying standards set by Athletics Ireland for both the World Championships (B standard of 3:35.75) and the World University Games (A standard 3:36.00) which take place in Japan and Germany respectively. There are several other qualifying criteria, but after his race on Sunday night, Dunne was confident that he could meet those too. Congratulations, James.

Leinster Novice & Master Road Race Championships.

Seven athletes from Tullamore Harriers made the trip to Gowran, Co. Kilkenny for the Leinster Novice & Master Road Race Championships on Saturday May 3rd, and they returned with an impressive haul of medals.

The day began with the Masters Women’s 3000m race, where seven club athletes -Karen Nolan, Rita Daly, Una Mullen, Hilary Duncan, Sharon Daly, Olive Mannion, and Sandra Busteed, lined out. The course consisted of two laps of a 1500m loop, featuring a fast downhill start followed by a steady uphill climb through the village of Gowran.

Individual medals were clinched by Rita Daly, who claimed gold, and Olive Mannion, who secured silver in their respective age categories. Rita, along with Karen Nolan and Una Mullen, also earned medals in the club and county team competitions, taking Gold in the O50 Club category and Bronze in the O50 County team event.

In the Masters Men’s 6000m race, which featured a field of 82 athletes, Barry Minnock led the Tullamore squad with a superb run. Recently entering a new age category, Barry finished 14th overall and took the individual gold in the O50 category. He was joined by Dave Dunican and Brendan Abbott, and together the trio captured silver in the O50 Club team competition.

Well done to all athletes who competed and represented the club with pride.

Tullamore Harriers results:

Ladies 3000m

Karen Nolan 12.25

Rita Daly 13.00

Una Mullen 13.57

Hilary Duncan 15.01

Sharon Daly 15.47

Olive Mannion 16.32

Sandra Busteed 16.55

Men 6000m

Barry Minnock 20.46

Dave Dunican 25.09

Brendan Abbott 27.23

Belfast Marathon

Well done to Jason McDermott who posted a PB at the Belfast Marathon on Sunday 4th of May with a super time of 3.35.56.

Anthony Hughes competing in his debut marathon, ran an impressive time of 3.55.10.

Great Limerick Run - Marathon & Half Marathon

We had some superb performances at the Great Limerick Run also on the May Bank Holiday Sunday, May 4th.

Jamie Malone delivered a phenomenal run, shaving a very impressive 30 minutes off his previous marathon time to finish in 2:47:03! A brilliant result that earned him 7th place in the Senior Men's category.

Michael Brennan also had a strong race, crossing the line in a fantastic 2:55:55, while Forest McCormack proudly represented the blue and white with a 4:10:10 finish.

In the half marathon, Gary Dwyer and Naomi Galvin joined over 5000 participants with Gary clocking 1.53.36 and Naomi 1.55.19.

Silver for Fayth

Fayth Byrne participated in the St. Abban’s Open Sports at Crettyard, on Bank Holiday Monday, where she was 1st finisher in her semi-final and then took the silver medal in the Girls U16 100m final. Congratulations to Fayth, who continues to demonstrate consistent improvement and growing confidence as she embarks on her outdoor season.

Irish Milers Meet

The 2025 Irish Milers Club season opened at TUS Clonmel on Saturday, May 3rd.

In the Women’s 3000m, Danielle Donegan, recently back from altitude training in Font Romeu in the Pyrenees, ran a personal best of 9:29.08, placing 3rd. She followed Eimear Maher of DSD AC (1st in 9:22.33), and Ide Nic Dhomhnaill of West Limerick AC, (2nd in 9:25.05).

In the Men’s 1500m C race, Cian Law was 3rd placed with a time of 4:03.76, showing strong early-season form. 1st was Sean Nolan Moy Valley AC (3.58.42) and 2nd was Adam Kelly also of Moy Valley AC (4.01.06)

In the Men’s 1500m A race, Michael Murphy finished 12th in 3:56.61, just outside his personal best.

Anglo Celtic Plate

Stephen Murphy lined up on Saturday, May 3rd, at Mallory Park, Leicester as part of a ten-strong team selected by Athletics Ireland for the Anglo Celtic Plate 100K.
The event, run on a 4.782 km motor racing circuit, featured teams from Wales, Scotland, Northern Ireland, England, and Ireland, and also served as the Athletics Ireland 100K National Championships.
This marked Stephen’s first time wearing the Irish vest which he was very proud of. 
While race day didn’t go as planned, Stephen showed immense courage. Battling a foot injury, he was forced to withdraw at the 44K mark, but remained on course to cheer his teammates as Ireland secured a bronze medal in the team competition.
Congratulations, Stephen, on your international debut. Wishing you a speedy recovery and looking forward to your next chapter on the roads.

South Leinster Schools Track and Field

A big squad of Tullamore Harriers’ athletes travelled to SETU, Carlow on Thursday May 1st to compete in Day 1 of the South Leinster Schools Track and Field Championships. With the sun shining there were some great performances, and many athletes were delighted with their results. Well done to all and congratulations to the medal winners.

From the middle-distance group here are the medal winners:

Junior

1st Adelyn Walsh 1500m

Intermediate

1st Rachel Keaney 1500m Steeplechase

3rd Mia Gallagher 1500m Steeplechase

1st Ronan Keaney 1500m Steeplechase

Senior

1st Polly Duffy 1500m Steeplechase

From the Sprint Group:

Minor Girls

Maddie Deverell -1st in 100m Heat, 6th in 100m Final, 7th in Long Jump - 4.27m.

Ellie Finlay 3rd in 100m Heat.

Junior Girls

Samia Akbar -2nd in 100m Heat, 3rd in 200m Heat.

Chloe McGowan -2nd in 100m Heat.

Fayth Byrne -2nd in 100m & 200m Heats.

Roisín Cotter- 1st in 100m Heat, 5th in 100m Final, 3rd in Long Jump with a personal best of 4.54m

The second day of competition is Tuesday 6th of May, and we should have loads more fantastic performances to report. A big thank you to the teachers for all their great work - Colaiste Choilm, Sacred Heart School, Newbridge College, Patrician College, St Brendan’s CS Birr, Tullamore College and Killina Presentation Secondary School.

SEE NEXT: End of an era as reigning champions Offaly run out of road against Dubs

Fixtures

Sunday 11th May – Ashling Murphy 4 Mile.

Sunday 18th May – Ferbane 5k

Thursday 22nd May – Offaly Senior and Master Track & Field

Championships

Friday 30th May – Ballyskenach 5K

Senior Training

Training Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 6.40pm to 8.30pm.

For any enquiries contact club captains Glen 0868275228 or Rita

0868386687