Ten gold medals for Donegal masters athletes in Athlone

Donegal master athletes left the National Masters Indoor Championships with a fine haul of medals - including ten gold.

Just over 20 years after donning the Irish vest for the 2001 World Youth Championships in Debrecen, Ciara Kearns returned to the top of a national podium.

Then competing with Celbridge, Kearns was a standout athlete in her teenage years.

Now doubling up as a coach and a competitor at Finn Valley AC, Kearns took gold in Athlone in the W35 long jump. Kearns touched the sand at 5.20m on her second attempt, having opened with a 4.96m leap.

She will now go to the European Masters in Braga next month in real confidence.

Martin Cunningham of Tir Chonaill AC won gold in the M40 1500. Cunningham took the win in 4:17.32.

The Glencolmcille man powered clear to win well from Garry Mulligan (North East Runners) and Garry Cribbin (Celbridge).

Martin Cunningham won the 1500m

Cunningham has been in excellent form of late, evidenced by his fine run at the TUS International Arena.

Geraldine Stewart from Tir Chonaill AC won the women’s O35-49 shot put, throwing a best of 11.71m.

Stewart’s best was well clear of nearest competitor, Genevieve Rowland (Templemore), who reached out to 8.86. Annmarie Gallagher of Rosses was fourth (8.23m).

Finn Valley AC sisters Catriona Devine and Sinead McConnell were back to the Millbrae with gold medals.

Devine won the W45 1500m, finishing in 4:57.95 to win in front of Ennis’ Ann Marie Connellan (5:06.58.

Devine was a mainstay of the successful Finn Valley women’s senior team during the 1990s and 2000s and remains as competitive as ever.

Teresa Doherty takes Ulster Masters gold

Doherty led the way from Olympian Kerry O'Flaherty as Finn Valley AC took team silver

Devine followed up with a silver in the 800m, finishing in 2:28.68, edged to the gold by Waterford’s Aisling Ferguson (2:28.04).

McConnell won the 3000m walk in the W50 category and will look forward to being a part of the Irish walks team for Braga.

Inishowen AC’s Martin Mooney took gold in the M35 60m hurdles, clocking 11.41 seconds, and left with bronze in the masters triple jump (9.28m).

Damian Crawford from Lifford-Strabane AC won the men’s O50-59 shot with a furthest launch of 11.94m.

In the O50+ weight for distance, Crawford (7.28m) was edged to the gold by his good friend from Tir Chonaill AC, Robert Anderson, who won with a 7.31m throw.

Anderson also took a triple jump bronze (7.98).

Bosco Reid of Finn Valley AC won gold in the men’s )60-69 shot, throwing a best effort of 11.53m.

Milford AC’s Martin Kerr took the M70 gold, winning from William Belton (Sli Cualann).

Letterkenny AC’s Kathryn McDevitt was a double silver medalist, taking second spot in the W40 60m sprint (8.24 seconds) and ask in the 200m sprint (27.23 seconds).

McDevitt will be encouraged by her performances as she gears up for the European Masters with high hopes for the Irish relay team.

Shane Toolan of Tir Chonaill AC was the silver medalist in the master men’s M60 60m sprint and in the M65 1500m Letterkenny AC’s Brian McBride was third.

Martin O’Donnell of Olympian YAC took silver in the M45 200m sprint and his brother, Patrick, was the silver medalist in the triple jump (9.85m).