Mawdsley doing everything possible to be fit for Euros
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Aoibheann Doyle and Poppy Shanahan alongside club mate Katie Bergin at the National Track and field championships in Santry. PicasaImage 2 of 5
Laura Frawley won a silver medal in the Shot Put. PicasaImage 3 of 5
Sharlene Mawdsley signs autographs for her supporters despite pulling up injured in the 200m final. PicasaImage 4 of 5
Newport’s Sophie Walker (right) with 200m champion Rhasidat Adeleke. PicasaImage 5 of 5
Templemore publican Francis Murphy (centre) with his neighbour Paddy Cadell and Paddy's cousin Nenagh's Pe Keller at Kenyon Park Templederry on Saturday. Paddy sons Conor (captain) and Paddy Cadell jnr played star roles with the victorious JK Brackens team while Pe Keller's nephew Josh Keller is a valued member of Nenagh Éire Óg team. Photo: Bridget Delaney BRIDGET DELANEYBy Thomas Conway and Gerry Donoghue
There was concern for Newport AC and Irish international Sharlene Mawdsley during the women's 200m final at the National Athletics Championships at Morton Stadium, Santry over the weekend.
The 27-year-old pulled up in distress with a hamstring injury after just 80m, attempting to defend her national 200m title up against Ireland teammate Rhasidat Adeleke chasing European Championship qualification.
Mawdsley was due to undergo a scan on Monday to learn the extent of her injury but showed her class in spite of her plight, signing autographs for her legion of fans while putting on a brave face in the wake of her setback.
Providing an update on her instagram page on Tuesday, Mawdsley said she is working closely with her medical team and " we are doing everything possible to get me back as soon as we can."
She added: There's a lot to work towards over the coming weeks, and right now my focus is on doing everything I can each day."
With the European Championships in Birmingham, England, just two weeks away, athletes and supporters will be hoping the injury proves minor and that Mawdsley can make a full recovery in time for Ireland's upcoming international campaign.
To miss out on a European Championship while in the form of her life would be a bitter pill to swallow for the Newport athlete as well as the Ireland team whose 4x400m relay hopes hang largely on the superb anchor legs which have become Sharlene Mawdsley's trademark at major championships.
Medals for Frawley and Nenagh relay team
Overall, Tipperary athletes produced a host of impressive performances across track and field events, with medals, finals appearances and personal achievements highlighting a successful championship for the county.
Nenagh Olympic AC’s Laura Frawley secured a silver medal in the Shot Put with a best throw of 11.90 metres. Clubmate Niamh Madden also impressed in the event, finishing fifth with 10.97m.
Frawley added another strong performance when placing fifth in the Long Jump with a leap of 5.99m, while Madden finished seventh in the Discus with a throw of 36.92m.
Sean Mockler of Moycarkey/Coolcroo AC claimed the silver medal in the Hammer with an impressive throw of 60.57m. John Dwyer of Templemore AC finished sixth with 52.61m.
On the track, Moyne AC's Katie Bergin produced an excellent performance in a high-quality women's 100m. Having progressed through the earlier rounds, Bergin reached the national final where she finished fifth in 11.78s against some of Ireland's leading sprinters.
Nenagh Olympic athletes were prominent throughout the sprint events. In the men's 200m, Pauric Hassett finished fourth in his heat in 22.54s. David Forkan was fifth in his heat in 23.53s, Andre Barros fifth in 23.87s, Jack Hickey sixth in 23.56s, and Ben Deegan seventh in 24.78s.
The club also featured strongly in the men's 100m. Gabriel Kehinde progressed to the final and finished tenth overall in a time of 10.65s. Christopher Diasonama was sixth in his heat in 11.44s, David Forkan seventh in 11.77s, while Ronan Ryan clocked 11.10s.
In the men's 400m, Oliver Clarke of Moycarkey-Coolcroo AC ran well to finish third in his heat in 49.25s, while Nenagh Olympics’ Paul White was fourth in his heat in 50.12s.
The men's 1500m heats saw Cian Hodgkins of Nenagh Olympic finish seventh in 3:59.08, while clubmate Luke Purcell crossed the line tenth in his heat in 4:01.66.
Ross Alexander of Coolquill AC delivered a strong performance in the men's 10,000m walk, placing fourth overall in a time of 51:29.48.
Distance runners also enjoyed success in the men's 5,000m races. In the ‘C’ race, Tom Tracey of Thurles Crokes AC claimed victory in a time of 15:39, while Conor Keating of Moycarkey-Coolcroo AC finished ninth in 16:55. In the ‘B’ race, James Tanner Nenagh Olympic finished tenth in 15:18.13.
In the Triple Jump, Emma O'Neill of Carrick-on-Suir AC placed eighth with a best effort of 10.89m. The Long Jump saw Ronan Ryan of Nenagh Olympic finish eighth with 6.55m, while clubmate Jack Hickey placed fourteenth with a jump of 6.02m.
Nenagh Olympic also enjoyed relay success with their men's 4x100m team securing bronze medals after finishing third in a time of 42.09s.
In the women's 400m, Orla Pamplin of Moyne AC finished fifth in her heat, recording a time of 59.73s.
On the whole, the championships provided plenty of encouragement for Tipperary athletics, with athletes from clubs across the county demonstrating both depth and quality on the national stage.