Juvenile championships off to a great start

Juvenile championships off to a great start

The Irish Life Health National Juvenile Track and Field Championships got off to a great start on day 1 at Tullamore Harriers’ stadium today (July 14).

Many of the stars of the European U18 championships were on show and they delivered with some fine performances. Full results HERE

Sophie Meredith (St Mary’s Limerick) got the better of Ruby Millet (St Abban’s) in a high-quality U18 girls’ long jump 5.85m to 5.79m. The competition had great depth.

Multi-event star Kate O’Connor (St Gerard’s Dundalk)is also listed for a lot of events and would be a welcome sight if she competes as she has been laid low in recent weeks.  She is in the U19 long jump which also includes fellow multi-event specialistst Lara O’Byrne (Donore Harriers) and Vickie Cusack (Liscarroll).

The 600m and 800m delivered some exciting races and championship records. There was a sister act too with Aoife Brown (MSB) winning the U14 girls 800m in 2:20.82 and Molly Brown winning the U18 girls in 2:14.04.

Emma Moore (Galway City Harriers) delivered in the U15 girls’ 800m with a championship best performance of 2:11.98.

She broke Aimee Hayde’s (Newport) record who duly went out and broke the U16 record winning gold in 2:11.63.

Louis O’Loughlin (Donore Harriers) was another to set a championship best to win the U18 boys’ 800m in 1:52.13 with his teammate Jack Raftery second in 1:55.68.

Tony O’Connor (Naas) and Mark Milner (Tullamore Harriers) are listed in the U19 boys’ 800m.

Karlis Kaugars (Dunleer) had an excellent championship best performance in the U14 boys’ javelin with 55.63m.

James Kelly (Finn Valley) had a championship best performance in the U19 boys’ shot put with 17.14m.

Lystus Ebosele (DMP) one the main contenders won the U18 girls’ shot put with 13.53m.

It promises to be another exciting day of competition tomorrow.