News
Killarney Valley Athletics Club shines in record-breaking 2024 season
Killarney Valley Athletics Club has set a new benchmark for excellence in 2024, achieving unprecedented success in national and regional competitions.
The club's athletes have garnered a remarkable 55 national medals and 128 Munster medals, setting a new record for the club. This extraordinary haul is a testament to the dedication, skill, and hard work of the athletes and coaches alike.
One of the standout features of this year has been the performance of the club's relay teams. Killarney Valley Athletics Club has had seven relay teams compete at the national level, showcasing their strength in teamwork and coordination.
This achievement highlights the club's depth of talent and its ability to compete at the highest levels of Irish athletics.
The club's men’s senior 4x 400 relay team placed second in the national senior indoor championships and the U20 mixed 4 x 400 team were crowned national champions whilst setting a national championships record.
The club is also celebrating the crowning of ten national champions in 2024.
These champions have excelled across a range of disciplines, underlining the club's versatility and comprehensive training programs.
The disciplines in which the club has achieved national medals are diverse, including all jumps—long jump, high jump, triple jump, pole vault—as well as all sprints from 60 meters to 400 meters, and middle-distance events up to 1500 meters.
This breadth of success speaks to the club's commitment to nurturing talent across all track and field events.
Killarney Valley Athletics Club's athletes have consistently represented Ireland on the international stage since 2017. This year, Dominik Wasila has continued this proud tradition by being selected for Irish International representation in the long jump.
Wasila's achievement underscores the club's role in developing athletes who can compete and excel at the highest levels of international athletics.
In addition to their competitive success, the club's athletes have been recognized for their academic and athletic potential.
Several athletes have secured full athletics scholarships, furthering their education and training at prestigious institutions. Most recently, Oisin Lynch has taken up a scholarship at Adams State University in Colorado, joining the ranks of Killarney Valley athletes who have gone on to combine higher education with elite athletic training.
Looking to the future, Killarney Valley Athletics Club has set ambitious goals to enhance its facilities and support its growing membership.
The club is planning to build a dedicated pole vault training area, providing athletes with the specialized infrastructure needed to excel in this challenging discipline.
This new facility will be a significant asset, allowing for more focused and effective training sessions.
Additionally, the club is launching a fundraising campaign to maintain and repair its well-used athletics track as well as finance the building of the Pole Vault area.
The track is experiencing significant wear and tear due to heavy usage, and continuous maintenance is essential to ensure it remains in top condition for training and competition.
The club is seeking community support to build up a fund dedicated to these repairs and the Pole Vault construction, ensuring that athletes have access to high-quality training surfaces for years to come.
“The achievements of Killarney Valley Athletics Club in 2024 are a source of immense pride for the club and the local community,” said coach Jer Griffin.
“The club's record-breaking year is a reflection of its robust coaching programs, the dedication of its athletes, and the unwavering support from the local community.
“As Killarney Valley Athletics Club continues to build on this success, it remains a beacon of excellence in Irish athletics, inspiring future generations of athletes to strive for greatness while investing in the infrastructure necessary to sustain its legacy.”
The link to the GoFundme to where contributions can be made is https://www.gofundme.com/fundraise-to-build-our-polevault-runway
Drivers warned as deer rutting season begins
Motorists in Killarney are being urged to exercise extreme caution as the annual deer rutting season gets underway, causing animals to stray far beyond their usual habitats inside Killarney National Park.
The autumn mating season sees deer becoming highly active and unpredictable, leading to increased sightings and collisions on local roads outside traditional park boundaries.
Two separate incidents highlighted the growing hazard on local routes this week. A reader contacted the Killarney Advertiser to warn drivers after spotting a deer roaming near Tiernaboul towards the school on Sunday afternoon around 7.30pm.
Later that same night, in the early hours of Monday morning, a local driver collided with a deer near Kerry Airport around 1am while returning home from an event.
Despite attempting evasive action, the motorist struck the animal, which died at the scene and temporarily blocked the road before local Gardaí were alerted to clear the obstruction.
The driver sustained substantial vehicle damage, requiring repairs to the bumper, headlamp, and internal components, leaving her facing significant garage costs and time off the road.
Gardaí and road safety advocates advise motorists travelLing during early morning and late evening and remain vigilant along tree-lined routes.
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