Athletics - O’Donnell does the double on day three
World U20 team and European Youth medallists to return
Christopher O’Donnell (North Sligo) completed a successful weekend by winning the U19 boys 200m in a championship best performance of 21.59 seconds on day 3 of the GloHealth National Juvenile Championships in Tullamore (July 24).
O’Donnell won the U19 400m yesterday (July 23) in 49.49 and was ecstatic to add the 200m crown in record time. For a report of day 2: http://www.athleticsireland.ie/news/impressive-performances-on-day-2-of-glohealth-juvenile-championships
There were further championship best performances today by a number of Ireland’s brightest young athletes.
Grace Casey (Eire Og Corra Choill) won the U18 girls javelin (500g) with a best of 46.57m; Aoibhinn McMahon (Blackrock AC Louth) won the U14 girls shot put (2kg) with 15.16m; Adam O’Dwyer (Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C.) vaulted to a new best in the U15 boys pole vault with 3.40m.
Lauren O’Keeffe (Donore Harriers) got the 3kg hammer in the U18 girls out to 57.20m; Sommer Lecky’s golden summer continued with a leap of 1.74m in the U17 girls high jump; Tony O’Connor (Naas) ran best of 38.86 in the U17 boys 300m hurdles and Adam Sheridan (Westport) rounded out the championship best spree with 14.76m in the U15 boys 3.25kg shot put.
In the 1500m races, Abigail Taylor (DSD) took a fine win in the U17 girls 1500m in 4:45.33 ahead of Shona O’Brien (Gneeveguilla) in 4:47.54 and Amy Rose Farrell (Blackrock) in 4:48.75. Aimee Hayde (Newport) impressed in the U14 girls to win in 4:48.44.
Louis O’Loughlin (Donore Harriers) continued his unbeaten championship season with victory in the U16 boys 1500m in 4:13.74. Darragh McElhinney (Bantry) won the U17 boys 1500m in 4:03.22 while Robert Crowley (SLOT) was the fastest metric miler with 4:02.07 to win the U18 boys 1500m.
Emma O’Brien (Inbhear Dee/Sli Cualann) bounced back from the European Youth Championships to win the U18 girls 1500m in 4:37.07.
With so many notable performances, doubles and multiple medallists, it proved to be a fruitful weekend. Some of those who shone to strike gold were Ciara Deely (Kilkenny City Harriers) in the U17 girls 300m hurdles with 44.48, Darragh Gaffney (North Westmeath) in the U18 boys’ discus (1.5kg) with 47.56m and Ryan Carthy Walsh (Adamstown) in the U18 boys’ high jump with 2.04m.
Aaron Sexton (North Down) also rounded out a speedy season with a championship best in the U17 boys 200m with 21.65 seconds.
For a link for day 2 results: http://www.athleticsirelandenterprises.com/results_23072016/WPdoc.txt
For a link for day 3 results: http://www.athleticsirelandenterprises.com/results_24072016/WPdoc.txt
World U20 team and medallists to return
The successful World U20 Irish team are set to return tomorrow (July 25) in Dublin Airport Terminal 1 from Gdansk at 11:40. The team includes world finalists Michaela Walsh (Swinford), Adam King (Iveragh) and the women's 4x100m relay team, Molly Scott (SLOT), Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport), Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock Louth) and Ciara Neville (Emerald). Scott and Akpe-Moses both medalled the previous week at the European Youth Championships and will be in tow with their medals.