As 2000 dawned, Mullingar Harriers AC commenced its twenty-fifth year. It was to be a year in many respects similiar to any of the previous twenty four. It was a year full of individual and team successes; a year of honest and wholehearted endeavour; a year of loyal service by coaches and commitee members and most importantly a year when Mullingar Harriers continued to impact positively and enrich the lives of countless athletes. The latter perhaps the greatest legacy of any club.

Highlights included the following:

* The first event of the New Year was the Eastern Region Cross Country Championships in the Phoenix Park. The Junior Mens team won both Club and County titles. The team was Martin Fagan, Mark Christie, Damien Bateman, Patrick Muldoon, Paul Hickey, Stephen Harte, Conor Twomey and Peter Dunne

* Sandra Rafferty and Martin Fagan were the Westmeath Award winners of the Eastern Region 'Star Awards' in Carlow

* The Eastern Region Indoor T & F Championships saw some very good results for Club athletes, including several titles. Amongst the winners were the Girls U17 Relay team of Linda Gilmartin, Ciara Rafferty, Avril Rafferty and Laura Bell

* At the Senior and Junior Regional Indoor Championships, Club Chairman Greg Duggan won the Vets 60m and finished 2nd in the 200m. Caroline Harney (800m) and Patrick Muldoon (3000m) also won Regional titles

* Greg Duggan had the honour of being the first Clubman to win a National title under AAI (Athletic Association of Ireland) rules, when he won the Vets 200m and finished 2nd in the 60m. A man leading by example

* At the National Inter-Clubs Cross Country in ALSAA, Martin Fagan ran superbly finishing second in the Junior race. As a result, he was selected to represent Ireland at the World Junior Cross Country Championships in Portugal

*Westmeath County Council honoured the club with an "Address of Recognition". The citation on the scroll outlined the history of the Club and the service it has rendered to the local community over the years. Also honoured was Cormac Finnerty who is the only Clubman to have represented Ireland in the Olympic Games. This was indeed a signal honour for the Club

* Laura Bell struck Gold at the National Indoor Championships when she won the U17 3000m

* Lisa Farrell (U11 100m) and Kevin Duggan (U12 100m) won Eastern Region titles

* At the National Juvenile T & F Championships, Mark Christie won the U15 1500m and 3000m

* Martin Fagan became the first Clubman to win a Catholic Student Games Gold Medal when he won the 3000m in France

* Two long-serving Club members, Bobbie Begley and Michael Lane were selected by the OCI to be part of the Irish team for the Sydney Olympic Games. Bobbie was selected as an Administrator while Michael was selected as a Walks Coach. This was a thoroughly deserved honour for both gentlemen in view of their contribution to Irish Athletics over the years

* Vera Flynn, Matt Glennon, Caroline Harney, Damien Bateman and Pat Muldoon all won Westmeath Cross Country titles in their respective age groups

* The Eastern Region Cross Country Championships at Ballyfin were the first Eastern Region Championships under AAI rules. Mullingar continued, as they have done for years, with some great results. The following teams were victorius: Girls U10 (Sinead Duffy, Maria McGivney, Grace Kearney, Aoife Hogan, Sinéad Walker, Anna Broderick, Claire Flynn, Deirdre O'Donovan and Jessica Lynch); Girls U14 (Ellen Colton, Áine Devaney, Melanie Lynch, Joanne Harney, Jenny Boggs, Carol Keenan and Aoife Bateman); and Boys U18 (Martin Fagan 1st, Patrick Muldoon 2nd, Damien Bateman and Bobby McDermott). At the Uneven Age group Championships in Rathdrum the Girls and Boys U15 teams won Gold Medals. The girls team was Louise Moore (2nd), Áine Devaney, Melanie Lynch, Ruth O'Meara, Elaine Butler and Aoife Bateman. The Boys team was Mark Christie (1st), Jason O'Brien, Richard Price, Ciarán O'Meara, Ger Feerick and Paul Moran. Also Martin Fagan won the Boys U17

* At the AAI Juvenile Cross Country Championships in Dunleer, Co. Louth, the Boys U15 team of Mark Christie, who also won the Individual title, Jason O'Brien, Richard Price and Ciarán O'Meara won Gold medals. The Girls U15 team of Louise Moore, who was 3rd in the Individual event, Aoife Bateman, Melanie Lynch and Áine Devaney won Siver medals. Martin Fagan was 2nd in the Boys U17. In Dungarvan, the Boys U16 team came 2nd. Again Mark Christie showed his immense talent in winning the individual event. He was followed by Conor Twomey, Jason O'Brien and Richard Price. The Girls U14 team of Joanne Harney, Melanie Lynch, Áine Devaney and Ellen Colton won Bronze medals. Martin Fagan was 3rd in the Boys U18