A thrilling two days of schools athletics came to a close this afternoon as the 2026 edition of the 123.ie All-Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships signed off with a host of thrilling performances which resulted in several championship records falling in Tullamore (May 30th).
Both Senior 400m Hurdles final delivered new championship records. Des O’Neill (St. Fintan’s Sutton) broke 52 seconds for the first time, clocking 51.89 seconds, his first standard for the World Athletics U20 Championships. The previous championship record (52.1H) had been set in 1982.
Ellis McHugh (Waterpark College) broke new ground in the girls race, becoming the first athlete to break 60 seconds at the championships in the event. Her winning time was 59.18 seconds, taking 0.85 off the 2019 championship record. McHugh, who is a European Youth Olympic medallist, already has qualified for the World Athletics U20 Championships.
There were close battles in the 3000m races. European U20 Cross Country medallist Emma Hickey (St. Mary’s New Ross) just edged out Megan Brunt (Loreto Dalkey) by less than a second, Hickey’s winning time was 9:31.75.
Ava Colreavy (Ursuline College Sligo) took the spoils in the Intermediate Girls race in a fantastic 9:28.60, while Charlie O’Neill (Belvedere College) won the Intermediate Boys title in 8:43.35.
The honour of being called Ireland’s fastest schoolboy and schoolgirl for 2026 went to Joshua Awujoola (Dromore High School) and Tiffany Nwaedozie (Ashton Cork) respectively. Both had to contend with wet conditions, Awujoola winning in 10.74 (+0.7m/s), while Nwaedozie crossed the line in a windy 11.91 (+2.3m/s).
Both athletes also took victory in the Senior 200m races just over an hour later. Awujoola’s time of 21.72 (+1.7m/s) was just outside the championship record, Nwaedozie won in 25.01 (+1.4m/s).
Destiny Lawal (Castletroy College) done an impressive double winning the Intermediate Girls 100m (12.00, +0.6m/s) and 200m (25.02, +1.2m/s).
Harry McIlwaine (Royal & Prior Raphoe) was a hugely impressive winner of the Intermediate Boys 200m in 22.17 (+0.4m/s).
Over 400m, Erin Friel (Loreto Letterkenny) was pushed all the way to the line by Sofia Granjo (Presentation College Carlow). Friel, who made her Irish senior international debut at the World Athletics Relays earlier this month, clocked a time of 54.59 to Granjo’s 54.69.
The Senior Boys 400m was a close contest, as Danny McKinley (Royal & Prior Raphoe) won in 49.61.
In the sprint hurdles Orlaith Mannion (Seamount College Kinvara) won her second successive Senior Girls 100m Hurdles title. The Galway athlete had Abigail Farrell (King’s Hospital) for company up until the final two barriers, when her superior strength came to the fore. Mannion’s winning time was 13.81 (+1.1m/s). In the Senior Boys race Cameron McCracken (Royal Belfast Academy Institute) was a comfortable winner in 14.58.
The Intermediate Girls 800m was billed as one of the races of the day and it most certainly delivered. Isabelle Gaffney (St. Augustine’s College Dungarvan), the pre-race favourite won gold in 2:10.33, but hot on her heels were Aisling Kelly (Coláiste Muire Ennis) and Grace Evans (St Patrick’s Maghera).
Conrad Latham (St. Paul’s Raheny) timed his kick to perfection in the Senior Boys 800m, just seeing off the challenge off longtime leader Odhran O’Sullivan (Bruce College Cork). Just over a tenth of a second separated Faye Mannion (Coláiste Muire Ennis) and Freya O’Carroll (Holy Faith Clontarf), Mannion winning in 2:13.84.
Lorcan Forde Dunne’s (St. Mary’s Drogheda) lightning kick saw him win the Senior Boys 1500m in 3:54.34. Caolan Gilbride (Magh En Col Bundoran) gave chase all the way and was rewarded with silver. In the Senior Girls race Leia Ryan (Castleknock CC) made her decisive move with 400m to go to take gold in 4:30.49.
Field Finals
The Senior Boys Long Jump was an enthralling contest between Michael Kent (Good Counsel New Ross) and Ryan Onoh (Ashton Cork). Only 10cm separated both athletes in the end, who had the crowd in the palm of their hands as they demonstrated great jumping. Kent’s second round leap of 7.57m (+1.9m/s) added 7cm to the longstanding championship record held by Ciaran McDonagh since 1995.
Within ten minutes of completing the Long Jump competition Kent was over at the Pole Vault runway to compete in the Senior Boy’s competition of that event. The Wexford man added 16cm to his championship record, clearing 4.71m.
Meabh Purtill (Mungret CC Limerick) won the Senior Girls Long Jump with 5.62m. In the Intermediate Girls competition Cara Ryan (Loreto Clonmel) leaped out to 5.81m (+1.7m/s) to win gold.
Darragh Fahy (St Brigids College Loughrea) produced one of the standout Triple Jump performances to win the Senior Boys competition once again. Fahy, who is the national senior outdoor champion in the event, jumped 13.98m (+1.0m/s) in the first round.
Tara O’Connor (St. Vincent’s Dundalk) won a second successive Senior Girls High Jump title clearing 1.70m. National senior indoor champion Meabh Corkery (St Marys Midleton) won the Senior Girls Pole Vault, clearing 3.20m.
In the Senior Boys Hammer Throw, 2024 European U18 champion Thomas Williams (Colaiste Dun an Ri Kingscourt) won with a best of 60.38m. Caoimhe Gallen (St Columbas Stranorlar) retained her title in the Senior Girls competition with a throw of 54.91m. Gallen also won gold in the Senior Girls Shot Put.
Meabh O’Connell (St. Angela’s Cork) and Liam Rohan (CBS The Green Tralee) won the Senior Girls and Boys Discus Throw gold medals.
Kevin O’Shea (Mercy Mounthawk Tralee) had an excellent day of competition winning both the Intermediate Boys Discus Throw and Javelin. Emma Edmundson (Sancta Maria College Louisburgh) won the Senior Girls Javelin with a throw of 44.19m.
There was a huge championship record in the Senior Boy’s Shot Put as Theo Hanlon (Kildare Town CS) threw a best of 18.24m, adding over 30cm to Victor Costello’s 1990 best.
Athletics Ireland would like to congratulate all those who made it to the 123.ie All- Ireland Schools Track and Field Championships and wish those sitting exams all the best of luck over the coming weeks.
