Underage stars shine in Santry

Relay Team Books Spot at European U23 Championships

The Irish 4 x 400 Relay Team of Eoin Kenny, Jack Mitchell, Jack Raftery, David Ryan secured the European U23 Championships qualification standard at an action-packed Irish Life Health National Junior and U23 Championships this afternoon in Morton Stadium. The 4x400m relays completed a busy day of action with the Irish Men’s 4x400 relay team under the tutelage of David McCarthy looking supremely strong in securing a time of 3.11.18 which will see them compete in Tallinn next month .

Day 1 of the Irish Life Health National Junior and U23 Track and Field Championships

The first medals presented on day 1 of the Irish Life Health National Junior and U23 Championships were in the Women’s 800m where Sarah Clarke (Na Fianna A.C.) secured gold in the U23s with a 2:13.78 from Ciara Deely (Kilkenny City Harriers A.C.) 2:14.29 and Susie O’Flynn (Raheny Shamrock A.C.) 2:16.56 who claimed silver and bronze respectively.

The Junior title went the way of Maeve O`Neill (Doheny A.C.) in 2:10.73, with Ruby Stueven (Tullamore Harriers A.C.) 2:14.61 second, and Sarah Hosey (Dooneen A.C.) third in 2:15.39.

The U23 Men’s 800m was won in impressive style by Louis O’Loughlin (Donore Harriers) in 1:51.01. Kevin McGrath (Bohermeen A.C.) 1:53.86 claimed silver, while Cian Kelly of St Abbans A.C. secured the bronze in 1:54.06.

There was a strong turnout for the Junior Men’s 800m. Eoin Quinn of Mullingar Harriers AC eased through the morning heats before storming to the win in the final with a 1:51:90.

The Women’s 400m Hurdle title (U23) went the way of Deirdre Murray of Na Fianna A.C who led from the front to cross the line in 1:01.48 from Katie Walsh (Carraig-Na-Bhfear A.C.) 1:03.59, and Caoimhe Mackey (Donore Harriers) 1:04.61.

Seren O’Toole (Galway City Harriers A.C.) claimed the Junior 400m Hurdle with 1:05.47, closely followed by Shauna Leydon (Mullingar Harriers A.C.) 1:06.76 and Moya O’Connell (St. Colmans South Mayo A.C.) in 1:06.80.

Jack Mitchell (St. L. O'Toole A.C.) showed his class in securing gold in the Men’s U23 Hurdles in 52.32 from Oisin McCorry (Raheny Shamrock A.C.) 56.28 and Ciaran Nugent (Carraig-Na-Bhfear A.C.) 57.92.

Alan Miley (St. L. O'Toole A.C.) won the Junior race in 53.20 with Ryan Canning (Letterkenny A.C.) 56.14 and Eoin Sharkey (Tír Chonaill A.C.)  57.26 completing the podium.

Ciaran Connolly of Le Chéile claimed the Men’s U23 High Jump title with a 2.05, while the Junior High Jump saw Jack Forde (St. Killian's A.C.) take gold with a 1.85. Noah McConway (Ennis Track A.C.) was second with a 1.85, while Adam Nolan (St. L. O'Toole A.C.) was third with a 1.80.

Aoife O`Sullivan (Liscarroll A.C.) continued her brilliant form in taking the Junior Women’s High Jump title with a 1.75 jump from Ciara Kennelly (Killarney Valley A.C.) in second who also cleared 1.75. The U23 title went to Louise King (St. Colmans South Mayo A.C.) who cleared 1.60. Lara O’Byrne also cleared 1.60 for Donore Harriers in coming second.

The Men’s U23 Hammer Throw was witness to an impressive performance from Brendan O’Donnell.  The Lifford Strabane A.C. athlete threw a 61.32 to secure the title from Sean Mockler (Moycarkey Coolcroo A.C.) and Gerard Kelly        (St Abbans A.C.) who were second and third respectively. Robert Higgins (Na Fianna A.C.) secured the gold in the Men’s Junior Hammer with an impressive display, throwing 57.63 for the win.

Zoe Mohan (Cushinstown A.C.) secured the Women’s U23 Hammer Throw title with a 43.48 from Fiona Hennessy (Templemore A.C.) 37.09. Last year’s National Senior Champion, Nicola Tuthill of Bandon A.C. took the gold in Junior Women’s Hammer Throw with a 59.74 which was a European U20 standard and continues her consistency of performance. Adrienne Gallen (Lifford Strabane A.C.) was second, with Eadaoin Coady (St Abbans A.C.) third.

The Men’s Junior Triple Jump title went to Richard Kamsen (Galway City Harriers A.C.) with a jump of 13.56. Matthew Cotter was U23 champion with the Raheny Shamrock A.C. athlete finishing on 12.65.

Women’s Junior Triple Jump gold went to Aisling Machugh of Naas A.C. who saw her first jump of 11.48 proving her best.

Kim O’Hare (Raheny Shamrock A.C.)  and Emily O’Mahony  (Waterford A.C.) competed for the  Women’s U23 Triple Jump title, with O’Mahony coming out on top in a narrow contest with a best jump of 11.22.

James Kelly (Finn Valley A.C.) secured the U23 Shot Put title with a championship best throw of 16.90, while Liam Shaw (Athenry A.C.) took the Junior title with 14.27.

The impressive Casey Mulvey of Inny Vale A.C. continued her brilliant 2021 season with a 14.08 EU20SB to claim the Women’s Junior Shot Put title, while Fiona Hennessy (Templemore A.C.)  walked away with the U23 title. The WFD golds went the way of Claire Kennedy (Birr A.C)., Zoe Mohan (Cushinstown A.C.), Patrick D’Arcy of Brow Rangers A.C, and Robert Higgins of  Na Fianna A.C.

The Women’s 5000m saw the Junior and U23’s competing side by side, with Laura Mooney of Tullamore Harriers coming home in first place to take the Junior Women's title in 16:31.66. Aoife McGreevy (Lagan Valley A.C.) 17:02.41 and Holly Brennan (Cilles A.C.) 17:36.85 took home the silver and bronze. Lauren Tinkler (Dublin City Harriers A.C.) was first of the U23 division to cross the line in 17:25.18.

The Men’s U23 5000m was a tactical affair with Conor Maguire of Monaghan Phoenix AC securing the gold medal in 14:50.91. The race for the silver was a tight finish with Thomas Devaney (Castlebar A.C.) 14:55.12 and Evan Fitzgerald (Clonmel A.C. )14:55.48 battling up the home straight.

Abdel Laadjel (Donore Harriers) secured the Junior Men’s 5000m title with a patiently waited performance to come home in Clapping 15:10.68. Scott Fagan (Metro/St. Brigid's A.C.) was second in 15:14.81 and Callum Morgan third in 15:19.37 for St. Malachy's A.C.

Aoife Lynch of Donore Harriers secured the 200m U23 title with a 24.37. Second place Sarah Leahy (Killarney Valley A.C.) 25.01 and Lauren Cadden (Sligo A.C. 25.16) competed the podium.

Lauren McCourt of Bandon A.C. looked super smooth in taking gold in a time of 24.45 in the Junior Women’s 200m.  Kate O`Connell (Lucan Harriers A.C.) 24.80 and Kate Bergin (Moyne A.C.25.29) claimed silver and bronze.

Robert McDonnell of Galway City Harriers A.C. was strong all the way to the line in securing the Junior 200m title in 20.93 from James Ezeonu (Leevale A.C.) 21.60 in second, and Charles Okafor of Mullingar Harriers A.C. (21.75) in third.

Colin Doyle of Leevale A.C powered up the home straight to take the Men’s U23 title for 200m in 21.56.  Joseph Finnegan Murphy of Tallaght A.C. was second in 22.45, while John Grant of Celbridge A.C. took bronze in 22.58.

The 4x400m relays completed the days action with the Irish Men’s 4x400 relay team looking supremely strong in securing a 3.11.18 and the qualifying standard for the European U23 Championships in Tallinn next month.

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