Craughwell AC athletes excelled with some exceptional performance on day one of the National Juvenile Outdoor Track and Field championships in Tullamore on Saturday.
A highlight was provided by Darragh Kelly in the U13 high jump, when he took gold and the national title with a record-equalling 1.56 metre jump.
Lauren Morgan and Mia Hollingsworth combined well to win silver in the paired U11 long jump, while Ella Farrelly secured bronze in the U13 long jump with a super 4.58m effort to take third spot. The club also secured a bronze team medal via the U12 girls’ squad in the final of the 4x100m relay.
Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC continued his great season winning national gold with a huge jump of 5.09 metres to win the U13 long jump, and he also claimed bronze in the U13 80m sprint, while Loughrea AC Boys won bronze in the U13 relay event.
Tuam AC had a great day’s success, with their U10 pair of Eanna McGrath and Cian McGinn winning gold in the 500m paired event with a combined time of 3.02.86. Ciaran O'Donnell also from Tuam AC won a superb silver medal in the U12 high jump with a 1.30m clearance. Tuam AC Boys relay team won silver at U10 level.
GCH secured a medal win via Ben Moran who jumped a huge 4.24m in the U12 long jump to win a bronze medal.
National Track and Field League
Galway County women's and men’s teams, and GCH men’s teams all competed in round two of the National Track and Field League in Athlone IT on Sunday. All three Galway teams secured enough points to advance to the league final, which will be held July 20 in Tullamore.
Galway women's team, under the management of Sarah Finnegan, scored a massive 102 points to take them into the final in top spot, with wins coming via Regina Casey in the 3000m, Aisling Joyce in the steeplechase, Sinead Treacy over 400m, and the 4x100m relay squad, along with second places for the 4x400m relay team, Veronica Burke in the 1500m walk and Laura Nally over 200m.
Galway men’s team placed fourth in division one to make the final along with GCH men’s team who made it through in the eighth and final spot.
World University Games
Galway athlete Alanna Lally of UCD travels to compete on the Irish squad at the World University Games which take place from July 3 to 14 in Italy. Lally will compete in the 800m with her first race on July 10.
International selection
Some of Galway’s top young athletes secured international call-ups over the last week for this summer’s major championships.
Robert McDonnell of Galway City Harriers has been selected on the Irish team for the 400m and 4x400m relay for the European Youth Olympics to be held in Baku in July 20 to 28.
Cillin Greene of GCH has been selected to run on the Irish 4x400m team for the upcoming European U23 Championships in Gavle, Sweden, which will be held July 11 to 14. Joining him will be Sarah Quinn of NUIG AC and St Colman’s Mayo, who will compete on the Irish 4x100m relay and in the 100m hurdles
Kyle Moorhead of Presentation College Athenry has been selected to run on the Irish team in the 1500m steeplechase at the upcoming Schools' International Track and Field meeting on Saturday July 20 in Swansea, Wales.
Grant Thornton Corporate 5K
Jamie Fallon of Craughwell AC, running for Winters Property Management, was a clear winner of the Grant Thornton Corporate 5K Team Challenge Galway, held at a sweltering Ballybrit Racecourse on Thursday. Fallon clocked 17.30 to take a clear win ahead of Dave Evans and Thomas Scarry in second and third. Michelle Egan of GCH, representing DHKN, was the first woman over the line in a time of 21.31.
Summer camps
Tuam AC, Craughwell AC and Galway City Harriers all host athletics summer camps this month, with Loughrea and Craughwell also holding camps in August. Tuam hosts its event July 22 to 26 in St Jarlath’s College Tuam. Craughwell AC’s camp will be held July 15 to 19 at the club grounds beside the national school, and Galway City Harriers will hold its inaugural summer camp July 15 to 19 in the Regional Sports Centre in Dangan. Loughrea holds a Summer camp at St Brigid’s College from August 5.
