Tullamore set for exciting weekend of GloHealth Juvenile Championships

Tullamore set for thrills and spills

The action promises to heat up this weekend at the GloHealth National Juvenile Track and Field Championships (July 23 and 24).

The summer season is in full swing and the championships promise to build on what was an exciting first day of the championships two weeks ago. The weather gods look more favourable as Ireland’s best juvenile athletes take to the track and field at the Tullamore Harriers stadium.

For a live results link of day 1 click HERE and for day 2 click HERE. There will also be a live stream on Sunday (July 24) with link to watch HERE 

In the boys’ events some stars to look out for include Reece Ademola (Leevale) in the U14 boys’ high jump and U16 Donore Harriers pair Louis O’Loughlin and Fathi Aden who are listed in the 1500m and 3,000m.

The U17 sprints sees European Youth representative Arron Sexton (North Down) listed in the 100m and 200m with Irish schools’ captain Tony Odubote (Ennis Track) also listed.

Christopher Whittle (Tullamore Harriers) will look to shine once more on his home track in the U17 3,000m having triumphed in the steeplechase on Day 1 of the championships.

Gearoid McMahon (Shannon) is back from a gruelling 10km at the European Youths and he will be looking to use his experience in the U17 3k walk.

The U18 1500m could be one of the races of the day if Rory Lodge (Kilkenny City Harriers), Robert Crowley (SLOT) and Charlie O’Donovan (Leevale) all toe the line. Lodge made the semi-finals of the 800m at the European Youths and will test his endurance against European Youth 1500m finalists Crowley and O’Donovan.

Jamie Mitchell (Emerland) is listed in the U18 sprints and fellow European Youth campaigner Brendan O’Donnell (Lifford Strabane) is in the U18 hammer. Daniel Ryan (Moycarkey Coolcroo) is listed in a number of events including the pole vault and shot put – he suffered a minor injury towards the end of his decathlon at the European Youths and hopefully will be competing. Christopher O’Donnell (North Sligo) will look to take U19 400m gold.

There is an equal array of bright diamonds in the girls’ age groups. Some to look out for in the U14 age group are Aimee Hayde (Westport) in the 1500m, Ailbhe Doherty  (Ennis) in the 200m, Megan Lenihan (North Cork) in the discus and Meghan Carr (St Catherine’s), Robert Heffernan’s daughter, in the U14 long jump.

Miriam Daly (Carrick-on-Suir) was the Irish schools girls’ athlete of the meet in the SIAB international and she is listed in the U16 100m and 250m hurdles. Patience Jumbo Gula (Dundalk St Gerard’s) is down for the 200m.

Another to fit in ‘the race of the day’ category could be the U17 1500m where Amy Rose Farrell (Blackrock), Abbie Taylor (DSD), Amy O’Brien (Inbhear Dee) and Claire Rafter (Tullamore Harriers) are all listed.

Lauren Cadden (Sligo) is entered for the sprints while national high jump champion and European Youth finalist ,Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley), is down for the U17 high jump.

Multi-event heroine Katherine O’Connor (Dundalk St Gerard’s) is listed in the U17 javelin while Orlaith O’Brien (Waterford) is down for the U18 javelin. Sarah Derham (Lusk) should be the favourite in the U18 pole vault.