St. Coca's Athletic Club
Kilcock, Co. Kildare
Archives 2016
Kildare Senior Cross Country - 18th December
Some fine running by both men's and women's teams at today's Kildare cross country in nearby Celbridge.
Rachael Smyth was an impressive winner of the women's race taking it out hard from the start. Host club Celbridge had strength in numbers and retained the team title. Our woman were not far off the title with Lynda Gormley 7th having a fantastic run. Annette Whittaker not far behind and Niamh Cleary, Joan McGillicuddy and Grainne Butler made up the silver medal winning team.
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The mens race had a very big field with Celbridge fielding 4 teams. Immediately after the start four runners broke clear of the main field. Kevin Kelly among the four. As they started into the 3rd lap two of the Celbridge men got clear of Kevin. It remained the same to the finish with Kevin winning an individual bronze. Celbridge were clear winners of the club title with their four scorers on the top 8. Further back a real battle for silver and bronze. Rory Mooney having a tremendous run to finish 7th. John O'Boyle,Niall Byrne, Mark Leonard, Aidan Kelly, Darren Maher, Gareth Daly and Aidan Maher all running well the team came a very close 4th, one point off 3rd and 6 points off 2nd. So close!
Well done to all who competed and to the travelling support who gave plenty of encouragement along the way.
All Ireland Cross Country - 11th December & 27th November 2016
Another great day of cross country in Dundalk IT for the uneven ages All-Ireland X-country. Our first involvement was the boys U11. The boys ran well together on the Kildare team, with Conor Murphy and Joseph Richards both finishing in the 60's and Daniel Geraghty finishing a few places behind in a field of 175.
Next up were the girls U15 of Maud O'Shea, Kirsten Monaghan Leah Murray, Orla Reidy, Ciara Gormley & Aoife Rattigan, with Orla & Ciara moving up an age group to make the team. Orla and Kirsten ran fantastic together stride for stride pushing each other along, Orla eventually finished in 27, Kirsten in 36. Next home was Aoife with Maud & Ciara finishing side by side brought home by Leah. In a field of over 120, the girls were a fantastic 9th team in Ireland.
Next up was Oisin Farrell who was running out of his age to make the Kildare team and finished 89th out of 140.
Our last runner was Eoin Reidy in the boys U19 race. After a steady start, Eoin came from the back of the pack after the first 2k lap to work his way back into contention. At the 4K mark he was in 34th and with a strong last 2k lap finished in 23rd & the 5th Leinster runner to pick up a silver national medal for the province.
Congratulations to each and every one of you.
Our u14 boys team who competed so strongly at the all-Ireland X-country race and finished 8th team overall. Led home by Oisin Farrell, Eoin Richards, Thomas Richards and Tadgh McCauley. A team for the future!
All Ireland Schools Senior Multi Event - 12th November
Great news from Athlone where Eva McPartlan has set 2 new PB's in the HJ and shot, while winning the LJ and finishing 2nd in the hurdles and 800m has won silver in the schools senior multi-event All-Ireland.
Congratulations Eva.
Leinster Cross Country - 29th October and 13th November 2016
Our juvenile athletes were back in Tyrrellspass again today for the Leinster uneven age cross country. Conditions were good again though the course was a bit heavier underfoot which make the going a bit tougher.
We had three athletes in the open u9 race preceding the main programme. Erin Murray and Roisin Beggan came 5th and 7th respectively and Gearoid McCauley also ran well in the boys race.
There were almost 150 runners in the first two official races and both our teams performed well. The girls u11 Aoishe Gormley was our first runner home in 49th place. Aoife Carroll 68th, Georgia Nolan 77th, Hannah O'Rorke 97th, Tayo Akintayo 102nd, Amelia McCarthy 108th and Rionnach Lennon 122nd the team came 11th out of 19 teams.
The boys were led home by Conor Murphy 26th in his first Leinster cross country. Joseph Richards 52nd, Daniel Geraghty 56th, Daire McNickle 70th, Sean Walsh 87th and Cillian McCauley 102nd the team came 7th out of 17 teams. Conor Murphy won a bronze medal on the scoring Kildare team and Joseph and Daniel have qualified for the all Ireland on the county team also.
Great performances by both these teams. Many of them running at Leinster level for the first time.
At u13 level we had just one athlete in the girls race. Aoife McNerney finished 79th and Kildare county were out of the medals.
Tadgh McCauley had another fine run in the boys u13 race finishing 26th. Thomas Richards 47th, Conan Lennon 49th and Conor Rattigan 97th the team came 11th.
A brilliant run by Orla Reidy to lead the u15 girls to bronze medals and qualification to the all Ireland. She came 13th, Kirsten Monaghan 22nd, Aoife Rattigan 48th, Maud O'Shea 72nd, Ciara Gormley 78th and Lea Murray 92nd.
Oisin Farrell running in the boys u15 finished 25th and scored on the Kildare bronze medal team. Eoin Richards 68th and Eoin O'Toole 74th also running well in this age group.
Aine Burke was our sole representative in the u17 girls but had a good run to finish 22nd and qualify to all Ireland on the Kildare bronze medal team. In the boys u17 another strong run by Shane McNerney in 33rd place. Unfortunately Kildare county did not field a full team of 6 so the team did not score.
Our last runner of the day was Eoin Reidy who put in an enormous last lap to make the top 10 and qualify for All Ireland in the u19 race.
Great work by everyone today and support around the field for all the athletes makes such a difference. Quite a good number of athletes will compete at the all Ireland level in 2 or 4 weeks time.
The remembrance run took place today in the Phoenix park in Dublin. A mass participation event where many people run in memory of a loved one who has passed away. The women's race was led home by our own Rachael Smyth. Well done Rachael.
Finally in Burgos, northern Spain. Kevin Kelly was up among some of the world elite athletes in an international cross country race. He finished the 9k race in 28.42 and was mid way up the pack. 16 of the top 20 runners were African. Good experience at his level.
A great start to the weekend today in Tyrrellspass for the even age Leinster cross country. For the first time in a number of years one of our club teams made the podium where our u14 boys won silver medals.
Oisin Farrell running his first Leinster race was among the top 12 for all the race and finished strongly in 11th to make the Leinster team for the all Ireland. Behind him the lads were having the race of their lives with Eoin Richards 14th, Thomas Richards 33rd and Tadhg McCauley 45th they claimed silver club medals.
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The day started with two u10 non championship races. Robert Lynch and Finn Dowling were in the top 15 of the boys race.The main action started with u12 girls. In a field of 130 runners our team of Ava Geoghegan, Aoishe Gormley, Aoife McNerney, Hannah O'Rorke, Georgia Nolan and Rionnach Lennon finished 8th from 15 teams. U12 boys next and Conan Lennon ran a great race to finish 19th. Joseph Richards also competing for the county team which finished 4th to qualify for the all Ireland.
Orla Reidy also finished 19th in u14 girls. Both Doireann Killeen and Ciara Gormley were mid pack in this race and Kildare co team came 5th.
The girls u16 team a bit unlucky to miss automatic qualification to the all Ireland finishing 5th after Aoife O'Cuill 14th, Kirsten Monaghan 15th, Maud OShea 39th and Lea Murray 49th. However they picked up county bronze medals and will go forward.
Shane McNerney was first home for the club in the u16 race finishing 37th. He also will go onto the all Ireland as the county team came 3rd. Eoin O'Toole and Jamie Campbell also running on this team.
In the boys u18 Oisin O'Cuill was running well but went over on his ankle in the 2nd lap.
In the last race of the day Eoin Reidy came a very strong 24th in the novice men on a field of over 150 runners.
Great running by all and as usual tremendous support all round the course for the teams. Well done to all. The next round of Leinster will also take place in Tyrrellspass in two weeks time.
Dublin City Marathon - 30th October 2016
On Sunday, 35 of our adults participated in the Dublin City Marathon, some looking for PB's others for the first time. Congratulations to all 35 who got around safe and sound. For those of you who have come from the fit4life and completing the marathon, we salute you! Starting on a couch-to-5k program and finishing a 42k is a fantastic achievement!
The class of 2016
Bryan O'Connor finish time 3.43.56 chip.2.43.54
Martin Baten 2.53.52 2.53.33
Conor Devaney 3.10.29 3.09.53
Mark Leonard 3.13.43 3.13.07
Darren Maher 3.19.54 3.19.18
Gareth Daly 3.20.18 3.19.41
John Murray 3.21.01 3.22.09
Michael McGrath 3.24.33 3.24.16
Olivia Bermingham 3.30.42 3.28.00
Marianne Maguire 3.31.10 3.28.29
Annette Whittaker 3.33.46 3.33.44
Larry Kelly 3.50.35 3.50.19
Jimmy Smyth 3.51.30 3.50.47
Dick O''Keeffe 4.01.43 4.00.43
Anne-Marie O'Brien 4.04.48 4.00.41
Barry Twohig 4.06.13 4.05.12
Emma Jane Snee 4.07.05 4.10.02
Marie Baten 4.16.02 4.15.59
Fiona King 4.17.06 4.15.57
Mick Burke 4.18.33 4.15.49
Brendan Nurney 4.21.21 4.20.21
Noel Davies 4.25.04 4.23.34
Teresa Murray 4.27.28 4.27.25
Aisling Donoghue 4.27.23 4.27.20
Teresa Hannon 4.27.56 4.27.57
Brenda Kelly 4.39.52 4.31.51
Caitriona Slaughter 4.43.17 4.43.14
David Murphy 4.46.29 4.40.09
Catherine Leonard 4.51.09 4.48.03
Leonie Foran 5.19.00 5.16.44
Michael Reidy 5.19.03 5.16.47
Sharon Maher 5.49.15 5.38.53
Aidan Maher 5.49.16 5.38.54
Brendan Nurney 4.21.21 4.20.21
The crew were fundraising for St Gabriel's ward, Temple St hospital and to date have raised close to €9,000
Kildare Cross Country - Round 2 - 9th October 2016
Teams were the name of the game at round 2 of the Kildare cross country today in Suncroft. Another mild autumn day which saw huge numbers compete again.
The girls u9 got the show off the road with a winning team performance. Led home by Elaina O'Malley 7th, Roisin Beggan 8th, Eirn Murray 9th and Lucy O'Rorke 11th - team running at its best. Also on this team were Lauren Nolan 24th, Amelie Metcalfe 28th, Aoibhin Beggan 40th, Isobel Walsh and Aine McCauley.
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Boys u9 won bronze team medals with some gritty running from the lads. Cormac Murray 11th, Hugh Dowling 16th, Gearoid McCauley 22nd, Robert Murphy 25th, Sean Miley 41st, Ronan Millar 46th and Ryan Dalton 48th.
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Girls u11 got a bad start and had to work hard to move up the field. Aoishe Gormley finished 7th, Aoife Carroll 18th, Hannah O'Rorke 19th, Georgia Nolan 24th, Rionach Lennon 36th, Amelia McCarthy 40th and Grace Maher 48th, the team won bronze medals.
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A strong performance by the boys u11 also with silver team medals. After his great win last week Robert Lynch took individual bronze. The lads packed well behind him. Joseph Richards 8th, Conor Murphy 12th, Finn Dowling 13th, Sean Walsh 15th, Daire McNickle 16th, Daniel Geraghty 24th, Cillian McCauley 32nd, Sean Kelly 43rd, Oisin Miley 44th and Conor McNerney 47th. Great club support from these lads.
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The girls u13 were unfortunate not to have a full team but all three girls ran great with Aoife McNerney 5th, Eva Geoghegan 20th and Kate Carroll 46th.
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There was a tremendous tussle between Naas and ourselves in both individual and team race in the u13 boys. Tadgh McCauley made a last gasp effort to outsprint club mate Thomas Richards for the bronze. Conan Lennon 6th and Conor Rattigan 21st the team won silver.
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More great team running in girls u15. Orla Reidy and Kirsten Monaghan winning individual silver and bronze. Aoife Rattigan hot on their heels in 6th, Ciara Gormley 16th, Maud O'Shea 17th and Lea Murray 21st, team gold and a team which should do well at Leinster.
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Another exceptional run by new club member Oisin Farrell who showed no respect to seasoned cross country runners and won individual silver in boys u15. Team silver for this team also Eoin Richards 7th, Conor Crowell 9th and Eoin O'Toole 13th. Great team running by these lads who had to dig deep today.
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Final race for us today and probably the run of the day as far as St Cocas were concerned. Shane McNerney was our sole representative in the u17 and he always kept in contention over the tough 4k race picking off athletes on each lap. In the last lap he had made his way up to silver as he sprinted to the finish to the cheers of the remaining club members. A great run.
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Today was team running at its best and great to see the support from all the runners.
Leinster cross country is next up in 3 weeks time for u12/14/16 and 18.
Well done all today. Training continues tomorrow as usual.
Kildare Cross Country - Round 1 - 2nd October 2016
Sunshine and cross country don't normally go together but at todays first round of the Kildare championships we were treated to a warm autumn day in Suncroft.
A slightly new course which went down well with the athletes and superb running by all our athletes.
Girls u10 where almost all of the team are still u9 were up first. Almost 80 runners and first home Elaina O'Malley 11th, Lucy O'Rorke 16th, Roisin Beggan 26th, Ella Thompson 40th, Aoife Carey 69th and Emily Byrne 72nd. The team just outside the medals but all happy with their great runs.
Boys u10 was a teriffic tactical race. Finn Dowling raced into the lead and made all the running early on. Robert Lynch tucked in about 9th and made a move about half way passing everyone including Finn to take the gold. Finn was 3rd coming into the finish run in and got a 2nd wind to take the silver. Daniel Geraghty 9th, Robert Murphy 33rd and Sean Miley 44th. The team took silver medals.
U12 girls and more big numbers. Aoife McNerney a terrific run to take bronze. Solid running behind by Aoife Carroll 15th, Rionach Lennon 21st, Georgia Nolan 34th, Aoife Carey 35th, Orla Flynn 41st and Kate Carroll 45th and Hannah O'Rorke saw the team win a well deserved bronze medal. Most of this team are also out of age and also missing one or two today.
U12 boys and agonisingly the team missed out by 3 points for bronze. Conan Lennon a great run to finish 4th, Joseph Richards 14th, Conor Murphy 17th, Daire McNickle 23rd, Cillian McCauley 28th and Oisin Miley 54th.
U14 girls was won by a Crookstown Millview athlete in a very impressive run. Orla Reidy was a good 2nd, Doireann Killeen 8th, Ciara Gormley 10th and Lea Groom just missed on the gold team medals.
Another intriguing race in boys u14 saw Eoin Richards just miss on the individual gold to a fast finishing Naas athlete. His brother Thomas was 4th, Tadgh McCauley 5th and unfortunately missing on a vital 4th scorer to complete the team.
Aoife O'Cuill ran a strong mature race to claim the u16 title but it wasn't easy. She was tracked all the way by a Naas athlete but her strength won out in the end. Kirsten Monaghan 4th, Aoife Rattigan 6th and Maud O'Shea 8th. Unfortunately only 3 required to score so silver team medals for the girls but all 4 will be needed for Leinster.
We had only two athletes in the boys u16 where both Shane McNerney 4th and Eoin O'Toole both ran well.
Last races of the day saw Oisin O'Cuill take the u18 title. In the novice and masters races Lynda Gormley was most impressive in winning the masters title. Arlene O'Malley had a solid run in the novice. Mens race and Micheal Bailey running his first cross country ran well and Larry Kelly winning his category in masters men.
Great days work by everyone and shows how well everyone is training. Also highlights how important every single member of the teams are.
Its back to Suncroft again next Sunday with a 12 midday start.
Fifth Avenue Mile - 3rd September 2016
Fifth avenue mile. Kevin and Laura Kelly. Brilliant run by Kevin 4.10. Doing his club and country proud in New York this morning. Kevin also had a great run in the Percy Sutton 5k in Harlem on August 27th where he placed 5th place in a field of over 4000 runners in a new PB of 15.07. Well done Kevin.
Quinlan Cup Half Marathon Tullamore - August 27th 2016
Our adult athletes travelled to Tullamore today for the annual Quinlan Cup Half Marathon. Fantastic results all round where the men's team of 4 finished 3rd club. Rory Mooney, Rob O'Brien, Aidan Kelly, Dave Murray.
Not to be outdone, our ladies team also finished 3rd. Annette Whittaker, Olivia Bermingham Teresa Hannon, Anne-Marie McEnroe. Double delight for Annette who finished 2nd in her category!
Great running also by Emma-Jane Snee, Barry Twohig, Brendan Nurney, Dick O'Keeffe & Catriona Slaughter.
Well done everyone
Weekend News - 21st August 2016
National masters in Tullamore on Sunday and St Cocas well represented. The evergreen Bobby King winning gold in the 1500m and bronze in the 3k. Deirdre O'Reilly also winning gold in the 200m. Glynnis Reidy silver in the 800m and Larry Kelly 6th in a very fast 1500m. Well done to all our athletes on some terrific performances. Thanks to the supporters who travelled to support also.
Community Games
National community games finals in Athlone also this weekend. Orla Reidy called in at the 11th hour as a replacement in the 800m. On a down wet day on Saturday she qualified easily for the final on Sunday where she finished 9th. Two of our younger athletes also competed on Saturday. Aoife Carroll (representing Meath) narrowly missed on qualification in the u10 hurdles and Elaina O'Malley u8 both ran well on a day more akin to cross country.
Trail kids
Well done to all who partook in the trail kids experience on Saturday. A fantastic day for all. Thanks to the organisers at trailkids.ie for the day. Great to see the participation of many parents who got down and dirty with the kids. Certainly an experience to be repeated.
Training
Training for juveniles continues this week on Tuesday and Thursday at 7pm at the track.
Regular training for juveniles will resume on Monday 29th August. Little athletics resumes on Monday 5th September.
National League Final Tullamore - 7th August 2016
Fantastic performance by Kildare county women's team who won bronze medals at the national league final in Tullamore. St Cocas represented by Nicole O'Malley in the 800m and Rachael Smyth who scored top points in the 1500m.
Eoin Reidy was a member of the men's team who came 8th.
Morton Mile Santry - 22nd July 2016
A fantastic return to form tonight from Paul Robinson at the Morton mile in Santry. Another sub 4 mile in a top class race where 11 men broke the magic 4 minute mark. Pictured below just after the race with some of his club fans. A total role model to the younger members of the club.
Morton Games Santry - 22nd July 2016
Great evening in the Morton games. Our juvenile athletes took part in the 16x100m relay, holding their own finishing in 4th. A fantastic opportunity to run amongst the elites.
National League Round 2 Cork - 17th July 2016
Results from a gloriously warm Cork in round 2 of the National league. Rachael Smyth produced a great finishing kick to win her 1500m. Nicole O'Malley ran very well to finish 3rd in her 3k. Eoin had a tough task to run 1500 first where he finished 5th and 45 minutes later started the 3k S/C where he then finished 3rd.
Well done to all Kildare athletes.