Congratulations Kate
News has just filtered through of another stunning performance by Kate Veale. Competing in the British AAA Championships last weekend Kate once again walked herself into the record books this time over 5000m. Her time of 23m 27secs was a new championship best performance a new UK youths record and was just outside the Irish Junior (under 20) record of 23.11.92. Kate’s performance ranks her 7th on the All Time Best Performances by Irish Women with those ahead of her being much older than Kate when they set their times. We look forward to hearing a lot about this young athlete in the future.
Great Run by Mulligan in Tullamore
The fifth and final day of the National Club Championships took place in Tullamore on the last Sunday in July. A small group of athletes from West Waterford travelled to take part. Star of the day was Robbie Mulligan who ran a fantastic race to win silver in the under 16 800m in a time of 2m 17.2. At the end of the first lap Robbie was well behind the leaders in 5th place but when the bell rang he upped his tempo and soon was on the heels of the third placed athlete. With less than 200m to go Robbie made his bid for home moving up to third and then sprinting all the way to the line to overhaul Samuel Allen of St Coco’s and take second place by three tenths of a second and win his first individual all Ireland medal.
Silver for Tholm Reddy
Medals were hard to come by in these championships and our only other medal winner on the day was Tholm Reddy who finished second in the under 13 high jump. Rayann Barry was very close in both the long jump and high finishing fourth in both and Kathy Lai tied with Rayann for fourth in the high jump both going clear on their first jumps to 1m 20 and failing narrowly at 1.25. The high jump event was so close that only one jump separated third and fourth. Sean Curran came close in the long jump where he also finished a very close fourth. In the 600m Sean ran 1.50.8 to finish 8th while Tholm was 11th in 1.54.9. Lucy O’ Brien moved up to compete in a very fast under 16 800m and finished just outside the medals.
Great Night at Araglin Sports
Once again we had a very successful end of season night out at Araglin Sports with many individual wins and great success in the relays. There were wins recorded by Aine Flynn under 10 80m, Lorna Cummins under 12 Shot, Sinead Flynn under 12 100m and 600m, Chloe Fennell under 11 High Jump, Sean Curran under 13 600m and Lucy O’Brien under 16 600m. Our mixed relay team of Rachel Keane, Kate Curran, Lucy O’Brien and William Keane were first across the line in the under 18 relay while the under 12 team of Sinead Flynn, Lorna Cummins, Kate Mc Grath and Laura Cusack filled the first four places in the under 12 sprint and were clear winners of the relay showing the same form as they did when finishing second in the all Ireland final. There were second place finishes for Lorna Cummins under 12 100m, Sinead Flynn under 12 shot, Cliona Ryan 600m, Diarmuid Harty under 11 high jump, Cian Franklin under 10 ball throw, Kate Curran under 16 600m, Eoin O’Brien under 12 100m and Kate Mc Grath under 13 Puc Fada. The under 14 relay team of Sean Curran Tholm Reddy, Aisling Prendergast and Cliona Ryan finished second in their mixed relay. There were third place finishes for Kate Mc Grath under 12 100m, Cliona Ryan under13 100m, Sean Curran under 13 100m and Tholm Reddy under 13 600m and Rachel Keane under 16 100m. Our mixed relay team of Aine Flynn, Fionnuala Keane, Aiden O’Brien and Cian Franklin were third in the under 10 mixed relay. We also had several more athletes competing who finished outside the medals but all enjoyed their night out in Araglin and we hope to see them all back in action again for the cross country season.
We will take a well-earned break for the rest of August but will be back in action the first Wednesday in September for the cross country.
