From the very start of the Woodie’s DIY Irish schools track and field championships the performances of athletes were stunning.
With Tullamore Harriers stadium basking in the sunshine, several new records were set.
Amongst the early records was that of Kate Veale from St. Augustine’s Dungarvan who re-wrote the intermediate walk record for the second year in a row. Her winning time for the 2,000m distance of 8:26.20 was almost 20 seconds faster than the record she set last year of 8:45.07.
Joanna Mills from Ballyclare HS didn’t quite set a new record, but her 5.99m winning jump in the senior long jump was not too far behind Kelly Proper’s 2006 mark of 6.08m.
Killian Barry from Belvedere won the senior hammer with a throw of 64.62m, not too far off Gary Halpin’s 1984 record of 66.96m. He also had a throw of 64.30m.
Amy O’Donoghue from Villiers Limerick put in an excellent display of front running to win the inter girls 800m in a time of 2:10.80, a new PB for her and inside Emer Molloy’s 1988 record of 2:11.55. She made it a double later in the day when she outsprinted Emma Mitchell from Banbridge HS to win in :36.34.
Adam Ingram from Hazelwood College won the inter 1,500m when he outsprinted Ruairi Finnegan from St. Eunan’s to win in 3:57.44 to equal the record.
Mark English’s return from Moscow saw him front run the senior boys 800m and the St. Eunan’s student was an impressive winner in 1:53.31.
Patrick Maher from Davis College Mallow easily won the senior 400m hurdles in the fast time of 52.80, just outside Phillip Beattie’s 1982 record of 52.1.
Later in the afternoon Maher set a new PB of 48.99 in the 400m, but had to settle for third on this occasion with victory going to Tim Crowe from Limerick TC in a new PB time of 48.58, with Joseph Dowling from Terenure College second in 48.92.
Both senior sprints went to Seye Ogunlewe from Kings Hospital with times of 11.02 and 21.91, and he hopes to have his Irish nationality papers through before too long.
Another record to fall was in the inter girls long jump where Sarah McCarthy from Maryfield jumped 5.86m to better Joanna Mills 5.80m from last year.
Joanna Mills from Shimina Integrated was back on the winner’s rostrum after victory in the senior 400m in a time of 55.69.
Edmond O’Halloran from Rochestown College won the 110m hurdles in a time of 14.54.
Katie Kirk from Sullivan Upper set a new record in the inter 300m, winning in a time of 38.55, inside Joanna Mills 39.19 from 2008.
Still on records, Ciara Giles Doran from Mercy Waterford disposed of Amy Foster’s 24.69 record from 2005 with an impressive 24.56.
4.51m was the height cleared by Thomas Houlihan from St. Augustine’s in the senior pole vault to better his 4.50m record from last year.
Siofra Cleirigh Buttner from Colaiste Iosagain recorded a gun to tape win in the junior 1,500m and her winning time of 4:28.1 bettered the 4:42.7 by Brigid Kilgannon in 1985.
That performance paled somewhat in significance when Ciara Mageean put in a similar performance to win the senor 1,500m in a superb 4:19.00, a long way inside the 4:30.27 by Sinead Delahunty in 1989.
Ian O’hAirnead from Colaiste Daibhead set a new record for the U16 mile, winning in a time of 4:32.45
Ryan Creech from Glanmire CS wound up the track events with a comprehensive win in the senior 5,000m in 15:18.56.
No doubt there were many more PBs and records at these championships and the above is just a sample of an incredibly exciting day of underage athletics.
David McCarthy from Le Cheile made his run for home just after halfway in the Irish Milers Club 800 and opened up a big lead. However, he was chased all the way to the line by Alan O’Brien from Crusaders and David McCarthy from West Waterford, and he had to pull out all the stops to win in 1:48.18, inside the standard for Barcelona, with O’Brien just outside the mark in 1:48.47, and McCarthy third in 1:49.29, his first half in an age. Incidentally, this was the first time ever the two McCarthys raced each other.
In a mixed 800m Kelly McNeice clocked 2:03.96.
The IMC 1,500m saw another fine performance by Rory Chesser from Ennis Track who took the lead a long way out and then held off the challenge of Gareth Turnbull from St. Malachy’s to win in 3:45.08. Noel Collins had a new PB of 3:46.47 for third, while Paul Robinson was fifth in 3:46.83 and Darren McBrearty was 6th in 3:47.15, both inside the standard for the World juniors.
Athletics Ireland CEO John Foley made his first appearance at an All Ireland schools championships since he competed in 1969 and was highly impressed by everything he saw.
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