Griggs produces golden performance in Tullamore

It was another action-packed day on day 3 of the Irish Life Health National Juvenile Track and Field Championships in Tullamore.

3000m European U20 gold medallist Nicholas Griggs (Mid-Ulster AC) was the star of the track session with his 8.19.76 CBP for 3,000m taking the U18 title in impressive style.

Griggs has had a busy 4 weeks having won gold at the European U20’s in July before going on to run a national youth record and European lead to win the 3k at the U18 meet in Franconville on July 31st.

The 3,000m provided several highlights throughout the afternoon session with Rebecca Rossiter (Loughview AC) taking the girls U18 3,000m title in 10:11.19, while Jane Buckley (Leevale A.C.) also produced a superb performance to take the U19 title, crossing the line in 10:11.39.

Harry Colbert (Waterford A.C.) 8:35.12 broke Kevin Mulcaire’s (Ennis TC) boys U15 3000m CBP of 8.59.02 set in 2013 which was shortly followed by Cormac Dixon’s (Tallaght A.C.) performance which saw him set a new boys U16 3000m CBP of 9:00.34, breaking the previous performance of 9.04.92 set by Christy Conlon (Beechmount Harriers) in 2014 (the 1st 3 boys across the finish were under this time).

Lucy May Sleeman (Leevale AC) made it a sprint double by claiming the U18 100m title in 12.47, while Charles Okafor impressed in the U19 division where he safely progressed through the heats with a 10.98 before backing it up with a winning 10.99 to take gold in the final.

Geoffray Joy O’Regan (Sun Hill Harriers AC) continued with his ultra-consistent season to take the U18 High Jump title with a best jump of 2.05.

Kotryna Pacerinskaite (Fanahan Mc Sweeney A.C.) was another to star on day 3, taking the U17 Hammer title with a 51.02m throw, before going on to claim a second gold in the Shot Put with a best throw of 12.82m.

Liam Shaw (Athenry A.C.) impressed in the boys U17 Shot Put competition, taking gold with a throw of 15.35m from Alex Anderson (Tir Chonaill A.C.) who finished second with 12.50m.

Cormac O'Donnell (Lifford Strabane A.C.) won the U18 Hammer title with a best of 57.25m in a great competition with Charlie Coughlin (Fingallians A.C.) 55.71 and Cóil Ó`Muiri (Fr. Murphy A.C.) 52.43 who claimed silver and bronze respectively.

The jumps disciplines had to combat gusty conditions once again but it didn’t halt the standard of competition on show. Natalie McCrory (City of Lisburn A.C.) is the U17 Triple Jump champion, with her 6th and final jump of 10.72m proving best for the City of Lisburn athlete.

Evan O`Toole (St. Josephs A.C.) to the U18 Triple Jump title with a 12.20 jump from Lukas Schukat (Craughwell A.C.) in second with 10.58.

The U19 Long Jump titles went to Harry Buckley of Carraig-Na-Bhfear A.C. with a 6.44, while clubmate Blessing Alamu took the girls title with 5.48m.

The 4th of final day of the Irish Life Health National Juvenile Track and Field Championships is set for next Saturday Aug 14th.

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.

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 another trilling day of Juvenile athletics action.

Saturday 14th Timetable: Click HERE
Entry Lists: Click HERE
Results: Click HERE