Longford Athletic Club lodge plans for new 400m track

The track will be constructed to the international standard of the International Association of Athletics Federations.

The club's current indoor 60m by 20m track caters for sprints, hurdles, long jump, high jump, pole vault and shot putt. The proposed facilities will enhance the training facilities for all athletes in the county.

“The existing faculties offer opportunities for different abilities such as throwers, jumpers, hurdlers and sprinters to practice their art and to challenge themselves to go longer, higher and faster,” a club spokesperson said.

The Athletics Club committee identified the the need for proper facilities and with strong support from the BOM of St Mel’s College, the Diocesan Trust of the Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnoise, all the local public representatives as well as the staff of Longford County Council, the ambitious plans are in place.

Those plans include the IAAF approved synthetic track, ancillary surface sports facilities and a grass infield area.

The hope is to cater for the only large group not covered by the existing indoor complex; longer sprinters and middle distance athletes. The outdoor 400m track with a modern ‘mondo’ running surface is the next step. This track will offer the people of County Longford facilities that exist in almost all other counties throughout the country.

The proposed athletics track will be located in the centre of the town, just across the Camlin River from the Mall complex, ideally to create a sporting campus of the future. The athletic club has invited other sporting bodies to use the facility for their benefit and a number of sporting bodies in the county as well as from outside the county have already used the facility.

“Co-locating such a facility in a school is a winning combination for everyone,” the club spokesperson told, “Too many facilities are left empty during the day and too many schools are left empty during the evening. This facility is on the grounds of a large school with a strong sporting tradition and within walking distance of two other secondary schools and five national schools.

"It's envisioned that the infield area will be used for multiple field sports and training, with the amenity also set to be lit. The site is already home to an indoor athletic centre of excellence opened last year.”

The vibrant athletics community has been growing thanks to high profile success: “Many other schools from around the county have already participated in training sessions provided by Longford Sports Partnership and a whole new generation of young people have a better understanding and appreciation of the range of events in athletics.

“They are also learning how athletics training complements and enhances the skill sets required for many team sports which will disperse the benefits to teams around the county. An outdoor track with a full size soccer pitch in the infield will enhance these opportunities to train all year round especially for the groups that need more distance as part of their training programme,” the Longford Athletic Club representative told.

They concluded by speaking of the benefits the facility will have for the wider community: “Athletics is a sport for life and everyone’s life is enhanced and improved through exercise. This athletic facility will make a difference to the people of the county because good health improves happiness and that combination is priceless.”