O’Connor Win’s Kerry Senior Javelin Title for 40th Year in a Row

Kerry Senior Champs

On Wed 9th July, Kerry Senior T & F Championships took place at An Rīocht Castleisland. In the long and triple jump, Dennis Finnegan won impressively. On the track Ger Cremin came close to setting an Irish Masters 400m hurdles record. Young Dion Marcus won the 100m and 400m, at 16 a star of the future. Aoife O’Carroll, emulated her brother Eoin, winning the 100m, 200m and long jump.

Irelands senior international discus and shot thrower, Claire Fitzgerald, won her events in fine style, chased by quality young athletes Kayleigh Cronin, Hanna O’Sullivan and Aoife Doyle. Daniel Clifford and Alan O’Connor leading the way in the men’s throwing events. Evidence yet again of the preservation of Kerry’s fine throwing tradition by local coach Jerry Horgan.

Brian Akers’ hammer throwers guested, including his daughter and international thrower Alice. Youth-Olympics-destined Adam King threw almost 74m in a warm up throw registering 69m in the competition itself. David Courtney threw as a guest in the javelin.

40th Title for O'Connor

Measuring and officiating was the ever enthusiastic Patsy O’Connor, cajoling and encouraging the throwers despite the drizzle on a darkening evening. As an athlete, official and coach, Patsy is an example of the foundation upon which Athletics Ireland elite performance athletics is built.

He competed himself and won the 56lbs for distance and the javelin. Having turned 58 the previous weekend, this marked his 40th consecutive year to win at senior county level. In a county where the standard of throwing is incredibly high, this is a staggering achievement.