Galway athletes enjoyed a successful day at the Irish Juvenile Indoor Athletic Championships in Nenagh Stadium at the weekend, bagging a medal haul of three gold, seven silver and two bronze medals.
Linda Porter of Craughwell AC claimed the highest accolade of her running career to date, winning the u-17 1,500m in a personal best time of 4:59.94, running an outstanding 33 second last lap to seal the victory. Porter, who comes from a famous Galway running family, has battled hard with injury throughout 2009, making this a welcome return to form. Michelle Maher of GCH was a close fourth in the same event.
The second gold came from Athenry AC's Stephen Coleman in the u-14s boys long jump with a clearance of 5.12, just a precious centimetre ahead of his nearest rival. Coleman was also fourth in the 60m.
Galway's third running gold came in the u-14 sprints with talented athlete Laura-Ann Costello claiming victory in a time of 9.58 in the hurdles event. Costello also finished second in the 60m sprint to cap off an outstanding tournament.
Other silver medallists were Simon Callaghan (u-18 60mh ), Simon O'Shaughnessy (u-15 60mh ) and sister Leona (u-19 60m ), Evan Maguire (u-16 60mh ), Rachel Finnegan of Craughwell AC (u-19 60mh ) and middle distance athlete Peadar O'hAirmhi of Craughwell AC.
The bronze medal winners were Craughwell AC athletes Diarmuid Prendergast (u-15 high jump ) and Claire Ryder (u-15 long jump ).
In other athletics news, Conor Gillen of Craughwell AC travelled as eighth qualifier for the schools’ international cross-country competition in England. Gillen ran excellently to finish as the sixth scoring Irish runner, helped Ireland win the team bronze.
