GloHealth Juvenile Championships Take 2
The second weekend of the GloHealth Juvenile Track and Field Championships will take place this Saturday (26th) and Sunday (27th) in Tullamore Harriers Stadium. Over 1,500 young athletes from all across the country will compete over the weekend at these prestigious championships. The timetable for the weekend includes Long Hurdles, Sprints, Middle-distance, Walks, Throws and Jumps. Day three (26th) of the championship will be streamed live with all the information available HERE.
Track
Brian Masterson (Dundrum South Dublin AC) has been in fantastic form this season including setting a personal best of 45.58 at the Schools International on the 19th of July. Masterson will start as favourite in the U18 400m as will Paul Murphy (Ferrybank AC) in the U19 400m. Murphy ran a time of 47.75 seconds in Belfast on July 2nd and also won the GloHealth Junior title on the 6th of July in Cork.
Youth athlete Louise Shanhan (Leevale AC) will target a 400m and 800m double in the girl’s U18 category. Other up and coming sprinters to watch out for in Tullamore include Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock AC-Louth)- U16 200m and Roseanna McGuckian (City of Lisburn AC - U18 200m.
Sean Lawlor (Donore Harriers AC) is another of those enjoying a breakthrough season and will start as the slight favourite in the U18 boys 200m. A titanic battle is expected between Mathew Behan (Crusaders AC) and Mark Rogers (St Peter’s AC) as they both contest the U19 boy’s 400m Hurdles.
Alanna Lally (Galway City Harriers AC) is another of those to watch out for as she attempts a double over 400m and 800m. Clodagh O’Reilly (Annalee AC) – U18 and Padraig Moran (Mullingar Harriers AC) – U19 will go the distance as they challenge for the national title in their respective 3,000m races.
Aaron Egan (Clonmel AC) had a find victory at the Schools International in Cardiff will start as the outstanding favourite in the U18 3km Walk. The girl’s Walk events are expected to be a much closer affair with no clear favourites emerging from the pack.
Field
Michaela Walsh (Swinford AC) – U17 has been in outstanding form this season improving her best in almost every competition she enters. Walsh dominated the hammer competition at the Schools International with a throw of 58.29m, which was over 4m clear of the opposition. Anne-Marie Tornsey (Fingallians AC) and Aoife Vaughn Witts (Borrisokane) are set to clash in the U18 girl’s hammer event.
Eoin Sheridan (North Westmeath AC) is another of those who enjoyed success in Cardiff when he broke the schools record in the Discus to win the event with a throw of 55.43m. Sheridan will line up in the U18 boy’s Discus event on Sunday where he will face Andrew Barkley (City of Lisburn AC) who is also over 50m this year. John Kelly (Finn Valley AC) will target another national title in the U19 Shot Putt.
Keith Mark (Cushinstown AC) and Donogh Mahon (Gowran AC) have both been comfortable over 2m this year will battle it out in the U18 High Jump. David Cussen (Old Abbey AC) who has cleared 2.12m this year will start as favourite in the U19 contest. Sam Healy (Leevale AC) was crowned National Senior Champion last weekend in the long jump goes in the U19 long jump. Annie Stafford (Menapians AC) is one to watch in the U18 girl’s long jump having cleared 5.76m this year.
Starting Blocks
There will be an opportunity for any athlete who would like to practice the starting blocks with the race starter. The session will start at 9am on both days of competition.