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Raheny welcomed some of the world’s best racewalkers to St Anne’s Park on Sunday to for the final leg of the World Athletics Racewalking Tour which also incorporated the final 123.ie national championships of 2024. A star-studded 35km race saw Olympic Gold Medallist Massimo Stano of Italy secure a commanding victory, surging past Mexico’s Ricardo Ortiz in the final 5km to win by a margin of two minutes. Behind him, Brazil’s Caio Bonfim, the 2024 Olympic silver medallist, claimed third, securing his World Athletics Tour title with a resilient performance.
The Irish athletes rose to the occasion on a day conducive to fast times, with no wind, and a passionate crowd cheering them home. Twenty-five Irish personal bests were set, a testament to the preparation and spirit of the athletes. Kate Veale continued her dominance, clinching another national title with a time of 3:25.57, finishing fourth overall behind Mexico’s Alejandra Ortega, who won the women’s race. The Brazilian duo of Gabriela De Souza Muniz and Elianay Pereira rounded out the podium.
The men’s 35km was a masterclass by Massimo Stano, who strategically allowed Ortiz to lead before overtaking him in the final 10km. Ireland’s Oisín Lane (Mullingar) and Joe Mooney (Adamstown) also impressed, achieving personal bests and valuable ranking points, highlighting their growing potential on the international stage.
David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley) marked his comeback from injury with a stellar performance, winning the World Athletics Tour title in the 20km. Recording a time of 1:22.31, Kenny’s resilience and hard work paid off as he outpaced Britain’s Callum Wilkinson and Italy’s Michele Antonelli in the final 5km. This victory signals Kenny’s readiness to take on the world stage again after being sidelined in 2024.
The U20 10km races showcased the depth of Ireland’s young talent. Savannagh O’Callaghan (Tuam) and Matthew Newell (Tuam) rose to the challenge, both achieving personal bests. O’Callaghan faced stiff competition from Romania’s Alessia Pop but held her own, while Mullingar’s Aisling Lane, Kenmare’s Éabha De Faoite, and O’Callaghan all recorded PBs, highlighting Ireland’s strong prospects for the future.
Newell’s time of 45:44 places him firmly on track for the 2025 European U20 Championships, supported by strong performances from Jake O’Brien (Moy Valley) and Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley).
The juvenile races highlighted the next generation of Irish racewalking talent. Leah O’Gara (Finn Valley) and Robin Og Murphy (Longford) delivered stellar performances in the girls’ 5km, while Ciaran Kelleher (South Galway) and Daniel Glennon (Mullingar) recorded personal bests in the boys’ race.
In the boys’ 3km, Sean Walsh (Adamstown) and Senan Markey (Tir Mona) achieved new PBs, with Walsh taking the gold. The 2km races featured fierce international competition, with Cusile O’Callaghan securing a strong second-place finish behind Romania’s Natalia Gavrilovic.
The Heffernan name was back in the walks headlines with sisters Regan and Tara (daughters of Marian and Rob) leading the Irish challenge in the U11 race for Cork City AC.
Nicolas Picard (France) and Modris Liepins (Latvia) took gold in the men’s and women’s races, respectively. Ireland’s Colm Walsh and Maggie O’Connor claimed national titles in this category. Meanwhile, Bobby King, a stalwart of Irish racewalking, competed once again at the age of 78, embodying the enduring spirit of the sport.
As the curtain falls on the 2024 season, Athletics Ireland would like to thank all of our athletes, clubs, coaches, volunteers, and officials for delivering another superb year of athletics competitions.
Full results can be found HERE.
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