Over one thousand Athletes from the 32 Counties competed for the Holy Grail and a place on the podium at the All Ireland Championships in Tullamore this week end 11th + 12th of July, as with all competition at this level there will be heartbreak and disappointment you can give 110% and still finish out of the medal table as some of our athletes found out even running a P: B did not guarantee a place in top three. One of the chosen few to grace top place on the podium was Ellie O’ Toole capturing the Gold Medal and running a P: B of 57. 2 in the U/17400m Ellie next outing will be at the Schools International in Scotland next w/end.
Silver Medals went to Luke Morris 100m P: B 11.02, 200m P: B 22.6. Mark Glynn ran a P: B 52.9 in 400m and Aimee McGrath coasted in to the final 8 in her 400m winning her heat in a P: B 60.3 but lack of experience told in the final for Mark + Aimee as running this event for the first time they finished just out of top three more to come from these Athletes. Runo Ayavoro the boys U/13 Leinster Champion in the 80m had high hopes of a medal in his event but also faced disappointment even a P: B of 10.7 did not get him on the podium. Kevin Kyne and Omasan Ayavoro did not find their form on the day and like the majority of the competitors finished out of medals.
In the fields events Nikki O’ Neill looked assured of the gold medal in the girls U/15 Javelin with a throw of over 36m but with last throw of the competition her nearest competitor demoted Nikki to the Silver medal spot Nikki was happy with her performance on the day, also in the Javelin event Jack McWey won a fine Bronze, Mark Freeman was delighted with a P: B in the same event.
The Championships will draw to a close next w/end with the All Ireland Relay Finals, and our Boys U/17 team who set a C:B time in the Leinster final must be one of the favourites for Gold, so best of Luck to Luke, Kevin, Mark, and Tom in 4x100m Relay. GOOD REPORT IN LOCAL PAPERS ABOUT ATHLETICS IN NEWBRIDGE THIS WEEK.