First Senior Record for Kate Veale

Just days after winning the World Youths walks gold medal, Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) was back in action at the Woodie's DIY juvenile championships in Tullamore today. The large attendance showed their appreciation of her achievement throughout the race, and resulted in her setting a new U18 record, a new Irish junior record, a new Irish U23 record and a new Irish senior record for the 3,000m walk.

Gillian O'Sullivan's Irish senior record from 2000 went by the boards as Veale powered her way around the Track for a spectacular win. Her winning time of 12:18.86 takes almost a minute off her own Irish junior record and almost sixteen seconds off Gillian O'Sullivan's senior record.

Veale looked to be walking with a new spring in her step today, brimming with confidence, and looking forward to competing in the Woodie's DIY senior championships in two weeks time. There she takes on Olive Loughnane, an athlete who has tried on more than one occasion for Gillian O'Sullivan's 3,000m record. Loughnane will need to be at her best to retain her senior title after today's sparkling performance by Kate Veale.

Shane Fitzsimons (Mullingar Harriers) was always well in control of the U17 1,500m, and his winning time of 4:00.41 was a new record, replacing the 4:02.0 of John O'Reilly set in 1978.

Adam King (Iveragh AC) made a big impression in the U15 hammer. He took the lead in the first round with a respectable 63.30m, fouled the second and then threw a mighty 72.06m in the third round. He fouled in rounds four and five and completed the competition with 69.21m in the last round. Needless to say, this is a new record, replacing the 66.14m throw of Francis McGuigan in 2010.

Ciara Dunne (Crookstown Millview AC) added 25cm to Kathleen Fitzgerald's 2001 record when she won the U15 shot with a throw of 12.85m, achieved in the last round.