This weekend will bring lots of action and excitement with athletes competing around the globe. Saturdays highlight will undoubtedly be the Kit-Kat Irish Schools Championships in Tullamore where many of Ireland’s rising stars will be in action. EYOF Stars in Action Waterford’s Kelly Proper of St Paul’s Community College will be in action in the Long Jump at the Irish Schools this weekend as will her Waterford club mates; Niamh Whelan of Presentation College in the Intermediate 100m & 200m; Kalyn Sheehan (Ursuline Convent) in the 300H. Also in action will be EYOF stars Ciaran O’Lionaird (DLS Macroom) and David McCarthy (St. Augustine’s, Waterford) in the middle distance events and Amy Foster (Glen Lola CS) in the senior 100m & 200m. Records in Trouble Jason Smyth (Limavady Grammar School) is hot favourite to break the 100m senior record after his 10.65 in the Ulster Schools. Brian Gregan (St. Mark’s CS Tallaght) is one to watch after an outstanding performance in breaking the 25 year standing Leinster record two weeks ago in the Leinster Championships. Anthony McCreery (Belvedere) will be hoping to break the Irish Record of 4.50 in the Senior Boys Pole Vault. Laura Cogan of St Kevin’s, Dunlavin who also broke the Leinster record 2 weeks ago will be looking to improve on her performance. Irish Milers Club The Irish Milers will feature a men‘s and women’s 1500m race in the Schools with Gary Murray and Mark Christie both opening their seasons will be joined by Mark Kenneally and Colm Rooney. The Women’s race will feature Aoife Byrne who recently opened her season with an impressive 4:17 and the much improved Orla Drumm who will be looking forward to smashing her outdoor personal best in the outdoor season. David Gillick Opens his Season David Gillick will open his outdoor season, after being forced to withdraw from the AAI Games two weeks ago, in Zaragosa Spain this weekend. He is joined there by Deirdre Ryan in the High Jump who has clearly recovered from her in injury in 2005, demonstrating such with a season opener of 1.83 in the High Jump in Italy two weekends ago. Deirdre will also compete in Gava, Spain on Sunday. Also in action in Uden, Holland is; Ciara Sheehy in 200m who after an outstanding indoor season will be looking forward to getting her season underway; Paul Hession who was forced to withdraw from his race in Spain last week with an illness, and Ailis McSweeney. Cragg in Action The Reebok Grand Prix in New York will see Alistair Cragg in action in the 5,000m after an excellent beginning to his season. The meeting will also feature Ireland’s Roisin McGettigan in the 1500m and Marie Davenport in the 5000m.
