Irish Life Health National Junior and U23 preview

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Tullamore to host exciting day of action

An exciting Irish Life Health Junior and U23 Championships takes place in Tullamore Harriers’ stadium tomorrow (July 1st).

All the action of the championships will be streamed live on Athletics Ireland’s Facebook page HERE. For the list of entries click HERE and for the updated timetable click HERE.

Ireland’s underage rising stars will be on show as they look to seal selection for their respective European U20 and European U23 Athletics Championships.

The Irish sprinting landscape continues to evolve and Mark Smyth (Raheny Shamrock), who was on senior duty on the 4x100m relay team at the European Team Championships, will face the likes of Cillin Greene (Galway City Harriers) and David McDonald (Menapians) in the junior men’s 100m. In the 200m they will also face down Aaron Sexton (North Down).

Ciara Neville (Emerald A.C.) leads the junior women’s 100m entries with Molly Scott (St. L. O'Toole) also listed as well as in the 100m hurdles where Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown A.C.) will go in as favourite as the national senior 60m hurdles indoor champion.

 Neville is listed in the 200m where Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport A.C.) heads the entries.

There is a deep field in the junior women’s 400m which includes Ciara Deely (Kilkenny City Harriers) and Mollie O’Reilly (DSD).  Jamie Pender (St Abban’s) is one of the leading lights in the junior men’s 400m where Christopher O’Donnell (North Sligo) should also compete.

Conall Hayes (Le Cheile A.C.) and John Fitzsimons (Kildare) will be among those to duke it out in the junior men’s 800m while Munster’s Darragh McElhinney (Bantry) and Charlie O’Donovan (Leevale) will be keen contestants in the junior men’s 1500m.

Sarah Healy (Blackrock A.C. Dublin) is fresh off a 4:20 clocking and faces good competition in the junior women’s 1500m while Nadia Power (Templeogue A.C.) and Carla Sweeney (Rathfarnham W.S.A.F. A.C.) are listed to race in the Junior Women 800m.

Multi-event star Daniel Ryan (Moycarkey Coolcroo) is listed in the 110m hurdles, pole vault and shot put where he will face the likes of Alex Clarkin (Donore Harriers) and James Kelly (Finn Valley)in the shot.

Other leading field eventers include Brendan O'Donnell (Lifford Strabane AC) in the junior men’s Hammer and Ryan Carthy Walsh (Adamstown A.C.) in the High Jump, Jordan Hoang (Tullamore Harriers A.C.) Triple Jump, Niamh Fogarty (North Westmeath A.C.) and Marguerite Furlong (Adamstown A.C.) in the junior women’s Discus.

Of course Swinford’s heroine Michaela Walsh will be looking set new marks in the junior women’s hammer and shot put as she sharpens her preparations for the European U20 Championships in Grosseto, Italy.

Orla O'Connor (Waterford) and Niamh O'Connor (Celbridge) are two of the leading contenders in the junior women's 3,000m race walk. 

U23 preview

The men’s U23 100m is open in the absence of Marcus Lawler (SLOT) through injury with Christian Robinson (City of Lisburn AC) amongst those looking to take the sprint crown.

Matthew Behan (Crusaders A.C.) will bid to win the U23 Men 110m Hurdles as he adjusts his sights on the European U23 Championships in Bygoszcz, Poland.

The U23 men’s 1500m should see Andrew Coscoran (Star of the Sea A.C.) and Kevin Kelly (St. Coca's A.C.) pit their wits against each other. There should also be a good duel in the hammer with Adam King (Iveragh A.C.) and Owen Russell (St. Andrews A.C.) looking to renew their friendly rivalry.

Another good potential head-to-head will be Sam Healy (Leevale A.C.) and Keith Marks (Clonliffe Harriers A.C.) in the long jump.

Other leading field eventers in this age category listed to compete are Stephen Rice (Clonliffe Harriers A.C.) in the Javelin and John Kelly (Finn Valley) in the shot put.

Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton A.C.) has European U23 marks in the 100m, 200m and long jump and looks set to compete in the sprints on Saturday. Over 200m Cliodhna Manning (Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.) and Sophie Becker (St. Joseph's A.C.) will be looking to test her credentials.

Jenna Bromell (Emerald A.C.) leads the 400m entries while Alanna Lally (U.C.D. A.C.) and Louise Shanahan (Leevale A.C.) are among the lead entries in the 800m.

It promises to be an exciting day of action even with mixed weather conditions expected. 

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