RECORD BREAKING DAY AT NATIONAL JUVENILE INDOOR CHAMPIONSHIPS

POSTED:

It was a record-breaking day in Athlone today (March 19th) on day 1 of the Irish Life Health National Juvenile Indoor Championships.

Conor Callinan of Leevale claimed a famous treble of indoor titles, securing the U19 juvenile pole vault title with a Championship Record 4.35m. The title completes a remarkable indoor season for Callinan who had already secured a senior indoor title, an U20 national title, and an U20 national record this indoor season.

The pole vault competitions were on fire today and there was also a Championship Record in the U15 Boys pole vault competition with James Rochford Rochford (Ennis Track A.C.) clearing 2.91m CBP.

Those in attendance for the morning session were treated to a quick-fire double of Championship Records in the 1500m, with Willowfield Harriers sisters Kirsti Charlotte Foster and Lucy Foster smashing Nadia Power's 1500m records. Kirsti secured the U18 title in 4:33.64 CBP, while Lucy looked just as impressive on her way to the U17 gold medal in 4:37.96 CBP.

Cormac Dixon U17 (Tallaght AC) in 4.10.50 and David Williams U18 (St. Senans AC) in 4.14.42 took their respective titles in what were competitive events. Williams claimed the gold in a thrilling dipped finish in one of the races of the day.

The U19 gold medals went the way of Hannah Keogh (Thomastown AC) in 4:40.85 and Oisin Kelly (Cranford AC) in 4:03.78.

The 400m finals provided plenty of thrilling finishes, with arguably the finish of the day in the U18 race which saw Renee Crotty of Annalee AC crossing in first place in a time of 57.57.             

Kate O’Connell (Lucan Harriers) starred in the U19 final, looking very impressive in clocking 56.64. David Bosch (Dundrum South Dublin AC) took the boys U19 title (50.40) in a great battle Darragh Masterson (Ratoath AC 50.44).

There was a stunning performance in the U17 high jump competition, with Maeve Fleming (Leevale AC) taking the title in 1.73m which also secured the qualifying standard for the European Youth Olympics Festival in Slovakia later this year.

Katie Nolke (Ferrybank AC) starred in the long jump, taking the U19 title with a best jump of 5.62m.

There were several impressive performances in the throws events, with a familiar name taking the U16 shot put title. Caoimhe Gallen of Lifford Strabane AC claiming gold with 12.36m.

The Championship Records continued to fall throughout the day with Mathew Newell (Clare River Harriers AC) posting a 4:05.43 CR in the U15 1000m walk final, while and Sarah Mulvaney-Kelly also set a new CR in the U14 race with 4:47.97.

And they weren’t finished there, with Lucy-May Sleeman (Leevale AC) providing one of the highlights of the day in clocking a 7.43 CR for 60m to claim the U19 gold. Sleeman’s time takes over from the 7.44 clocked by Patience Jumbo-Gula in 2019. Sleeman is back in 60m hurdles action tomorrow where she will look to double up, undoubtedly inspired by the exploits of Sarah Lavin in Belgrade.

Nkemjika Onwumereh rounded out the gold medals on day 1, claiming his U19 60m title impressively in 6.85 for St. Brigids AC.

The action continues in Athlone tomorrow, with day 2 set to start 10am with the long jump and 200m heats.

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