Nenagh April 5th, 6th An encouraging amount of entries have been received for all events at this weekend’s Woodie’s DIY Juvenile Indoor Track & Field Championships which take place on Saturday and Sunday at Nenagh. This will be an action packed two day programme featuring some of the brightest and best of the emerging young crop of Irish athletes from under 12 to under 19.
One athlete certain to command a lot of attention is Ferrybank A.C sprint star Niamh Whelan who last week received overall Best Athlete Award at the annual Waterford Crystal/Athletics Ireland Juvenile Awards Dinner in Arklow. The highly talented Waterford athlete won a bronze medal in last year’s European Youth Olympics in 2007 and she will be favourite to take the under 19 girls’ 60 metre national title in Nenagh.
A number of top performers from last year’s championships will now be moving up an age group and it will be interesting to watch the performances of such talents as Bronwyn Keogh of Fingallians, winner of the under 12 girls long jump last year, Ciara Giles Doran, Ferrybank, who won gold in the under 13 long jump and James McCarthy, Fanahan McSweeney A.C, who threw 10.69 metres in the shot-putt. All of these athletes set Championship Best Performances in their events in 2007.
Some other returning athletes, who last year set Championship Best Performances, are Paul McGill, Craughwell A.C, under 14 Shot Putt, 12.15m and Claire Fitzgerald, Tralee Harriers, under 17 Shot Putt, 13.91m.
The Woodie’s DIY AAI Juvenile Indoor Track & Field Championships is an ideal proving ground for young talent. Athletes form all over the country will converge on the Nenagh Indoor Arena for what should be an exciting and highly entertaining weekend of top athletics.
