Irish Schools Compete International Pentathlon Glasgow

Irish Schools enjoyed their best day ever at the annual Schools Pentathlon at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on Saturday . All four teams pushed the usually dominant English all the way for the top of the podium and when all the points were toted the Junior Girls prevailed to take a historic team gold at this age for the first time in the history of this competition with all the others teams taking silver.

History was also created individually with Elizabeth Morland, from Dunshaughlin Community School winning the Inter Girls and in doing so crashed through the 4000 point barrier. This surpassed her record from the previous year by more than 300 points. The points were gathered by an opening p.b. of 12.33m shot, 8.92s 60m hurdles which by her own high standards she was not happy with. She followed this by long jumping 5.68m and going very close 1.77m in the high jump before settling for 1.74m and draining every last ounce of energy she could to run 1.23.35 in the 800m to get over the magical 4000 point mark. The Inter team had to give way to England who produced an all- time best team total of 10,885 for three athletes.

A second individual gold followed in the Inter boys with Daniel Ryan Thurles CBS just holding off two English athletes to take gold by a narrow five points. Daniel can compete at this age group again next year where he will have his eye on the record points for this competition. Daniel’s younger brother David took silver in the Junior Boys. The two boys brilliantly led their teams pushing the English all the way before taking team silvers.  

The other Irish athletes to take individual medals were Sophie Meredith Scoil Mhuire Newcastlewest and Kate O’Connor St. Vincent’s Dundalk, silver and bronze in the Junior Girls with the team gold secured by Bronagh Walsh St Leo’s Carlow who was fifth. Sophie and Kate are young enough to try and retain this title next year.