Meier a picture of happiness as photo finish favours her
TARA Meier’s Ireland debut last Saturday was one to remember for life as the Boyne AC hurdler secured a fantastic bronze medal for her country at the Schools International Athletics Championships in Morton Stadium, Santry.
Tara, along with clubmate Ruarcan O’Gibne, put in months of hard work and determination to help secure the opportunity to wear the green singlet on home soil, and for these two outstanding athletes their place on the Irish team was well and truly deserved.
Their schools championships journey began back in April, as they contested the North Leinster competition, where a second-place finish for Meier in the 80m hurdles marked her return to competitive action following a serious ankle injury last year. O’Gibne, chasing a second international appearance, easily won the 800m race.
The Leinster Championships followed in May, where Meier upped her game to take victory in the hurdles, securing her place in the Tailteann Games, the qualifying event for the international competition. O’Gibne ran a super race to take silver, and also qualified for the Tailteann Games.
Fast forward to the games in June, where a nerve-wracking photo finish decision awarded Meier a second-place finish and qualification for the international meeting, with the top three all crossing the line in identical times.
Likewise, a second-place finish for O’Gibne in a super new PB time of 1:57.05 also saw him qualify for the second time, having represented Ireland in 2016 in the steeplechase where he won the bronze medal.
With just a few weeks to recover, and slap bang in the middle of the Athletics Ireland National Championships calendar, it was off to Morton Stadium on Saturday last for the Schools International, which this year was hosted by Ireland.
With the top athletes at intermediate age level from England, Scotland, Wales and Ireland all battling it out over a variety of disciplines, the day made for some seriously competitive action and was a joy for the large crowd of spectators.
O’Gibne was first to take to the track, where in a tough field of middle distance athletes he held his own and ran a super 1:59.05 to finish in sixth place overall, with his family members and coach Liam Cooney proudly looking on.
Meier then made her International debut in the Ireland vest and looked cool and calm as she set up her blocks and got ready to race.
From start to finish she glided over each hurdle with ease, making it seem effortless as she crossed the line in 11.77sec.
With first and second place clearly taken by the two athletes from England, there then ensued another agonising wait as third place was deliberated by the judges.
There was some serious nail-biting and various opinions from all the Boyne AC coaches, while Meier’s supporters could not call it but were hopeful that she would be awarded third.
Thankfully, that proved to be the case and standing proudly on the podium to accept her bronze medal there were tears in the eyes of her proud parents and coach Colin McHugh.
With two more years at this age level, this is surely just the first of many international medals to come for this supremely talented young lady.