While the top athletes in the world were competing in Glasgow our top athletes were giving their all at the Leinster Juvenile Championships in Athlone. In excess of twenty-five medals was a major achievement at this competitive championships. But there was even better than medals by two of our under 16 girls. Molly Daly continued her high profile with a double championship best performance – first in the 200m heat and again in the final when she clocked 24.57. Clodagh O’Callaghan followed with a new record for the 800m 2.15.83. Well done girls. Medals were plentiful but for most of our athletes new PBs were the order of the day.
Our under 12 athletes were out in force winning seven Leinster medals. Top spot goes to Cathal Comerford with no less than three medals – gold in 60m, silver in long jump and 60m hurdles. There were bronze medals for Bella Quaglia Shot, Caelan Bambrick Shot and Kate Kelly 600m. Three of the boys – Eoin Hoyne, Johnny O’Carroll and Tom Hardiman – qualified for the final of the 600m where Eoin won the bronze. Teagin Mtinsi had a 4th in Shot as had Julia #Daly in the 600m. Others tasting their first Leinsters were Hannah O’Brien, Kate Byrne, Ella O’Flaherty, Carbia Masuku, Emeline Waters, Ava Walsh, Ellen Ryan, Simon Brennan, Mealla Crowley,Casey Cleere, Tadhg McGuinness, Jake Delaney, Madeline Kemple and Sarah Lyons.
The under 13s had an outstanding athlete in Daniel Greene – double gold with 600m and 60m hurdles, plus bronze in 60m. Others to show well were Vivienne Lepeskaite 60m, Ava Egan shot and hurdles, Emily Greene Shot and long jump and Evan Cody in 60m and long jump.
Fiach Crowley rounded off the weekend with a fine gold in the final of the 60m hurdles. Jasmine Timmons McEneaney having won her heat of the 60m placed second in the final. Mollie Rose Keegan finish 4th in 60m final thus qualifying for the nationals. Alicja Slawinska placed 5th in the long jump. Daire O’Flaherty was 7th in the 60m hurdles final. There were PBs for many in the 800m – Lucy Maher, Daire O’Flaherty, Hannah Ryan, Daniel Devine, Ella Sorohan, Amelie O’Brien, Jack O’Neill. Killian Croke Katie Byrne and Amelia O’Brien – all three made the finals finishing 5th , 9th and 11th respectively. There were PBs in the hurdles for Lola Long, Emma Nichol, Lucy Maher, Hannah Ryan and Daniel Devine.
Ellen Daly with two gold medals was the star of the under 15 squad. Her golds came in the finals of the 60m and the 60m hurdles. Aisling Phelan, winnig silver, was a close second to Ellen in the 60m final. Kara Canavan as busy – 5th in 800m, 6th in 60m and 10th in Long jump. Sive McDonald had a good competition with 60m and long jump. Sinead McCormack and Ellen McCormack won their respective 800m semi-finals. In the final Sinead won silver while Ellen was 12th.
Kate Maher won gold following her first place finish in heat and final of the 200. Kyrell Mtinsi going well in the 1500 picked up an injury and finished 6th. Worse followed for Charlie Lyons with a DQ in the 60m. Conor Malone had a PB of 27.02 for the 200m.
There was excitement among the under 17s with two championship records. Molly Daly set a new record of 24.79 in the 200m heat and followed it with another of 24.57 in the final. Clodagh O’Callaghan clocked 2.29.89 in the 800m semi-final. Winning the final in 2.15.83 gave her the gold and a championship record. Others reaching under 17 finals were Conor Ryan 12th in 1500, Eimear Cormack 7th in 800m and Cathal Rossiter 11th in 800m.
We had four under 18 athletes in action. Ella Wall placed 5th in 400 and 8th in ling jump. Grace Delahunty placed 6th in the 400and clocked 26.91 for the 200m. Cillain Daly had 25.88 for his 200m and was 5th in the 400m. Killian Redmond had 7.75 for the 60m and 25.69 for the 200m.
Alex Cullen continued his usual high standard with gold in the long jump (6.16), silver in the 400m (52.29) and bronze in the 60m hurdles (8.94). William Nugent had 25.1 for his 200m. Blaithin Holden won bronze in 60m hurdles (10.23) and placed 6th in 200m (27.62). Adam Slawinski having won the heat of the 60m in 7.25 had to withdraw from the final following an injury picked up in the heat.