The National Senior Track & Field Championships which was held in damp conditions in Santry last weekend saw a number of successes for Bandon A.C. members. Phil Healy was contesting the 400m in a bid to make the 4x400m relay team for the upcoming European Championships. She won her heat comfortably on Sat and in the final on Sun looked like she was going to win Gold, but faded a little over the last 30m and finished in the Silver medal position. A remarkable achievement just a few months after her first ever competitive 400m race. Joan Healy qualified comfortably for the 100m final and then in far from ideal sprinting conditions won Bronze in the final. Laura McSweeney won Bronze in the Shot Putt and recorded a new Personal Best and increased her own club record. Shane Howard also set new Personal Best and increased his club record in the Long Jump and won Silver. Patrick McSweeney finished in the 4th place in the Weight for Height and 5th in the Shot Putt.
So 4 medals for Bandon A.C. members in the National Seniors, biggest return from these Championships for many years so well done to all the athletes and coaches involved.
Interesting note, after the National Seniors in 2013, when I reported on 4th place finishes for Shane, Phil and Laura, I remarked that the “athletes are all under 20 and have many more years ahead of them and these performances all indicate sometime in the near future the club will be celebrating a few senior medals at these championships.”