Colin Griffin second in Ratoath Half Marathon

Colin Griffin, who is preparing for the 2023 Dublin Marathon and AAI National Championship in six weeks time, had a very satisfactory run in the Ratoath Half Marathon held in very warm conditions on Saturday last.

He finished a close second to Peter Somba of Dunboyne AC in a time of 1:10.52, just 38 seconds adrift of the winner.

Next Saturday, the former double Olympian will take part in unique science of running Symposium being organised by the Jerry Kiernan Foundation in conjunction with Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics at UCD where he is one of five presenters and will speak on "The Achilles Heel of Running: Maximising Performance and Managing Injury Risk"

Colin, who works in Santry Sports Surgery, recently obtained a Ph.D from the University of Nice in Achilles Rehab & lower-limb biomechanics and the programme which begins at 10.30 am.

The programme will be opened by Minister of State Jack Chambers and the presentations will be followed by a Panel discussion chaired by Irish Times Sports Journalist Ian O’Riordan and including former Irish greats Eamon  Coghlan, David Gillick, John Treacy, Derval O’Rourke and Donna Evans.

The Jerry Kiernan Foundation was established by his former running mate Murt Coleman and colleagues in memory of the outstanding International runner who died after a brief illness a few years ago and it raises funds to support Irish athletes. 

The Symposium in UCD Village Auditorium and Registration must be booked in advance by visiting science-science-of-running- symposiun-tickets.

LEADER COURSE IN BALLINAMORE

The Athletics Ireland LEADER Coaching Course which was originally fixed for last March will now be held in Ballinamore Sports Hall on Saturday October 21, and will be  supported by Ballinamore Athletic Club and Leitrim Sports Partnership.  Enquiries 089 2129811. More details later.

DEATH OF FORMER  OLYMPIAN  MICK MOLLOY

The death last week at  the age of 85 of Mick Molly, one or Ireland's best runners of past ages revived a memory of the early years of Ballinamore Athletic Club. After two successful Open Sports events the Club, in conjunction with the Connacht Council of the then NACA organised and Inter County Athletics Match between the Connacht Counties at  Juvenile level. 

It was held in Sean O Heslin GAA Park and Leitrim emerged second of the five teams after Mayo. The club also secured the running of the very last NACA Six Miles National Track Championship in conjunction  and Mick Molloy of Oughterard was the winner. He afterwards went on to represent Ireland. Among other distinctions, in the 1968 Mexico Marathon finishing 41st and the European Championship the following year in Helsinki finishing 13th. May he rest in peace!