Emma Moore of Galway City Harriers produced a superb record-breaking run to win the national U15 800m at the National Juvenile Track and Field finals in Tullamore on Sunday.
Moore ran a record breaking 2.11 in the most competitive race of the day to break the previous record, as did second placed Sarah Hosey in second and third-placed Fiona Dillon.
It is Moore's second national record this year, after winning the National Indoor and Schools' titles already this year. Now Moore will represent Ireland at the upcoming Schools International Track and Field event which takes place in Scotland next weekend.
The second gold medal was won by Thomas McStay, who had a terrific run to win the U19 3000m race. McStay ran a brilliant time of 8.43, and executed his race to perfection, surging away on the last lap to take gold. He also finished fourth in the 800m final the day before.
Athenry's Sarah Gilhooley of Athenry ran a super race over the barriers to take gold in the U18 2000m steeplechase, while Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC showed top class speed, winning in the U12 60m event in 8.26 to take Galway’s fourth gold medal of the weekend
GCH secured a number of individual medals, with Aoife Sheehy winning two medals - silver in the U19 100m hurdles a time of 16.26 seconds, and bronze in the U19 400m. Ava McKeon also won silver medal over hurdles for GCH in the U14 75m hurdles in a time of 11.77 seconds, and Conor Hoade claimed bronze with third place in the U15 80m hurdles.
Robert McDonnell won silver U17 400m for GCH, clocking 51.19 in the final, and he will also represent Ireland in the Schools International next weekend in Scotland. Aaron Brennan, also GCH, won bronze in the U18 3000m, in a great time of 8.55, while Athenry's Liam Shaw claimed silver in the U14 shot putt, throwing 14m 15 cm.
Craughwell AC athletes also produced some super performances. On the track, Sean Cotter raced to silver in the U16 3000m in 9.19, and Arlene Earls won silver in the U19 400m. In the field events, Evan Hallinan claimed silver in the u14 high jump with a big leap of 1.56, while Ellie Cronin came second in the U16 high jmp with a 1.55m clearance. Daniel Callanan-Forde won bronze in the U19 ong jump with a massive 6.13 metre best, Lorraine Delaney also secured bronze in the U19 long jump, and Conor Trehy took U16 triple jump bronze.
Stephen Mannion of South Galway AC was another dual medal winner, claiming silver in the U14 long jump and bronze in the 800m, while brother David Mannion won a silver in the U14 75m hurdles. Walker Sean Kelleher, also with South Galway, won bronze in the U14 000m walk. Liam Shaw of Athenry claimed silver in the U14 shot putt, throwing 14m 15 cm.
The Juvenile championships continue next weekend, with the final day's action on Sunday
World U 20 Championships
Jack Dempsey of Galway City Harriers was in action for Ireland in Finland at the weekend, racing on the Irish 4x100m Relay team at the U20 World Championships, Dempsey competed in the heats, along with team mates Aaron Sexton, David McDonald and Conor Morey, where they finished third - just missing out on automatic qualification for the final .
Craughwell AC into Europe
Craughwell AC's junior women's team has been selected to represent Ireland in the 2019 European U20 Track & Field Championships. The club was selected based on the superb first place club ranking for its U17 to U20 athletes at the recent National Junior Championships in Tullamore - a major achievement for the County Galway club.
National role for Lockett
GCH coach Matthew Lockett has been appointed as Athletics Ireland’s National Endurance coordinator, with responsibility for driving the further development of the middle and long-distance event groups in Ireland. From England, Lockett relocated to Galway in 2008 and joined Galway City Harriers where he immediately made an impact in a coaching capacity. A teacher in Coláiste Éinde, he has coached athletes to numerous regional medals and the cross country team to its first All-Ireland medals.
