Reigning champion Claire Fitzgerald (Tralee Harriers AC) will be hoping to retain both her Discus and Shot Putt titles at this year’s championship. Fitzgerald has thrown a solid distance of 14.02m so far this year but will have to contest with Fiona Moloney (Dooneen A.C) who will be a likely second throwing a 13.66m in the US earlier this year.
Fitzgerald has thrown an excellent 51.22m in the discus this year making her the one to beat, with this year’s National Junior Champion Sophie Parkinson (Gowran AC) and Deirdre Murphy (Leevale AC) also likely to be in contention for medal positions.
Fitzgerald may also make an appearance in the women’s Javelin and will go up against reigning champion Anita Fitzgibbon (Dundrum South Dublin A.C) who is the likely favorite. Jenny Murphy (Abbey Striders A.C.) and Denise Byrne (Clonliffe AC) will also be battling it out more podium positions.
In the men’s Javelin, Aaron Crawford (Strabane Track Club) will be the one to beat throwing 63.11 so far this year. AAI games winner Matthew Martin (North Down) will also be in contention along with club mate Peter Glass and Mindaugas Kurcenkovas (Galway City Harriers).
There will be fierce competition in the men’s Shot Putt event with defending champion Sean Breathnach (Galway City Harriers A.C) going up against AAI games winner Tomas Rauktys (Clonliffe Harriers A.C.). Rauktys threw a mighty 16.77m at the AAI Games to beat Breathnach’s throw of 16.32m.
Rauktys is the reigning men’s 56lb for distance and discus champion and holds with the second furthest throw recorded this year of 54.97m which was thrown at the AAI games. He will however, come up against the young Marco Pons (D.M.P. A.C.) who recently threw 51.57m in order to take the National Junior title in Tullamore June.
Seamus Fitzpatrick (North Laois A.C.) will be aiming to retain his 56lb for height title but will have to contest with John Menton (Donore Harriers A.C.) who he beat into second place in last years competition on count back.
In the women’s hammer event Cara Kennedy (Ferrybank) will be looking to retain her Senior title from last year. She will go up against the Irish all time number two Rachel Akers (Marian AC ) and Aoife Hickey (Kilkenny City Harriers).
In the men’s hammer event, Conor Mc Cullough (Crusaders AC) will be aiming to defend his senior title and will be up against this years number one Padraig White (Dunboyne). U23 champion Thomas Furlong (D.M.P. A.C), Killian Barry (Crusaders AC) and Andrew Doyle (Mid Ulster A.C.) will also be in the mix for the medal positions.
James McCabe (Dunboyne AC) and Dempsey McGuigan (Finn Valley AC) will be on route to World Juniors in Barcelona so will not be competing.
