Hundreds of Mayo students to run marathon relay in Westport

More than 400 students from Sacred Heart School in Westport will attempt a unique marathon relay challenge later this month aimed at promoting girls’ participation in sport.

The ‘SuperValu Relay the Nation’ is set to take place on Thursday, March 26, at 11 am along The Mall in Westport. Students from across all year groups will collectively complete the marathon distance of 42.2 kilometres through a series of  100 metre relay sprints, requiring 422 consecutive baton exchanges. 

Organisers say the initiative is designed to highlight the value of participation in sport among girls during the transition from primary to secondary school. According to Sport Ireland, one in five girls in Ireland stops participating in sport during this period, with almost half no longer involved by the age of 14.

Deputy Principal Kevin Malone said the event was created as a wellbeing initiative to encourage participation across the entire school community.

“The idea behind Relay the Nation was straightforward,” he said. “We wanted a fun wellbeing event that brings everyone in and removes the pressure of comparison. When you break a marathon into 100-metre efforts, every student can contribute equally. This is about building confidence, strengthening community, and showing our girls what they can achieve together.”

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The initiative was officially launched on February 26 at the school with the attendance of former Gaelic footballer Cora Staunton and Mayo footballer Aidan O’Shea. 

Staunton welcomed the concept and said initiatives that encourage young people to remain physically active are important. O’Shea said the relay format was a creative way to approach a marathon distance and encouraged students to support one another in taking part.

The event takes place during the school’s centenary year and also coincides with its final year operating as an all-girls’ secondary school before transitioning to co-educational status next academic year.

The marathon relay also falls during the national Women in Sport Week, a campaign promoting increased visibility and participation for women and girls in sport.

Sacred Heart School has also experienced sporting success during the week, with two teams competing in Connacht rugby finals, an under-16 team qualifying for an All-Ireland “A” final, and the school’s intermediate cross-country team competing in the All-Ireland finals in Belfast.