RECORDS FALL AS JUVENILES TAKE CENTER STAGE
It was a record-breaking day in Tullamore today as the next generation of athletics stars competed across a bumper schedule at the 123.ie National Juvenile Track and Field Championships.
Day 1 of the championships saw several records fall, including two in the U19 3,000m steeplechase finals thanks to stunning performances from Billy Coogan (Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.) 9:28.78 CR and Eleanor Foot (Bray Runners A.C.) 11:16.73 CR who both walked away with gold in their respective finals.
The U19 girls 800m race was a compelling watch with Hazel Hughes (Clones A.C.) claiming gold in 2:12.11 ahead of a fast-finishing Eve Marie Noctor (Lucan Harriers A.C.) 2:12.58.
Neil Culhane (ACE AC) backed up last week’s junior title in the U19 boy’s 800m race, crossing in a time of 1:56:73 to continue his impressive 2023 season.
Pia Langton (Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.) 2:13.41 and Caolan McFadden (Cranford A.C.) 1:56.98 impressed once again to cross in first place in the U17 races.
The ever-consistent pair of Emily Bolton (Donore Harriers U16) 2:13:88 and Freya Bateman (Belgooly AC 15) added the 800m titles to their growing CVs, while Aisling Kelly of Ennis Track claimed gold in a stacked U14 race in 2:11.77 CR.
Ryan Vikers of Farranfore Maine Valley A.C. also smashed the CR in the boy’s U14 race in 2:04.00.
The hurdles provided much excitement across the day, including two impressive showings from Leevale team-mates Sean Carmody (Leevale AC) U19 14.48 110mH and Okwu Backari (Leevale AC) U18 14.32 100mh who added two more gold medals to Leevale’s collection on the day.
Stuart Tobin (Nenagh Olympic A.C.) won a brilliant 110mH title in the boys U17 race, clocking 13.51CR to beat Ethan Dewhirst who would have also broken the old CR with his 13.82.
Rachel Warde (Craughwell A.C.) produced another of the day’s standout hurdles performances, setting a U15 Championships Record of 12:23CR in the heats of the 80mH before going on to claim gold in the final.
Kotryna Pacerinskaite (Fanahan Mc Sweeney AC) was the star of the field events, doubling up with gold in the Hammer (46.25) and Shot Put (11.63), while Liam Shaw (Athenry) took the U19 Shot title with a best throw of 14.28.
Sophie Byrne (Crookstown Millview A.C.) was the highlight of today’s jumps action, posting a best of 11.51 to run out an impressive winner in the triple jump (U19).
Full Results Here
The final weekend of the 123.ie National Juvenile Track and Field Championships will take place back in Tullamore on Jully 22nd & 23rd.
- July 22nd & 23rd Spectator Tickets: Here
123.ie National Juvenile B Championships & Inter Club Relays (July 9th)
Sunday will provide another bumper day of athletics action with over 1500 athletes set to battle it out across the Juvenile B and Inter Club Relays Championships.
Those in attendance will be treated to a relay bonanza across the busy six-hour schedule with the first events getting underway from 10am.