The rise and rise of Declan Owens

Remarkable success for Claremorris native in short space of time

By Stuart Tynan

MAYO AC's Declan Owens has had one hell of a rise through the athletics ranks in such a short space of time.

Only on the scene for around five years having primarily played Gaelic football with Hollymount/Carramore, Declan's performances in competition against individuals who have been training and competing since they were very young has been nothing short of outstanding.

He won two bronze medals (60m and 200m) at the Munster championship earlier this year in Nenagh, Co. Tipperary, as well one gold medal (100m) at the Connaught championships in Athlone. In addition, he has three silver Connaught medals (two at 100 metres and one at 400 metres) and three gold county medals (100m, 200m and 400m).

“The indoor season had begun in January, and it went very well. I came third in the Munster championships in the 60m, which was massive for me,” Declan told The Connaught Telegraph.

“When I started, I had no experience. I was there (for the Munster championships) three years ago and I was out of my depth. But I realised what I needed to do.”

In the space of a couple of years, he went from last to third, claiming the bronze medal in Nenagh. Little did he know that the competition in Athlone at the end of February would be his last of the year.

Like many sports, athletics was brought to a halt as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. It has been challenging for Owens in terms of training, but the 26-year-old has adapted as best he could.

“Since March, I've been doing individual training, as well as strength and conditioning with gym equipment I have at home.”

During the first lockdown, the Claremorris track was also closed. Owens would use Concannon Park, where junior soccer team Claremorris AFC play their home games, as a place he could help improve and maintain his strength and conditioning.

“The plan was come September, I could start training again with a possibility of competition towards the end of the year. But that won't be happening now.”

INTRIGUE

Declan, who works as a special needs assistant in Tooreen NS, had always been interested in athletics. Following some encouragement from some of his Hollymount/Carramore teammates at the time (Declan was playing for the Under 21 side), he decided to go all in with athletics.

Getting started, though, was no easy task.

As Claremorris had no track at the time, his mum got in touch with Christy Heneghan, who set Declan up with Mayo AC, and with 'the main man with athletics in Mayo', John Walkin, a sprinter with Mayo AC with numerous Connaught and All-Ireland medals.

“I trained with John for a year. He taught me so much in relation to gym work, nutrition, as well as the mindset before and after the race. Then with a group in Galway while I was studying at NUIG for three years, where I was coached by Jason Cafferkey, who has won numerous All-Ireland medals. Then it was mixture of training on my own and with the group in Galway.”

POTENTIAL

During his time in athletics, he has got to witness the potential among the up-and-coming sprinters in Mayo. However, he has called for the need of elite coaching similar to what he had in Galway, in particular for athletes between the ages of 17 to 19, if they are to make the biggest jump, or else many talents will fall through the cracks.

“There are lots of talented underage athletes in Mayo. But the sport loses a lot at that age group. There is a massive jump in the standard required. I thought I could do football and sprinting but you simply can't do both.

“For athletics, one day's work would involve endurance training, then speed another day, power, gym.

FUTURE

As to what the future holds for Declan, there will be great interest on when competition eventually resumes. But his targets are clear. He's had success at provincial level. The national stage will be his next challenge.

“I want to get further up the podium in the Munster championships, hopefully medal again in Connaught and go to the All-Irelands.

“I need to work on fitness, technique and starts. It's been a slow gain as most others have been doing it since knee-high.”

And his ultimate goal?

“I really want to do a 100m run in the high 10s to low 11s.”

Considering how much success he has had in a limited time frame, you wouldn't bet against it.