Agonising fourth place for McGrath on final day in Tbilisi

Agonising fourth place for McGrath on final day in Tbilisi

Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen) finished an agonising fourth in the boys’ 800m final in 1:50.51 on the final day of the European Youth Athletics Championships in Tbilisi.

McGrath was in second for much of the race and on the shoulder of eventual winner George Mills (Great Britain) in 1:48.82 before fading in the final 50 metres. The Meath schoolboy’s aggressive tactics just fell short but he will have gained much from the experience.

Daniel Ryan (Moycarkey Coolcroo) was in third place at one stage of the boys’ decathlon and was in contention after 7 events but just ran out of steam in the heat finishing 11th with 6752 points.  

Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley) was 8th in the girls’ high jump final with a best of 1.70m. Emma O’Brien (Sli Cualann) was also in action on the final day finishing 12th in the girls 1500m final in 4:56.94.

It was an excellent championships for the young Irish team with Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock Louth) and Molly Scott (St Laurence O’Toole) headlining with silver in the 100m in 11.80 and bronze in the 100m hurdles in 13.51 respectively. Akpe-Moses became the first Irish sprinter to win a 100m medal at any level in European Athletics competition.

Scott set two new Irish youth records – her 13.32 in the semi-final was the second fastest time of the championships. Alex Clarkin (Donore Harriers) was also in excellent hurdling form at the championships setting two new national youths records. He finished 8th in the 110m hurdles final in 14.14 – just outside his 13.96 record.

Some other highlights included:

• David McDonald (Menapians) was an excellent 7th in 10.83 in the boys’ 100m final,
• Brendan O'Donnell (Lifford Strabane) was 10th in the hammer final with 68.50m,
• Kate O’Connor (St Gerard’s Dundalk) and Shannon Sheehy (Cushinstown) finished 7th and 13th respectively in the heptathlon
• Bobby Crowley (St Laurence O’Toole) was 5th in 4:02.77 and Charlie O'Donovan (Leevale) 8th in 4:03.90 in the boys’ 1500m final

For full results of the championships click HERE