The weather threatened to spoil the day for athletes and officials alike at the Aviva Tailteann Games at Morton Stadium in Santry, but apart from a few light showers at the start of the day the day was quite reasonable.
Records are always a feature at underage competitions and today was no different. In the girls hammer Alice Akers (Scariff CC) was a clear winner with a best throw of 50.32m in the second round. She opened with a throw of 49.83m and had a last round throw of 50.32m to round off a great competition for her. The record was held by Gabby McNally with a throw of 48.39m in 2008, and her sister Michaela was second with a throw of 39.10m. Akers older sister Rachel held the record before McNally to round off the family connections.
The boys hammer produced another good winner when Adam King (Colaiste na Sceilge Cahirciveen) won with a throw of 66.76m, not that far behind the record of 67.94m held by Declan Hegarty since 1977.
Kayleigh Cronin (St. Brigid’s Killarney) won the discus with a throw of 41.82m, not too far off the record of 42.30m set by Ailish O’Brien 1986. She made it a double when she won the shot later in the afternoon with a of 11.44m.
Cian McBride (Summerhill Sligo) lost his balance just metres before the finish of the 800m, but his fall brought him over the line just a fraction ahead of Shane McGowan (St. Columb’s Derry), with both timed at 2:00.3.
The girls 800m was won in impressive fashion by Alanna Lally (Pres Athenry) in a time of 2:13.9, just ahead of Louise Shanahan (Scoil Mhuire Cork) who just held off the strong challenge of Carla Sweeney (St. Mac Dara’s CC).
Zac Irwin (Sligo Grammar) recorded an impressive double in winning the 100m in 11.43 and the 200m in 22.7.
Paddy Robb (St. Malachy’s Belfast) was a surprise winner of the 3,000m in a time of 9:01.3, ahead of All Ireland schools winner Cillian O’Donovan (Colaiste na Sceilge Cahirciveen) who was second in 9:03.1.
Countback was needed in the boys long jump to decide the winner. Ciaran Corrigan (O’Carolan College Nobber) had a jump of 6.64m in the second round, but that distance was equalled by Sam Healy (Carrigaline CS) in the last round. Healy had the better series of jumps to win the gold.
