Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) put in the performance of her career to date when competing in the finals of the 5.000 meters walk at the Singapore youth Olympic games tonight at the Bishan Stadium in Singapore. Saturday, August 21st, 2010
Recently announced winner of the Crown Plaza athlete of the month for June the 16 year old clipped a whopping 15.3 seconds off her national junior record but was just outside the medals in 4th place in a very exciting finish.
With 400 to go Kate was battling for bronze with the leader at that stage Ukraine’s Galchenko who looked likely to take gold and Russian Leontyeva silver. However, the fast finishing Italian Clemente and Mao of China both raced past the leaders with the Italian clinching first from the Chinese girl with Leontyeva just holding on for bronze by a second from Veale who was unlucky not to claim third position.
Team manager Bernie Alcorn expressed her absolute delight with Kate’s performance in such humid conditions and said that Kate gave it 110% out there tonight.
Veale has been one of the revelations of the year and has improved with every race, smashing records at all levels. Her fourth place finish at the European youth Olympics trials in Moscow in May, together with today’s superb effort marks her as an athlete for the big occasion. Athletics Ireland President Liam Hennessy said he was thrilled with Kate’s performance and offered the congratulations of all in athletics to the Dungarvan athlete. It was, he said, a huge boost to race walking in Ireland.
Mark English (Letterkenny AC ) will participate in the final of the boys 1.000 meters tomorrow Sunday at 10.20 local time 3.20am Irish time. The race can be viewed at youtholympicgames.org
1 405 CLEMENTE Anna ITA 6JAN 1994 4 22:27.38 PB
2 227 MAO Yanxue CHN 15 FEB 1994 9 22:29.42 PS
3 602 LEONTYEVA Nadezda RUS 12 MAR 1994 2 22:35.05
4 401 VEALE Kate lRl. 5 JAN 1994 12 22:36.97
5 400 CABALLERO Yanelli MEX 29 MAY 1993 7 22:42.15 PB
6 704 GALCHENKO Alima UKR 18 SEP 1994 22:47.89
7 552 GARCIA Kimberly PER 19 0CT 1993 6 23:17.04 PS
8 648 STRMENOVA Katarina SVK 25 JAN 1993 11 23:24.65
9 278 BUSTOS Ana ECU 7DEC 1994 10 23:43.81 PS
10 375 THEODOROPOULOU Aikaterini GRE 1 DEC 1993 14 23:44.38
11 48G KACANOVA Diana LTU 7 JAN 1993 13 24:36.76
12 168 DUKHOUNIK Volha BLR 23 SEP 1994 8 25:09.48
13 396 KAUR Khushbir IND 9 JUL 1993 5 25:30.27
14 663 VONGSUWAKUNTA Jantrapom THA 19 JUL 1993 3 29:06.19
105 BENAMSILl Zouina AlG 27 DEC 1994 15 DNF
Intermediate Times 1000m 4:23.83 704 GAlCHENKO Mina (UKR)
2000111 8:50.74 704 GAlCHENKO Mm (UKR)
3000m 13:22.84 704 GAlCHENKO Mina (UKR)
4000m 17:52.97 704 GALCHENKO Mina (UKR)
