Ballymore Cobh AC News

With only a few weeks to the Indoor Munster Athletics Championships it was great to have Nenagh Olympic host an Open event in the venue of the upcoming championships.

Marc Jones was the sole representative from the club to make the long journey on a cold and frosty morning. On arriving at the Venue Marc was heard to say, “is this Cross Country? I am a sprinter you know!”

The large converted livestock auction house was not the most inviting of venues (to a track athlete, at least) but inside it was well laid out with good facilities for sprinting, long jump, high jump, shot putt etc.

Marc took part in both the 200m and 60m sprint events at U17 age group as there was no U16 events. There were 11 competitors in the 200m event which was to be run off in 3 legs with times determining the order (no heats/final).

Marc was in the second race on the dreaded inside lane. Marc ran the race like a pro picking off each of the 3 other athletes as he powered around the short 200m course finishing in 25.51sec’s. This was faster than the winner of the 1st race. The 3rd race was ran with the winner and 2nd place runners running just under the 25.5sec’s leaving Marc as the 3rd quickest runner.

For the 60m there was to be 2 heats and a final. In the first heat Marc finished a close second to easily make the final. Up against many older athletes in the final Marc held his own to finish 4th of nine in 7.41sec’s.

All told, a great experience on the indoor track and a real confidence builder for the championship in February.