It was a sun-soaked weekend of top-class athletics at the National U20 and U23 Track and Field Championships in Tullamore, where two rising stars from Drogheda & District AC made strong showings on the national stage.

In the U20 Men’s 400 metres, Louis O’Shea got off to a solid start in his heat but faded slightly in the final stretch, finishing 15th overall with a time of 51.7 seconds. While just shy of his personal best, Louis’s performance highlighted his potential and competitive spirit in a highly stacked field of four heats.

Meanwhile, in the U23 Men’s 1500 metres, Chris Keenan delivered a composed and confident run, clocking 4:02.87 in his heat to place 13th overall. Chris’s race continues what has been a terrific summer for the young middle-distance runner, showing consistent progress and maturity on the track.

Both athletes are part of a promising new wave at Drogheda & District AC, and their performances in Tullamore suggest there's much more to come from them in the months and seasons ahead.

Strong Showing from Drogheda & District AC at Bettystown B-5K

The Bettystown B-5K took place on Friday evening, with runners braving a breezy night on what was otherwise a fair and friendly course winding through the estates of Bettystown. Drogheda & District AC had a strong showing on the night, taking home plenty of silverware and showing great form across the board.

An off-form Brian Martin finished 2nd in 16:43, behind a dominant performance from Conor Duffy of Glaslough Harriers. Right behind him, Paul Kierans continued his excellent form, clocking a fantastic 16:55 to take 3rd place overall. Rodney Thornton wasn’t far off either, finishing in 17:03, rounding off a performance that earned the trio the men’s team prize.

In the over-50s category, Shane Larkin picked up the win with a solid 18:42, while Joe Hammel claimed 2nd in 19:03 after a very strong run.

Paddy Murphy and Mary Leech crossed the line together in 19:15, with Mary’s performance earning her 2nd place in the women’s race, behind Nicola Sheridan of Bohermeen AC. Mary continues to impress and is clearly in great shape. Kathryn Meade followed up with a strong 19:49 to claim 3rd female.

Rounding out the night was a welcome comeback run from Ciara O’Reilly, who finished in a confident 21:38. Mary, Kathryn, and Ciara’s combined efforts earned them the women’s team prize, capping off a successful evening for the club.

A group of determined ladies and gentlemen from Drogheda & District AC took on the challenge of the Clontarf half marathon on Saturday morning—and came back with tired legs, full hearts, and plenty of stories to share. Brian Berrill was the fastest man for the club finishing in a fine 1:30:32 and the fastest lady for the club was Elma Martin who finished in 1:53:06.

The event, which drew a huge crowd of runners from far and wide, and Olwyn Foroughi, Elma Martin, Sarah Lowther, Margaret Carroll, Karen O'Connell and Eimear McArdle showed real grit, tackling the 13.1-mile course with steady determination and great team spirit.

For some, it was their first time running such a distance. For others, it was a welcome return to racing. But for all, it was a chance to test themselves, support one another, and enjoy being part of something bigger. Paul Berrill ran a tidy 5 mile in 31:54 to finish 13th in the shorter race.