Attention turns from Tokyo to Tullamore

POSTED:

The Irish Life Health National Juvenile Championships are set for a blockbuster 4 days of athletics action in Tullamore (Aug 6th/7th/8th/14th).

Athletes will be eager to get into competition, undoubtedly inspired by the recent exploits of our Olympics heroes in Tokyo.

There will be no shortage of talent on show with several of the hugely successful European U18 team who traveled to Franconville set to compete.

Day 1 – Friday Aug 6th

Action gets underway late on Friday with the hurdlers and pole vaulters leaping into competition.

Ryan Canning of Letterkenny AC looks one to look out for in the 400m Hurdles division, while Walks pair of Jake O’Brien (Moyvalley AC) and Aisling Lane (Mullingar Harriers) come here on the back of impressive international debuts in France last week.

Day 2 – Saturday Aug 7th

The Men’s 200m on Saturday should be an intriguing contest, with both James Ezeonu (Leevale) and Charles Okafor (Mullingar Harriers) coming here on the back of great seasons, while Kate O’Connell (Lucan Harriers) and Lucy May Sleeman (Leevale) look two who could star in the Women’s 200m.

Rising star of the throws, Nicola Tuthill (Bandon AC), will be back in action in the Hammer. The Bandon AC athlete has enjoyed another stunning season which included a 60.67pm at the European Throwing Cup. Adrienne Gallen (Lifford Strabane AC), who also goes in the Hammer, and Anna Gavigan (LSA) in the Discus are sure to also give throws fans plenty to cheer about on Saturday afternoon. Both athletes return to competitive action having claimed top 3 positions in France at the weekend.

Doheny AC’s Maeve O’Neill is entered in the 800m and will be one not to miss on the back of her recent PBs and victory in France (2:06.38) and (2.07.91) at the U20 European Championships which resulted in her making the semi-final stage.

Day 3 – Sunday Aug 8th

Lucy May Sleeman (Leevale AC) will seek to double up in the 100m on Sunday, hoping to better her impressive 11.96 clocked on her international debut last weekend.

Geoffray Joy O’Regan (Sun Hill Harriers AC) goes in the High Jump and will be favourite once again if he can better his recent 2.06m and 2.07m jumps (NYR).

3000m European U20 gold medallist Nicholas Griggs (Mid-Ulster AC) will be the star attraction of this championships should he take his place in the 3000m on Sunday.

Griggs picked up where he left off two weeks previous in running a National Youth Record and European Youth Lead of 8:07.46 to win the 3000m at the French meet on July 31st.

Griggs is also entered in the 1500m.

Day 4 – Saturday Aug 14th

Cian Dunne (DSD) and Maeve O’Neill (Doheny AC) look to be among the main protagonists in the 400m, while the 1500m categories look ultra-competitive with Kirsti Charlotte Foster (Willowfield Harriers, Rebecca Rossiter (Loughview AC), Colin Smith (Mullingar Harriers) and Aidan Burke (Waterford AC) four athletes to look out for in their respective heats.

Katie Nolke (Ferrybank AC) is another coming here on the back of her international debut, and will no doubt be inspired by her clubmate Thomas Barr’s exploits in Tokyo as she takes to the 100m hurdles before setting her sights on the Long Jump and High Jump competitons.

Una Brice (Leevale AC) set a 3.62m National Youth Pole Vault Record two weeks ago, and the Leevale star followed that up by posting a new National Youth Record of 3.75m in Franconville to claim a second-place finish having been ranked 7th starting. Brice will be another who can yet again threaten her own national youth record.

Conor Callinan of Leevale will be looking to continue his wonderful season. Callinan became the youngest ever winner of an Irish senior outdoor title when he won the pole vault on a cold blustery day in Morton Stadium on Jun 26th, before going on to set a new Irish Youth record of 4.61m at the Munster junior championships in MTU.

It promises to be an exciting two weekends of action.

  • Friday 6th & Saturday 7th Timetable: Click HERE 
  • Sunday 8th Timetable: Click HERE
  • Saturday 14th Timetable: Click HERE 
  • Entry Lists: Click HERE
  • Live Results (Updated from Friday at 6pm): Click HERE
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