Relay Teams & Field Eventers shine on Day 1 of Juveniles

TUS Athlone played host to the first day of what was an exhilarating opening day of athletics competition at the 123.ie Juvenile Indoor Championships (March 23rd).

The 4x200m relays delivered lots of thrills and spills throughout the morning and afternoon session, again highlighting the surge in relay popularity in recent years.

The U17 mixed relay title went the way of the Celbridge AC team of Brian McCulloch, Max Hollingsworth, Eimear McGrath, and Ella Newman Smith in 1:40.56, while the U19 title was won impressively by a talented Kilcoole AC squad which included Eoghan Purcell, Camille Madden, Shane McDonald, and Maria Zakharenko in 1:36.76.

Zakharenko would also play a leading role in helping Kilcoole to the U19 girls 4x200m relay title in a winning time of in a winning time of 1:41.35.

Kilkenny City Harriers enjoyed a superb day in Athlone, picking up gold in both the U17 girls and U15 girls relay events, the u15 team walking away with a new championship record of  in 1:45.51.

Newbridge AC claimed the U15 boys relay title, while Craughwell (U17) and Ratoath (U19) continued their medal winning momentum at juvenile championships once more.

National senior indoor shot put champion Andrew Cooper lived up to favouritism in the U19 shot, picking up gold for Gowran AC with a best throw of 15.81 which left him over two meters clear of the field.

Ailbhe Gordon claim the U19 girls shot, earning top spot on the podium for Greystones and District AC with a best of 10.23.

There were also notable performances in the U18 competitions with Caoimhe Gallen (Lifford Strabane AC) 13.74 and Theo Hanlon (Suncroft AC) 16.35 taking their respective titles.

Darragh Fahy (Loughrea AC) was the star of the jumps today, winning gold in the U18 men’s triple with a best and final jump of 13.39. Sophie Walker (Newport AC) is the U18 indoor triple jump champion with a best leap of  10.92.

U19 triple jump FLYNN, Cian Fylnn (Corran AC) got his due rewards for a consistent round of jumps in the U19 competitions with four of his best all over 12.20 meters, the best measuring in at 12.51.

Leagh Moloney (Dooneen AC) also enjoyed an efficient round of jump, claiming gold with her best of 11.19, with a further three jumps all over 11 meters.

• Full Results: HERE
• Watch back Live Stream: HERE
• Spectator Tickets (April 6th, April 7th) HERE (U16s go free and do not require a ticket)

A preview of day 2 and 3 of the 123.ie National Juvenile Indoor Championships will be issued in April.