St. Coca's Athletic Club
Kilcock, Co. Kildare
Archives 2019 April to June
National Track and Field League Round 2 - Athlone - 30th June 2019
Several St Coca's athletes represented Kildare in Round 2 of the National League today in Athlone. Orla Reidy was 2nd in the 800M and also part of the winning 4x400M relay team. Kirsten Monaghan was 2nd in the 3K Steeplechase and joint 4th in the High Jump. And Michael Reidy came 3rd in the men's 3K walk. Both Kildare Premier Women’s and Men’s team qualified for the National League Final which will take place in Tullamore on Saturday 20th July.
Bernard Ó'Faoláin - La Trail Mondaise 12K - Talmont-Saint Hilaire, Vendée - 30th June 2019
St Coca's on tour in Western France today where Bernard Ó'Faoláin took on La Trail Mondaise 12K in Talmont-Saint Hilaire.
AAI Childrens Games & Limited U12-U13 Events - Tullamore - 29th June 2019
It was the turn of our younger athletes today in the all Ireland U12 and U13 championship in Tullamore. Two athletes representing St Cocas. Layla Mathias flew in her U13 80m heat to win in style. In the final she was up against top opposition and came in 5th in a new pb of 10.83. Feilim Dikcius lined up in his U13 600m determined to break 1.41. This he did also a new pb 1.40.83 to finish 6th.
Well done to both young athletes, top 6 in all Ireland in new pb's. Can't ask more than that.
St Coca's 5K - Kilcock - 28th June 2019
What a super night tonight, perfect weather conditions, what a crowd, 556 entries for our 5K and four sub 15 minute finishers, including our own Kevin Kelly. Congratulations to all the winners and participants, and all those helping out behind the scenes. There are so many people we need to thank for making this year's race so memorable from all the volunteers who helped on the night, from parking, registration, marshals, pacers (especially 22:30 he was brilliant😉!) our juniors handing out medals, our in house photographer, to everyone who supplied food it would not be possible without them giving up their time so thank you.
A special thanks needs to go the Kildare Civil Defence and An Garda Síochána for keeping us all safe, Supervalu Kilcock for supplying the water at the finish line and Ronan and the gang from Myrunresults.com for the timing.
Biggest thanks however to race directors Martin (for the constant phone calls getting things arranged) and Larry (bringing all the experience of arranging this race over the years). Thank you so much everybody for your support. We hope you enjoyed the race.
Weekend News - 23rd June 2019
In one of the busiest and most successful weekends for the club, St Coca's athletes competed in a multitude of events.
David Walsh was a finisher in the inaugural Ironman held in Youghal Co. Cork.
Alex Wallace won the WLR Waterford Viking Marathon.
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Both Gráinne Butler, Niamh Dowling pb-ed in the Daingean AC 5k, where Bobby King won his age cat.
Aidan Maher and Henry Cahill pb-ed in the Dunshaughlin 10K (by over 1 min, the hard work is paying off).
In the Docklands 5k, we had Annette Whittaker taking 2nd place in her age cat, Teresa Hannon 4th and Lorna Cullen 5th in age cats. Brenda Kelly, aka Aunty B, had a brilliant pb! Great turn out for the club and loved the little get together afterwards! Nice one for next year.
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Colin O'Neill completed the original Gaelforce in Westport.
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Junior athletes Orla Reidy and Kirsten Monaghan competed in the Tailteann Games at Morton Stadium in Santry, where Orla won bronze in the 800M and Kirsten won bronze in the 1500M Steeple Chase.
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Niamh Cleary (below) did brilliantly in the Donadea Duathlon, coming home as 4th lady...hopefully you are there the next duathlon and we get you on the podium!
Congratulations everybody.
David Walsh completes 2019 Ironman Ireland - Youghal Co. Cork - 23rd June 2019
After months of training, St Coca's Fit4Life leader David Walsh took on the inaugural Ironman Cork this weekend in Youghal during some very cold, wet and windy conditions, which caused the swim leg to be cancelled. Dave finished in a time of 14:24:13, a very proud achievement making history as a finisher in the first full Ironman ever held in Ireland.
An Ironman Triathlon consists of a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bicycle ride and a marathon 26.22-mile run, raced in that order and without a break.
Alexander Wallace wins the Waterford Viking Marathon - 22nd June 2019
Alex Wallace achieved a new marathon PB of 2:28:50 today at the Waterford Viking Marathon where he was the clear winner finishing in some style and looking like he was ready to go again. His time is only 1 minute off the all time club record. A new club ambassador for sure and will be competing in the Berlin marathon later this year. Well done Alex, super proud.
Double Bronze at the Tailteann Games - Santry - 22nd June 2019
The Irish Life Health Tailteann Games kicked off a busy weekend in Santry with the four provinces battling for overall glory in the Morton Stadium.
After a late call up for both girls, Orla Reidy 800m & Kirsten Monaghan 1500s/c have both won bronze medals, both running impressive times representing Maynooth PP & Leinster. Congratulations girls.
Indeed Docklands 5K - Dublin - 20th June 2019
A large St. Coca's crew ventured into the city centre this evening for the Indeed Docklands 5K, great running by all our members with special mention to Annette for being 2nd lady home in her category, Teresa Hannon 4th and Lorna Cullen 5th in age cats. Brenda Kelly, aka Aunty B, had a brilliant pb! Great turn out for the club and loved the little get together afterwards! A massive thanks to all in Crusader AC for hosting a great race.
Leinster Championships - Tullamore - 15th & 16th June
Reidy & Murphy strike silver on Day 1 of the Leinster Championships
On a long day in Tullamore today at day 1 of the Leinster championship, medals were hard come by in a very competitive competition.
First up was Niamh Flynn in the speed walks who set a new PB for the distance to finish just outside the medals. Then we had a LONG wait for our next competitor Orla Reidy who finished 2nd in the girls u17, 800m.
The races came thick and fast then as next up was Oisin Farrell U17 followed by Kirsten Monaghan U18, who both finished a very credible 5th in their respective 800m races.
We then had a short wait for the 1500’s. In the first, girls u14 Sadhbh Buckley was unlucky to finish just outside the medals in a very fast finishing race. Next up was easiest the closest race of the day, the boys u14 1500m. Conor Murphy finished 2nd in a photo finish separated by the width of the vest.... with the ever improving Joseph Richards finishing in 6th.
Next was the largest field of over 25 with 3 St. Cocas putting their toe to the line, the girls u15, 1500m. Aoife McNerney finishing 5th, Niamh McDonald 6th and Ruby Oliver a little behind them. The 2 boys in the U15 were competitive, Conan Lennon finishing a few places ahead of James Harrigan. Our last runner was Thomas Richards in the boys U16 who finished 5th.
Well done to everyone who competed today and go.
More medals in the Leinsters, Tullamore, Day 2.
Joseph Richards was first up in the boys u14, 800 and finished in the top 10. Next was boys u15, 800 where Conan Lennon & Jim Harrigan both finished outside the top 10. Our first medal of the day came via Thomas Richards who led for most of the race in the boys u16 800 before settling for bronze.
The next event was the girls u17 1500m and Orla Reidy showed her blistering pace to make up 50m in the final 200m to claim silver and replicate her medal yesterday. The final competitor in the 1500’s saw Oisin Farrell run a great race but faded out of the medals to finish in 6th.
Our 2 sprinters were up next. Meadhbh Cullen was pipped on the line for a place in the final of the girls U14, 80m.
Orla Flynn, after competing the the long jump made the final of the girls u15, 100 and finished 5th in the final in a very close finish .
Our last competitor on day 2 was Kirsten Monaghan and it was well worth the wait. Silver in the girls u18 2000m steeplechase.
Congratulations to all our runners and parents who spent 2 long days in Tullamore.
New York 10K - 15th June 2019
Kevin & Laura Kelly after running a fantastic 10k in New York today.
Super positioning in front of the flag too!
Trim Braveheart 5K - 14th June 2019
A large contingent of St Coca's went over to Trim this evening to take part in the Braveheart 5K. After a lot of rain today, the weather held well for the event, a tough cross country course with St Coca's ladies' team taking second place overall. For several participants, it was their second consecutive 5K after yesterdays Run with Ray. Well done all!.
Run with Ray 5K - Royal Canal Kilcock - 13th June 2019
RTÉ Radio One's Ray D'arcy show came to Kilcock on 13th June and did a program from the roadcaster, alongside the canal. Following the show, over 400 people took part in a Run with Ray 5K event along the Royal Canal Kilcock Parkrun loop. Participants included the amazing Mags Hughes, who is visually impaired, completed her first 5K, led and supported by our own Carmel Kelly. What a magnificent achievement for her to complete the run and well up the field too.