Masters champion Eileen wins two European gold medals in Italy

Athlone runner Eileen Kenny this month celebrated a double gold medal success at the European Masters Non-Stadia Championships in Italy.

Eileen has been running very well this year and her impressive form was reflected with winning performances in the 10k and 5k races in the over-70s category.

The two gold medals for the 72-year-old represent her second success on the continent this year, after she earned gold in the 6.4km cross country event at the European Masters Athletics Championships in Braga, Portugal, in February.

She told the Westmeath Independent that conditions were sweltering for the races in Italy which were held in mid-May in Grosseto, between Rome and Florence.

“The heat was desperate over there, but I've been training hard,” said Eileen, a member of Athlone Athletics Club.

“I am getting back what I put in to my running. It's not coming easy. I go out (training) seven days a week.”

To give an indication of how active she has been recently, she took part in the memorial race in memory of Ashling Murphy in Tullamore last Sunday, completing the four-mile event in 28 minutes.

The following morning she cycled on the greenway from Athlone to Moate and back, and was planning further training on grass on Monday evening.

Eileen recently finished first over-70 in the Hugh Smith memorial 5k race in Ferbane in a time of 22:33.

Her daughter Michelle also took home a medal from the European Masters event in Italy, winning a bronze in the 5k race for the over-40s category.