from A.A.I Day 2 of the Woodie’s DIY Juvenile Indoor Championships at the Nenagh Olympic stadium was every bit as hectic as the first day. Several records took a tumble and most of the athletes participating went home delighted with their performances. Jemma Bromell (Emerald AC) set the first record of the day when she won the girls under 13 600m in 1:41.28, a big improvement on Cliona Ryan’s 2003 time of 1:43.16.
Tom Whelan (St. Senan’s AC) threw 13.60m in the second round of the under 15 boys shot and followed up with 13.58m in the third round to equal Jim Healy’s 1998 record.
Sarah Lavin was back in action in the girls under 16 60m hurdles and was once again in winning form. Her time of 8.97 was just a fraction outside Kalyn Sheehan’s 2004 record of 8.96.
Another athlete to come close to the record was Edmond O’Halloran (Leevale AC) who won the boys under 18 60m hurdles in 8.22, just outside Fearghus Hannon’s 8.19 record from last year.
Christine Campion (Celbridge AC) was the winner of the under 14 girls 60m hurdles in 9.55, just outside another of Kayln Sheehan’s records, 9.42 set in 2002.
The girls under 18 60m hurdles saw Catherine McManus (Celtic DCH AC) win impressively in 8.79, very close to Derval O’Rourke’s 1998 hand time of 8.6.
Ciara Giles Doran (Ferrybank AC) was just 1cm off the 1998 record of Ciara Kearns when she won the under 15 long jump with a best of 5.49m achieved with her last attempt.
The three 1,500m races resulted in three very impressive winners who led from a long way out. Amy O’Donoghue (Emerald AC) set the scene in the girls under 16 race when she led all the way to win in a time of 4:57.74.
The boys under 16 followed and Ruairi Finn (Letterkenny AC) was quickly away from his rivals, going on for another impressive win in 4:16.88.
The final 1,500m, for boys under 17, saw Dean Cronin (Blarney Inniscarra AC) take of like a sprinter out of blocks to take an immediate, and gradually move away. Sean Tobin (Clonmel AC) closed in the last quarter but the race was won at that stage, with Cronin winning in 4:09.42.