Athletics Ireland National Awards
At the National Athletics Awards, Rhadisat Addelke took the 2024 Athlete of the Year - the top award of the days. Other Dublin winners were Cathal Doyle (Clonliffe Harriers) Inspirational Performance Award for his Morton Mile win; Nicola Tuthill (UCD AC) Field Athlete of the Year, Sorcha Loughnane (Donore Harriers) Ultra Runner of the Year; Pierre Murchan (DCH) University Athlete of the Year; Peter McDermott (Clonliffe Harriers) Services to Coaching Award; Kay Bannon (Raheny Shamrock) Coaching Award and Peter Hanlon (CrusadersAC) Lifetime Services to Athletics.
Roads
On a quiet weekend on the racing front, Dmytro Moyseyev, a rcent Clonliffe Harriers recruit, won Saturday’s Clane 5km in a PB 15 mins 29 secs.
In the UK, Eoin Pierce also Clonliffe, made his half marathon debut at the Silverstone F1 circuit, defying the howling winds and Sotrm Bert to win the race in a time of 70 mins 40 secs.
Around the World in Seven Marathons!
Ger Prendergast of Ballymun AC, who completed the Great World Race — seven marathons on seven continents in seven days last week arrived home to a hero’s welcome on Sunday (Novemer 24). On Thursday November 14, Prendergast a member of Ballymun Athletics Club since its foundation exactly two years ago, had landed in Antarctica. There he would run the first of seven marathons on seven continents in seven days — a challenge called the Great World Race. Antarctica had to come first because the timing of the six others would depends on when it took place and the start was heavily dependant on the weather. Not only was it bitterly cold, but the sun reflecting off the pristine snow gave most of the 32 race partipants sunburn. Prendergast made a great start to the week finishing third overall in 3 hours 19 mins 40 secs. Afterwards he said ‘Honestly, every step, every breath, and every frozen moment was unforgettable.’ No sooner had all the runners finished, changed and settled back into the specially chartered jet than they were on their way to Cape Town in South Africa a five-hour flight that allowed the runners get some much needed sleep. Although it was very warm and a shock to the system after the cold in Antartica, the course was good and Prendergast finished equal third in 3:15.46. A day later in Perth, Australia, he was fourth in 3:14.46. Next up were two marathons which would take place on either side of the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey; the first in Europe the second in Asia. In the European race, Prendergast finished fifth in 3:14.34 — his fastest time of the week. Across the bridge in Asian Istanbul the next day, he clocked a time of 3:22.28 for sixth place. Cartagena, Columbia, in South America was the next ‘continent’, and despite battling an Achilles injury as well as the suffocating heat, in Prendergast managed to finish in 5:0.25. Finally came a short hop to Miami Beach in Florida — the North American leg of the race — where Prendergast crossed the line in 4:09.11. Prendergast arrived home on Sunday morning when he was greeted by a surprise welcoming party at the Trinity Comp sports hall, including a guard of honour organised by his family and Ballymun Athletics Club.
* On Saturday (3pm), Ger Prendergast will talk at a special elite athletes discussion in Trinity Comp. The discussion is part of the annual Ballymun Health And Fitness Summit, which starts on Friday. Details www.getitdoneballymun.com. Or contact Paddy at 086 1743836.
Captions:
Peter McDermott and Olive Doyle, Cathal Doyle’s mother.
Ger Prendergast in Perth
Ger Prendergast - back home with his medals
Ger Prendergast - in Antarctica
