2022 Juvenile Indoors sign off in style
The curtain came down on the 2022 Irish Life Health National Juvenile Indoor Championships today (April 2nd), with the conclusion of the 3rd and final day of what has been a thrilling schedule of athletics events.
The athletes were back at the TUS International Arena for a day that saw the relay and in-field events take centre stage.
The 4x200m relays were the first order of the day and it was clear that ‘relay-fever’ is continuing apace across the Irish club scene with a host of impressive performances over the course of the day.
The U17 Ratoath girls 4x200m team of Saoirse Carrigan, Katie Doherty, Niamh Murphy and Eve Mooney secured a new championship record (CR) of 1:42.12, finishing in the gold medal position ahead of Leevale in second, and Lucan Harriers in third. A great finish from Robert Carney would secure gold for of Ballyskenach AC in the U17 boys 4x200m.
The Leevale AC team of Yasin Salim Said, Colin Murphy, Sean Carmody, and pole vault specialist Conor Callinan claimed the fastest time in the U19 final (1:32.44), while their clubmates Ella Scott, Ciara O'Mahony, Ella Jenks, and Lucy-May Sleeman provided on of the highlights of the day in taking their respective U19 title in a 1.42.52 CR.
Dooneen AC were also in championship record breaking form, with the team of Destiny Lawal, Lily McMahon, Emer Purtill and Megan O’Shea claiming a new CR in the U14 4x200m with a time of 1:48.57.
Dooneen would follow up shortly after with another CR, with the team of Eanna Iseult Ni Huigin, Emma Pethos, Maeve Purtill, and Ivana O Carroll running a 1:46.80 CR in the U15 4x200m.
Away from the track action, Sophie Byrne (U18) of Crookstown Millview AC took the triple jump title with a 11.24m, while Aaron TJ O'Connor (U18) claimed gold for Limerick AC with 12.58m.
Joseph Gillespie (U19) of Finn Valley AC posted a 13.29m winning jump in the U19 division, while Grace Fitzgerald (U19) of Tipperary Town AC impressed with a 11.19m best.
Luke Timlin (U17) of Crusaders AC produced a brilliant 6.14m long jump to take first place, while Riona Doherty was best of the U16 long jumps for Finn Valley AC with 5.42m.
There was a great battle for gold in the U19 shot put competition, with Anna Gavigan of LSA coming out on tip by 0.01 from Aoife Giles of Cranford AC with a winning throw of 10.09m.
Callum Keating to the U19 competition for North Cork AC with 14.25m, while Paige Stevens (AthleticsNI Unattached) had over a meter to spare in taking the U18 competition with 14.48m.
Liam Shaw of Athenry AC also dominated his respective U18 shot put competition, with his opening throw of 17.18m proving his best of the day.
Results: HERE
Day 1 Report: HERE
Day 2 Report: HERE