Picture: John Reidy
A SPECIAL presentation has been made to a Killarney athlete to mark his most recent, high profile achievements.
An Ríocht Athletic Club member Denis Finnegan was back at club headquarters in Castleisland on Saturday afternoon for the occasion to mark his triple jump achievements which saw him help Ireland to retain its European League One status at the European team championships in Norway.
Denis began his athletics career mainly as a juvenile sprinter and jumper with Spa-Muckross AC in Killarney and he went on to establish himself as an excellent 400 metre hurdler. He represented Ireland in that event at the 2003 European Youth Olympics.
Having moved to Cork, to study pharmacy in UCC, he joined the university club and donned the singlet with the famous skull and cross bones until he joined An Riocht after completing his studies.
However, it was while in Cork that Denis began to concentrate solely on the triple jump and he won his first national senior title in 2007 before retaining it the following year.
His next national title came in 2012 which began a dominance which resulted in him winning his eighth title in a row this year and his 10th in all.
He has been consistently jumping over 15 metres and has a personal best of 15.58 which puts him fourth on the Irish all-time list.
“This achievement makes Denis the most successful Kerry track and field athlete in history,” said An Ríocht AC founder member, Denny McSweeney.
Denis is now based in Melbourne but returns every year to compete in the nationals and represent his country at international events.
“He is a true Kerry sporting great and we at An Ríocht are glad of the opportunity to acknowledge the achievements of one of our members,” said Mr.McSweeney.
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