Athletes trump weather in Tullamore
There were a number of fine performances despite adverse weather conditions at the GloHealth National Junior and U23 Track and Field Championships in Tullamore today (July 2nd).
A number of athletes were looking to seal selection for the European Youth Championships and World Junior Athletics Championships with national medals up for grabs. For full results of the championships go to the link HERE
Michaela Walsh (Swinford) impressed in the throws once more with a double in the junior women’s shot put and hammer. Walsh sent the shot out 15.06m and the hammer out to 55.85m.
In the sprints Sean Lawlor (Donore Harriers) won the junior men’s 100m (+0.3) in 10.85 seconds from Tallaght’s Joseph Ojewumi in 10.94 and Eoin Doherty in 10.98.
Molly Scott (SLOT) edged Ciara Neville (Emerald) an exciting junior women’s 100m (-1.9) in 12.02 to 12.05.
Sharlene Mawdsley (Newport) winning streak continued in the junior women’s 200m (-1.3) with a time of 24.04 seconds ahead of Elizabeth Morland (Cushinstown) in 24.44 and Ciara Neville in 25.02. Morland won the junior high jump earlier in the day with a best of 1.71m.
Ryan Carthy Walshe (Adamstown) won the junior high jump with 2.05m while Jaime Murtagh (Cushinstown) won the U23 section with 2.08m
Jenna Bromell (Emerald) and Mollie O’Reilly (DSD) did battle in the junior women’s 400m with Bromell getting the win in 54.26 seconds – O’Reilly finished second in 55.52, just outside a second World junior B qualifier.
The junior women’s 800m proved to be a tactical affair with Louise Shanahan (Leevale) getting the better of Carla Sweeney (WSAF) and Rose Finnegan (Bohermeen) in a finishing kick. Shanahan won in 2:17.64 with Sweeney clocking 2:18.21 and Finnegan recording 2:18.97.
Amy O’Donoghue (Emerald) impressed in the U23 women’s 800m with a front-running victory in 2:10.90.
Callum Crawford Walker (Annadale Striders) had the edge in the junior men’s 800m winning in 1:58.09 while Harry Purcell (Trim) just held off Conall Kirk in the U23 section after going through the first lap in a swift 51 seconds. Purcell tied up badly but won in 1:52.10 ahead of Kirk in 1:52.27.
Emma O’Brien (Sli Cualann A.C.) was a convincing winner of the junior women’s 1500m with 4:38.09. William Crowe (North Sligo) held on for the win in the junior men’s 1500m in 3:59.88 from Jack O’Leary (Mullingar Harriers) in 4:00.17 and Pierre Murchan (DCH) in 4:02.09.
In the junior men’s shot put Anu Awonusi (SLOT) returned to form with a best of 16.89m while John Kelly (Finn Valley) won the U23 section with 15.67m.
Owen Russell (St. Andrew’s)won a great tussle against Adam King (Iveragh) in the junior men’s hammer. Russell won with a best of 70.33m ahead of King’s 69.50m – both men are bound for the World Junior Championships in Poland later this month.
Shane Howard (Bandon) backed up his national senior medal by winning the U23 men’s long jump with 7.32m and Sarah McCarthy (Mid Sutton) won the U23 women’s long jump with 5.68m in what were bad conditions for jumping.
Saragh Buggy (St Abban’s) added the U23 women’s triple jump to her national senior title with a best of 12.39m while Ellen McCartney (City of Lisburn) won the junior women’s pole vault with 3.40m.
