GloHealth Schools CE Champs Report
The GloHealth All Ireland Combined Events Championships took place in AIT International Arena, Athlone on Saturday, 15th of November. The performances across the board were of a very high standard with athletes battling it out for the All Ireland Titles in the junior, intermediate and senior categories.
Morland Shines
Elizabeth Morland (Dunshaughlin CC) was the standout performer dominating the inter girl’s competition with a score of 3,909. Morland recorded impressive performances in the 60m hurdles (8.96) and the high jump (879) on her way to an emphatic victory. Arlen Crossan (Loreto, Letterkenny) made a big breakthrough in finishing second yielding a big score of 3,459 points.
O'Connor V Meredith
Another eye catching performance came in the junior girl’s competition with Kate O’Connor (St Vincent’s Dundalk) and Sophie Meredith (SMI Newcastlewest) going head to head for the title. Meredith had an advantage of 113 points over O’Connor going into the final event the 800m. However O’Connor produced a remarkable 800m run to record a time of 2.20.66 enough to win the overall title with a score of 3.614 points. Meredith battled all the way to finish in second place overall with an impressive score of 3,546 points. Vicki Cusack (Davis College) placed third with a score of 3,351.
Grace McKenzie (Colaiste Muire, Crosshaven) won the senior title with a score of 3,329.
Inter Boys
Daniel Ryan (Thurles CBS) underlined his huge potential for the Combined Events with a clear cut victory in the inter boy’s competition. Ryan impressed over the barriers (8.42 seconds) ad also in the long jump (6.31m) and 200m (23.50) to accumulate an overall points total of 3,500. Tim Bowler (St Mary’s CBS Enniscorthy) placed second with a score of 3,303 with Keith Marks (Ashbourne A.S) third on 3,293 points.
Only 23 points separated Shane Mooney (Summerhill College, Sligo) and David Ryan (Thurles CBS) in the junior boy’s competition. Despite Ryan’s best efforts in the 800m (2:13.74), Mooney hung on for victory with a score of 2,863 points with Ryan second on 2,840 points.
Mathew Behan (C.U.S) made his intentions known from the start with a swift win the 60m hurdles in a time of 8.08 (962 points). He never looked back from there as he claimed the senior boy’s title with a score of 3,249.