123.ie All Ireland Schools Championships
They gathered in Tullamore last weekend the best and brightest young athletic stars for the 123.ie All Ireland Schools Championships. This event has long been considered the best run and most prestigious athletic event in the country and with only the top three in each province qualifying for the finals you certainly had the cream of the crop competing. The event is now a two day affair starting at 5pm on Friday evening and finishing at 6pm on Saturday. West Waterford AC were thrilled to have six members qualify for the finals and representing their schools St Augustine’s and Meanscoil san Nioclas they all competed with distinction.
Bronze for Sophie and Isabelle on the Track
The race walkers were in action first on the track and Sophie Beresford continued the long line of success for West Waterford athletes with a bronze in the junior girls walk. Sophie headed into the event as the Munster champion but met with strong opposition from the Connaught athletes but kept her form all the way to the line to claim the bronze in an event she is young enough to compete in again next year. Sophie’s time of 5.43.72 was a new personal best time for the distance.
Isabelle Gaffney came into the junior girls 800m as the third place finisher in Munster but she had a much better race on Saturday. With 200m to go Isabelle was lying in 5th place but she used all her strength and speed over the closing 200m to move up to third in a time of 2.16.89 which was 4 secs faster than her Munster time.
4th Place Finish for Doireann, Saoirse and Michalina
For Doireann Hickey it was her final appearance at the Irish schools championships as she heads into her leaving cert exams next week. Competing in the Senior girls event Doireann put in a huge effort as she finished 4th in just over 17mins. For Michalina Goclik it was her first time competing in the Irish Schools championships and she gave it her all producing a personal best throw of 8m 95 to finish 4th in the junior girls shot. Saoirse Quinn improved her throw from the Munster when competing in the senior girl’s discus. Saoirse finished with a throw of 29m52 which is very close to her personal best and placed 4th in the event.
Ruby Cummins made her first trip to Tullamore to compete as part of a St Augustine’s minor relay team. In a very strong field and closely fought finish the team finished 7th.
Munster Under 9-13 in Castleisland
Six young athletes from West Waterford will compete at the Munster Championships in Castleisland next weeked. All are in action on Sunday.
Andy Zakis under 10 Long Jump and Turbo Javelin
David Kiely under 10 Long Jump and 500m
Jamie Kiely under 11 Turbo Javelin and 600m
Ellie Mae Doherty under 12 60m Long Jump and Turbo Javelin
Jarlath Hurney under 12 80m and Shot
Mario Zakis under 13 Shot and Javelin
Munster Under 14-19 Waterford
Im currently doing the entries for the under 14to 19 Munsters which will be held in Waterford on June 15th and 16th. If you haven’t let me know please text me your events asap.
Best of luck to all our young athletes taking their state exams this week.
