Preview Of 2006 Track & Field Programme Of Events With the commencement of the school summer term, the Irish Schools Athletics Association eagerly anticipate the upcoming KitKat Schools’ Track & Field Championships which will take place over the next four weeks culminating in the prestigious KitKat All-Ireland Schools’ Track & Field Championship in Tullamore, Co. Offaly on 3rd June. From all corners of the country schools athletes, teachers and coaches will converge on the first round of track and field competitions which will take place in 16 venues nationwide over the next two weeks. The young athletes lucky enough to qualify from the 16 regions throughout the country will secure a place to compete in their provincial championship. The first two winning athletes in sprints and the first three in all other events of the provincial finals will qualify to compete in the coveted KitKat All-Ireland Schools’ Track & Field Championships to be held in Tullamore on Saturday 3rd June. Following the successful cross country season which finished on 8th April 2006 with two individual Irish victories and a superb performance by the KitKat Irish team at the SIAB Schools’ International in Stowe, Buckinghamshire, the performance of these young athletes on the track is much anticipated. Shane Quinn, De La Salle, Waterford, was the star of the show with a runaway victory in the Junior Boys’ and Ciara Cronin, Abbey CC Waterford, was similarly impressive in the Intermediate Girls’ race. Both these exciting young athletes will be looking to add a track title to their cross country accolades. Waterford appears to be the new centre of power for the future of Irish athletics with four other similarly talented young people ready to make their mark. In the Long Jump Kelly Proper, St Paul’s Waterford is an exciting prospect as is Mairead Murphy, Mercy Waterford and Kalyn Sheahan, Ursuline Waterford, in the hurdles. Niamh Whelan, Presentation Waterford, who set records last year at junior level, is expected to perform similarly at intermediate level. At junior level last year the Irish Schools Athletics Association showcased a number of other outstanding performances and will be looking to these young athletes to move a step further in their careers. Athletes included, Aoife Hickey, Loreto Kilkenny, in the hammer, Jenny Brown, Magherafelt HS, in the shot and Claire Fitzgerald, Presentation Tralee, in the discus. Amy Foster, Glenlola CS, was outstanding last year in the intermediate sprints and will be hoping to dominate at senior level this year. In the high jump all eyes will be on the progress of Pamela Hughes, King’s Hospital. Her school mate, Sarah Treacy will be hoping to continue her winning streak of schools’ titles in middle distance having been successful for the last four years. Laura Cogan, St Kevin’s, was another winner at the KitKat Schools’ International last year in the shot event. Another exciting talent is Imelda Morrison, Colaiste Eoin Youghal, in the long jump. The Ffrench-O’Carroll twins, Charlotte and Rebecca, from Loreto St Stephen’s Green, have performed well at cross country and will now hope to continue that success on the track. In the boys’ events there are as many outstanding performers who are sure to make their mark in the track and field category in 2006. In the middle distance all eyes will be on David McCarthy, St Augustine’s Dungarvan, who was extremely impressive in the cross country. Others who could make a mark in the middle distances are Conor Dooney, Monkstown CBC, Brendan O’Neill, St Michael’s, Eoin Healy, Clonkeen College, and John Coghlan, Castleknock College. In the sprints Gerard O’Reilly, Baileboro CC and Jason Smyth, Limavaddy GS are certainly Irish athletics stars in the making. Others to look out for include Brian Gregan, St Mark’s CS, in the Intermediate Boys’ 400m, Ciarain O’Cathain, Marist Athlone, in the 100m Hurdles, and Mark McDonald, St Aidan’s CBS, in the 800m. In the boys’ field events there are many talented performers; Cian Healy, Belvedere College fresh from his exploits with the Irish Under 19 Rugby team in the Rugby World Cup, in the shot and discus, Gary Coulter, Ballymena Academy, in the high jump, Luke Mangan, Belvedere College, in the shot, and Anthony McCreery, Belvedere College the national indoor champion in the pole vault. It is also important to acknowledge the dedicated support of the teachers and coaches all around the country who not only help the athletes to achieve their potential but also act as officials in a voluntary capacity at the KitKat championships. The KitKat Irish Schools’ Athletics Championships have been a breeding ground for young athletes who go on to compete for Ireland at national and international level. With so many talented young athletes coming up through the Irish ranks, this year’s KitKat Irish Schools Athletics Track & Field Championships should prove to be an interesting and exciting competition. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION: John Shields (01) 831 1311 / 087 263 3376 ISAA E-mail: john_shields@iol.ie Or Avril Collins / Angie Grant (01) 676 01678 Weber Shandwick FCC 086 396 4368 / 086 377 2791