Forty of our juvenile club members (u12-u14) had some fantastic results at the Connaught Indoor Championships today. A great experience for all kids competing at the super indoor arena at TUS, Athlone.
All athletes gave it their very best today – with some competing for the first time at Connaught level, many getting pbs and many gold, silver and bronze medals. There are too many great performances to single anyone out …. but we have to give a special mention to the u12 relay quartet, who not only won gold today but did so in style, achieving a championship record.
So take a bow – Sally Rene McEnroe, Aoife Cullinan, Leah McManus and Grace Foley. Thanks to all parents who travelled and helped out today, to Anne McHugh, Ronan O Hart and all the officials and the Connaught Athletics Board.
,Navan Co. Meath – Sunday 3rd December. Over 1,000 athletes from all round the country descended on Navan Racecourse, on a beautiful frosty morning for the last cross country race of the season.
Huge congratulations to Grace Foley who ran a fantastic race right from the starting-gun and finished 4th in the u11 girls race – winning another national medal to add to her collection. Team mate Arwen Hunter was close behind in a fantastic 14th place (out of a field of 193 girls). These two great performances helped win valuable points for the u11 girls’ Connaught Team – who won bronze in the inter-provincial competition, ahead of Ulster and Dublin. Grace and Arwen also helped their Club Team mates – Sienne O’Sullivan, Saibh Prunty and Alex McDonald finish a fantastic 7th place overall out of 20 teams – so congratulation to all the u11 girls.
Next up was the u11 boys. Due to illness their anchor man – Moss Deasy was unable to run. In a fast, paced tightly packed race the team was lead home by a strong run from Oliver Foley followed closely by Timmy and Leo Brennan, Keelan Derrig and Rian Gallagher – all helping the Club Team finish 11th place overall out of 20 teams. Congratulation to all the u13 boys.
Niamh McNamara ran in the u13 girls’ race and had a great run and finished strongly to place in the top half of the finishers of a field of over 180 athletes.
In the u13 boys’ race, Darragh Steels, fresh after his 4th place finish in the Even Ages National Cross Country Championship in Gowran – was ready for action again – running up an age. He showed his true grit and determination finishing in 15th place. Darragh was a scoring member of the Connacht Team who won gold in the inter-provincial competition. Great runs also from Lucas Ballantine, Fionn Prunty, Eamon Healy and Fionn McNasser all helped the Club Team finish 11th place overall out of 20 teams – congratulation to all the u13 boys.
In the u15 girls Lucie Cawley continued her great performances this season, both on track and in cross country, finishing 40th in a field of 165 athletes.
A huge thank you to all officials, coaches and parents over the past year for volunteering their time on the sidelines, travelling to venues and encouragement for all these juvenile athletes.
Congratulations to our juvenile athletes who competed in the County Sligo Indoor Championships in Claremorris on Saturday 4th, February. Lots of fun was had by all, especially in the relay team events, and lots of great performances across all age groups. A big thank you to Anne McHugh and Sligo County Board, who organised the event, to all who volunteered on the day and to Jim Ryan at Claremorris Track.
