Some of Galway’s top young athletes compete internationally this week as the summer track and field seasons kicks off in earnest at European level.
Cillin Greene of GCH will run on the Irish 4x400m relay team at the European U23 Championships in Gavle, Sweden, which will be held this week, and joining him will be Sarah Quinn of NUIG AC who will compete on the Irish 4x100m relay and in the 100m hurdles.
Kyle Moorhead of Presentation College Athenry competes on the Irish team in the 1500m steeplechase at the Schools' International Track and Field meeting on Saturday July 20 in Swansea, Wales, and in more international selection news, Laura Nally of GCH has been named as a reserve on the Irish 4x400m relay team for the U20 European Championships in Boras, Sweden, which will be held later this month.
National Juvenile Track and Field
Galway athletes impressed over hurdles, with seven medals across the sprint hurdle disciplines on day two of the National Juvenile Outdoor Track and Field championships in Tullamore on Sunday.
Ella Farrelly of Craughwell AC ensured the best possible start to the day with a superb victory in the U13 60m hurdles in a flying time of 9.98 seconds. Caoimhe Farrell of Loughrea AC followed up with a bronze medal in the U15 75m hurdles, and Chloe Casey of GCH secured silver in the U18 100m hurdles in a dramatic photo finish.
Darragh Fahy of Loughrea continued his incredible season with victory in the U13 60m hurdles in a fast 9.52, while Richard McGrath of GCH won bronze in the same race.
David Mannion of South Galway AC won gold in the U15 80m hurdles, and Conor Hoade of GCH also struck gold, winning the U16 100m event.
In the field events, Conor Trehy of GCH took home bronze in the U17 triple jump with a great jump of 11.97m, while clubmate Aoife Waldron also won the bronze medal in the U16 event.
National Junior and U23 Champs
Galway athletes also secured a major haul of medals at the Irish Life Health Junior and U23 Outdoors in Tullamore on Saturday.
Galway City Harriers athletes won medals aplenty, with the highlight being the national title won by the U20 junior women's 400m relay squad. The 4x400m relay team comprised Rachel Hughes, Aoife Sheehy, Laura Nally and Seren O'Toole.
GCH secured team silver in the men’s U23 4x100m via Dylan Corer, Diego Brule, Jonah Erugo and Cillin Greene, while Diego Brule, Aaron Brennan, Jack Maher and Dylan Corr made up the silver medal winning junIor 4x400m relay team.
Jack Maher won individual silver in the 1500m in 4.06 with a brave front-running performance, while Cillin Greene also won silver in the 200m in a close finish with Paul Costello in 21.8 seconds.
GCH women also won individual medals - Aoife Sheehy won silver in the 100m hurdles, Seren O'Toole silver in the 400m hurdles in a new best of 66 seconds, and Nicole Walsh also won a superb silver in the U23 400m final in a season's best time of 55.4.
Just outside the medals were Laura Nally in a fast 57.2 to finish fourth in the junior 400m final, and Aaron Brennan had a strong run in the 3000m to finish sixth.
There were more medal wins via Brendan Lynch of Loughrea AC, who won silver in the U23 men’s 400m hurdles, clocking 55.6 seconds, and Sinead Treacy of Craughwell AC, who secured a bronze medal in the U23 400m.
World University Games
Galway athlete Alanna Lally of UCD and formerly of GCH competes for Ireland at the World University Games this week in Naples in Italy. Lally will compete in the 800m with her first race due to take place last evening.
Summer Camps
Three athletics summer camps kick off next week in Galway. Craughwell AC’s camp will be held from July 15 to 19 at the club grounds beside Craughwell National School, Galway City Harriers holds its inaugural summer camp from July 15 to 19 in the Regional Sports Centre in Dangan, and Loughrea's summer camp takes place at St Brigid’s College from August 5.
Fixtures
This weekend sees more national championships taking place, featuring two days of the Juvenile Track and Field Championship action in Tullamore on Saturday and Sunday.
