Finn Valley AC women impress in Portugal

It was a weekend to celebrate for Finn Valley AC’s senior women – at home and abroad.
The Finn Valley AC senior women’s team made a return to the European Champion Clubs Cup Cross Country in Albufeira, Portugal, bridging a 21-year gap when finishing 13th in the team standings.
Finn Valley AC were led by a brilliantly determined and gutsy display by Nuala Bose who was an excellent 26th and was joined by Noeleen Scanlan (40), Teresa Doherty (54) and Maggie O’Hara (59).
Nuala now has the distinction of competing at both junior and senior levels having been part of a Finn Valley AC junior team in 2022 and 2023.
Team leader for this weekend was Catriona Devine, who ran on each of the previous nine occasions.
FVAC Chairman Dermot McGranaghan – also a member of the European Clubs Federation – was also present as were club member Garvin Boyce, who was a huge help and support to the team over the course of their stay, and Finn Valley AC media officer Chris McNulty.
As Catriona said post race: “We’ve put a point down now today and we’ll move forward from this. There is no doubt this was a very proud day for the girls.
Finn Valley AC women have qualified for the National Indoor League final.
At round two of qualifying on Sunday in Athlone, Tara Rose Smith led the way for Finn Valley AC, winning the 1500m. Smith clocked 4:43.67 to take the maximum 16 points from the event, winning from Niamh Moore of Leevale (4:44.95) and Dooneen’s Ella Grace Osborne (4:46.86).
Leah O’Gara finished second in the 1500m race walk and Riona Doherty was third in the long jump, touching the sand at 5.28m.
The ever-reliable Bridget McDyer reached out to 9.06m for third in the women’s shot and the women’s 4x200m relay team of Lauren McConnell, Jessica Gavin, Aoife McGee and Kayla Bruce were fourth in their heat, going 1:52.89.
Lauren McConnell was ninth in the high jump, going over at 1.35m and also clocked 62.08 seconds for third in her 400m heat; while Kayla Bruce was fifth in a 60m sprint heat (8.38 seconds).
In a guest 800m, held at the same venue, Finn Valley AC’s Erin Sproule was third in 2:24.84 and Sally McMemanin fourth in 2:28.48.
The Finn Valley AC men missed out on a final berth, placing 13th after the first two rounds.
On Sunday in the long jump, Oisin Thompson went to 6.69m for third.
Mark Kearns was seventh in the 1500m, finishing in 4:02.50; Ace Rodriguez was third in his 60m heat (7.35 seconds); and coach Mark Connolly took to action and threw the shot to 5.86m, claiming four valuable points for his team.
Last Tuesday in Ostrava, Mark English broke the Irish indoor 800m again.
Competing at the Czech Indoor Gala, a World Indoor Tour Gold Meet, the Finn Valley AC clocked a scintillating 1:44.23.
He was third behind Eliott Crestan (a meeting record 1:43.83) and Maciej Wyderka (a new Poland national record of 1:44.07).
In the US at the weekend Finn Valley AC man Oisín Ó Gailín clocked a 4:02.89 mile at Boulder, Colorado – which is at 5,337ft. That time is converted to 3:56.9 at sea level.
Oisín is set to return to action in Boston at the weekend while Roisin Flanagan is expected to run in Seattle.
Odhrán McBrearty was in action at the Home Countries and Celtic International Cross Country at Parliament Hill, London on Saturday. The Finn Valley AC athlete placed 23rd overall, finishing in 29:31.
Erin Sproule is set to follow a long and illustrious line of Finn Valley AC athletes to head for the United States on scholarship.
Erin has committed to Davis & Elkins College, based in Elkins, West Virginia. Located in the Mountain Highlands, Davis & Elkins compete in NCAA Division 2 in the Mountain East Conference.
The Donegal Athletics Board held the Winter Track and Field Classic in Lifford today and Finn Valley AC was represented across the ages and disciplines.
It was great to see the next generation of FVAC athletes out for some competitive action with plenty of medals, PBs and exciting competition.