JUVENILES SET FOR THREE DAY THRILLER

The Irish Life Health National Juvenile Championships are set for a blockbuster three days of competition in Tullamore (July 3rd/9th/10th).

• All three days will be live streamed on the Athletics Ireland Youtube Channel HERE via nTrai.
• A link to spectator tickets and timetable can be found HERE
• Entry lists HERE
• Live Results HERE (Updated on each day or competition)

There is sure to be no shortage of enthusiasm and quality action on show, with a few familiar names set to take to national competition once again over the three days.

Lucy McGlynn of Tír Chonaill AC has been in sparkling over the hurdles this season, not looking out of place in the senior 100m and 400m hurdle finals last weekend (senior bronze in 400mH final). McGlynn is sure to be a major contender again at these championships, as will up-and-coming sprint star Lucy-May Sleeman (Leevale AC) who could have a busy few days with entries in the 100mH, 100m, and 200m.

Sleeman provided one of the highlights of the indoor season in clocking a 7.43 CR for 60m to claim the U19 gold and is sure to be right in contention for multiple golds over the next two weekends.

Maeve O’Neill of Doheny AC looks like the star name to look out for in the U19 800m. O’Neill looks set to take her place following a brilliant showing in a high-class field at seniors last weekend, continuing on from her brilliant indoor CR of 2.08.80 which saw her take over from Ciara Everard’s record of 2.09.74 (2008).

Conor Callinan of Leevale secured the U19 juvenile pole vault title indoors earlier this year with a CR 4.35m which completed a remarkable indoor season for the Leevale star having already secured the senior and U20 titles. Callinan continued to impress last weekend, claiming a bronze medal at seniors and looks the standout entry in the U19 pole vault competition on day 3.

Day 1 Sunday July 3rd

Day 1 of the 2022 edition of these championships looks sure to be a cracker, with the short hurdles and field events getting us underway from 10am.

Adam Nolan (SLOT) set a new CR in the Boys U19 60mH indoor final back in March (8.08) and is sure to go well one again in the 100m hurdles. Lucy Mc Glynn of Tír Chonaill AC has been in sparkling over the hurdles this season, not looking out of place in the senior 100m and 400m hurdle finals last weekend (senior bronze in 400mH final). McGlynn is sure to be a major contender again this weekend, as will up and coming sprint star Lucy-May Sleeman (Leevale AC) who could have a busy few days with entries in the 100mH, 100m, and 200m.

There will be no shortage of up-and-coming stars in the field events too, with discuss, hammer, high jump, javelin, long jump, shot put, and triple jump titles all down for decision. Gallen sisters Caoimhe and Adrienne will make their first appearances of this year’s outdoor championships and are sure to be among the leading favourites as they take to the discus, hammer, and shot put across the 3 days.

The middle-distance athletes take to the track for their heats from 1pm with Maeve O’Neill of Doheny AC looking like the star name to look out for in the U19 800m. O’Neill looks set to take her place following a brilliant showing in a high-class field at seniors last weekend, continuing on from her brilliant indoor CR of 2.08.80 which saw her take over from Ciara Everard’s 2.09.74 (2008).

Other action sure to have spectators on their feet will be the finals of the U17 – U19 steeplechases where there will undoubtedly be no shortage of thrilling competition.

Day 2 Saturday July 9th

Spectators will have chance to draw breath before setting their teeth into a second helping come Saturday 9th.

The action will get ‘up and walking’ from 10am out on track, with young Matthew Newell (Clare River Harriers AC) one to look out for un the U15 race having posted a 4:05.43 CR in the U15 1000m walk final back in February. Sarah Mulvaney-Kelly (North Leitrim AC) is talented in several events and is also one to look out for in the U14 walk final.

Fans will be treated to another healthy dose of field events across day 2, with Katie Nolke (Ferrybank AC) in the long jump one not to be missed having taken the U19 indoor title with a jump of 5.62m earlier this year. Nolke is sure to also double up in the hurdles over the course of the championships.

Leevale look to have another group of talented athletes on their hands and Orla O'Sullivan is sure to go close to the podium place in the U17 triple jump, while Daniel Quirk of Greystones and District AC should go well in the boy’s equivalent.

Staying with the Leevale jumpers, Maeve Fleming (Leevale AC) is one to look out for in the U17 high jump competition, already holding the standard for the European Youth Olympics Festival in Slovakia later this year.

The pole vault has been an enthralling event to follow this season. Una Brice (Leevale) secured a brilliant senior title last weekend with a best clearance of 3.55m, continuing the great form which saw her secure a CR of 3.50m in the Girls U19 indoor pole vault earlier this season (breaking 3.35 CR of Ciara Hickey which had stood since 2018).

Ava Rochford (Nenagh Olympic) is entered in the U18 pole vault competition but will be in action with the Ireland U18 team at the U18 European Championships in Israel form July 4th.

The 400m finals always provide plenty of thrilling finishes and it will be great to see Renee Crotty of Annalee AC back in action in the U18 category following some thrilling finishes already this season (also entered in 200m and 400m).

Kate O’Connell (Lucan Harriers) has been one of the juvenile stars of the season thus far and looked very impressive clocking 56.64 indoors, she’s one not to miss in the U19 400m. David Bosch (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and Darragh Masterson (Ratoath AC) should renew rivalry in the boys U19 400m in what could prove on of the races of the championships

The sprint specialists will take to the blocks during the afternoon session of day 2 with the heats and finals of the 80 – 100m down for decision. Lucy-May Sleeman (Leevale AC) provided one of the highlights of the indoor season in clocking a 7.43 CR for 60m to claim the U19 gold and is sure to be right there again for the 100m title.

Nkemjika Onwumereh (Metro St Brigits) enjoyed more championship experience last weekend at seniors and can be expected to go well once again in the U19 competition. Leon King Abor (Boyne AC) is one who will be staying on in the final 20m having taken the 2022 200m indoor title already this year.

The 3000m finals look ultra-competitive and tough to call. It will be all to play for with the first of the 3000m finals set to see the U16 division take to the track from 3.45pm.

Day 3 Sunday July 10th

Day 3 will start with a bang with the 200m specialists taking to the blocks for their heats from 10am.

Lucy-May Sleeman (Leevale AC) broke recent senior 200m champion, Lauren Cadden’s U19 indoor record earlier this season in 24.24 and will once again be tough to beat if progressing safely through the heats. Kate O’Connell (Lucan Harriers AC) continues to impress over 200m and is sure to be the one to push Sleeman closest. The Lucan Harriers star also holds entries in the 100m and 400m.

On paper it looks as though the U19 boy’s 200m competition could be between Darragh Murphy of Limerick AC and David Oghuvbu of Naas AC, although it would be no surprise to see a developmental leap from one of the other contenders.

Conor Callinan of Leevale continued to impress in the pole vault last weekend, claiming a bronze medal at seniors and looks the standout entry in the U19 pole vault on day 3.

James Rochford (Ennis Track A.C.) claimed an indoor CR of 2.91m already this season and is one to monitor in the boy U15 pole vault competition.

The juvenile 1500m races always unearth a few rising stars, and in the absence of the Foster sisters (Kirsti Foster competing at European U18 Championships) in the girls races means there could be a chance for a new name to make their mark. Hannah Keogh (Thomastown AC) appears to get better with every race and should go well once again in the U19 final.

David Williams (St. Senans AC) claimed the U18 1500m indoor title earlier this season in a thrilling dipped finish and those in attendance will be hoping for more of the same as we near the end of a thrilling 3 days of juvenile competition. Harry Colbert of Waterford AC is not one to rule out.

Lucy Mc Glynn of Tír Chonaill AC clocked 60 seconds dead to claim bronze in the senior 400m hurdle final last Sunday and looks the star of the one lap hurdlers on show.  The championships come to a close with the finals of the 1500m from 4pm on Sunday July 10th.

Note

• Some athletes mentioned in this release are selected to compete at European U18 Championships July 4th – 7th 2022. Athletics Ireland wishes all those selected the best of luck as they represent us in Israel. Click HERE for team selection.