Bright sunshine greeted the opening round of the AAI League last weekend when over 700 athletes representing 56 teams competed over 21 events (19 for women) at two venues. Every point is valuable; the top eight teams in each category - Premier and Division 1, Men and Women - after two rounds go forward to the final, and carry with them points appropriate to their placing from 9 for 1st down to 1 for eight. Cooler heads sought the shade, while the less experienced baked in the sunshine while waiting their turn to perform up to three events, some even taking a relay or two on top of that. Truly a marathon performance! Navan is now well established as a first round venue, it was great to welcome Limerick back as a fully equipped venue for Championship athletics. This is a team event and the ultimate victory will go to those with the greatest strength in depth, so this is the chance for the ordinary club man and woman to shine, and to enjoy the buzz of the team, something Track and Field athletes rarely do. In Premier Men DSD lead with 121, followed by Nth Down 117, Co Limerick 112, and Clonliffe Harriers on 111. Premier Women also have DSD well to the fore with 105, but have some ground to make up on Bandon's composite team on 114; next come SLOT on 103, with Lagan Valley in close attendance on 99. Division 1 Men is a dog-fight with 21 teams chasing 8 places. City of Derry show first with 124 points, Togher/ Belgooley next on 118, Meath are close behind on 113 with Leevale and Strabane on 109. Division 1 Women is not much easier, 14 teams looking for the eight spots. City of Lisburn lead with 122 points and are a deal ahead of Meath with 103, Finn Valley on 100 and Athletics Wexford on 99.
Navan Points Limerick Points Premier Men DSD 121 Co Limerick 112 Nth Down 117 Clonliffe Harr 111 Raheny 101 Donore Harr 103 Abbey 90 Menapians 95 Crusaders 66 Tullamore 95 Div 1 Men Pool 1 Cty of Derry 124 Togher/ Belgooley 118 Finn Valley 107 Meath 113 Olympians 96 SLOT 86 Co Monaghan 95 Athletics Wexford 71 Sli Cualann 44 Riocht 60 Div 1 Men Pool 2 Shercock 118 Leevale 109 Strabane 109 Bandon 104 Cty of Lisburn 99 West Waterford 104 Letterkenny 95 Tallaght 101 Navan 77 Imokilly 95 Westmeath 54 Premier Women DSD 105 Bandon 114 Lagan Valley 99 SLOT 103 Abbey 95 BBs 91 Tir Chonaill 85 Leevale 86 Sli Cualann 74 Riocht 81 Raheny 67 Division 1 Women Cty of Lisburn 122 Meath 103 Finn Valley 100 Athletics Wexford 99 Cty of Derry 94 Borisokane 93 Letterkenny 63 Co Limerick 91 Nth Down 57 Clonliffe 86 Crusaders 41 West Waterford 71 Co Monaghan 36 Tallaght 63
