St Peter’s crew play their part
THE annual Juvenile Championships kicked off in Navan on Saturday. The venue was excellent both for accessibility and parking and the course was excellent.
The St Peters club were well represented from the non Championship under 10 races to the boys under 14. The top performers were Harry O’Reilly, Dearbhla Allen and Cian Gorham.
The event started with a non championship under 10 races hosted by Meath Athletics, the club had four representatives and all four would have gained valuable experience in competing against such big fields of athletes. Catherine Carey, Hannah and Emily Oreilly and Mia Finnegan all acquitted themselves well.
The first of the championship races was the girls under 12, St Peters had three athletes compete over the 2000M course. Dearbhla Allen had an outstanding run, Dearbhla who is still under eleven battled her way through the large field to finish in sixteenth place, Dearbhla was the fourth scorer on the Louth team which finished third earning Dearbhla her first provincial medal.
Both Ellie Smyth and Isabeal Fitzpatrick also battled well in the same race.
The boys under twelve race was another strongly contested race and the St Peters club had good representation with a four man team that battled well.
Harry O’Reilly had a great run and was agonisingly close to an individual top twelve medal when he finished 13th. This was a really strong run by Harry who is still under eleven was the third scorer on the Louth team that finished second which won Harry a very deserving provincial silver medal. Harry was well supported by his St Peters team mates of Cormac McKeown, Padraic Tinnelly and the ever improving Ben McKeown.
The girls under 14 race had one representative from St Peters, Dearbhla Tinnelly who is better known as a boxer didn’t look out of place and showed great stamina over the 3000M course.
The boys under 14 race also ran over a 3000M course Cian Gorham led the St Peters challenge and also managed to make the Louth team that finished third to win his first Leinster medal, Seán Allen was the seventh Louth Athlete, both of the boys are still under 13.
Calum Grant running is first Leinster Championship had another strong run and for someone who is new to athletics will have gained valuable experience.
This week our athletes return to training with the Louth Cross Country Relays taking place next Sunday followed by the Leinster uneven age championships the following weekend.
The club was represented on Sunday at the Dublin City Marathon when Andrew Rogers at the age of 60 completed his first marathon. Andrew has enjoyed a great season on the local circuit and came in a very respectable 4 hours 25 mins.