Cream of Young Irish Talent to Compete in Schools Track & Field Championships

This week sees the start of the AVIVA Schools' Track & Field Championships with 42 fixtures set to take place over the next two months. After battling it out at local and regional level, the best of Irish schools' athletics talent will get set to compete at the highly anticipated AVIVA All Ireland Schools Track & Field Final on Saturday, 2nd June 2012 at Tullamore Harriers Stadium. This yearly event is the culmination of months of tough competition for schools' athletes throughout Ireland, who have progressed through regional and provincial championships to secure their much sought after place in the All-Ireland final.

Many of the best young athletic talents will be starting off this qualification process this week with the regional championships. First off are the Leinster Regions with West Leinster in Santry on 24th and 26th April.

Connacht begin their process on 2nd May with North Connacht in Sligo and South Connacht in Dangan, Galway. East Munster is in Waterford on the 2nd May while Ulster's "A" District competes in the Bangor on the 4th May.

At last year's Championships the very talented Kate Veale, St Augustine's, won the Lar Byrne Cup for the best athlete at the meet. She set a new mark last year for the walk and this year will be hoping to improve on that.

Others to watch out for are Siofra Cleirigh-Buttner, Colaiste Iosagain, in the Inter Girls' 800m and 1,500m, Marcus Lawler, Carlow CBS, in the Senior 100m and 200m, David Harper, Rice College Westport, in the Senior 1500m, Grainne Moynihan, St. Mary's Macroom, and Ciara Giles Doran, Mercy Waterford, in the Senior sprints and Karl Griffin, Abbey VS Donegal, in the Inter 800m.

The championships are there for the young athletes, many of whom will be getting their first taste of track & field. We appeal to all those at school who are interested in athletics to make sure that they are entered by their schools for these championships.