None The Athletics Ireland, National Programme of Indoor Meets, kicks off this weekend, with the Nenagh Indoor Arena playing host to both the Woodie’s DIY Junior Indoor Championships on Saturday and the AAI Games on Sunday. With weather conditions have improved over recent days there is no threat of these events being cancelled.
For many athletes this will be the opener to their Indoor season, as they built towards the Woodie’s DIY Senior Indoor Championships which take place in the Odyssey Arena, Belfast on the 6th and 7th of February.
In the Woodie’s DIY Junior Indoor Championships, many of Ireland’s most promising young athletes will be competing. In the Junior Men’s 60m, there is a packed field, with top contenders such as Youth 200m Record Holder, Lorcan O’Cathain (Roscommon AC), Jege Nathan (Dooneen AC) and Mark Kavanagh (Dundrum South Dublin AC) lining up. All three will also compete in the 200m. Edmond O’Halloran (Youth 110mH Record Holder) of Leevale AC will be looking to regain his 60m Hurdles title and he will also line up in the 60m sprint. In the 400m Joseph Dowling (Dundrum South Dublin AC) and Patrick Maher (Leevale AC) will be battling it out for top places.
The Junior Men’s middle distance events are wide open. While in the field events there should be a good battle between Ferrybank club mates Thomas Barr and Andrew Heffernan in the High Jump. In the Long Jump, Timmy Harrington of Bandon AC will be looking to retain his title as will Franicis Egan (St Abbans AC) in the Triple Jump. Eanna O’Catahain may also be looking to go one better this year to take the Junior Men’s title in the Shot Putt.
Joan Healy of Bandon AC, who finished fourth in the 100m European Youth Olympics 100m in July of last year, will compete in both the 60m and 200m, as will Eilish Fitzpatrick of Gneeveguilla AC. Stephanie Creamer of Celtic DCH AC will look to push both athletes over 200m. In the Junior Women’s 60m Hurdles, Catherine McManus of Celtic DCH AC will be the hot favourite with Megan Kiely (Ferrybacnk AC) and Shauna Furman (Clonliffe Harriers AC) also in contention.
The Junior Women’s 400m and middle events are wide open. Kate Veale of West Waterford AC (AVIVA 3km Walk Schools’ International Record Holder) and Emma Prendiville of Farranfore Maine Valley AC will go head to head in the 3km Walk.
Catriona Farrell of Craughwell AC who finished fourth in the European Youth Olympics in Tampere last year, will be favourite in the High Jump. While in the Long Jump Nicola Power of Ferrybank AC will be favourite. Irish Junior Record Holder, Caoimhe King of Westport AC will lead the way in the Triple Jump.
While in the AAI Games there should be some interesting performances as Ireland’s senior athletes take to the track.