Boyne make hay while the sun shines
IT’S been another exciting fortnight of athletics and glorious sunshine for Boyne AC members as they travelled near and far, collecting some much coveted medals and race wins along the way.
Tullamore was the venue for the National Pairs and U-12/U-13 field events championships where Boyne had an unprecedented 13 athletes in action, all having qualified through their provincial competitions.
First to the track was the U-10 girls pairing of Shruti Prasad and Chloe Cooney and their combined times over the 60m sprint saw them finish a creditable sixth overall.
Chloe was then back on the track, partnered with Allie Fennell in the longer 500m, where the girls finished 11th overall. Allie also paired with Caoimhe Martin in the turbo javelin, where they just missed out on a medal when finishing in a superb fourth place overall.
In the boys events, the highlight of the day was certainly the U-11 600m, where fantastic runs from both Lorcan Forde Dunne and Alex Robertson saw these fine young athletes finish second overall, taking home silver medals. Lorcan also paired with Oliver Carolan in the long jump, where they were unable to replicate their Leinster gold, finishing sixth overall.
Aaron Fennell was the sole individual competitor on the day, taking part in the U-13 shot putt where he was just edged out of the medal rankings, finishing fourth overall.
In the relays, the U-10 Boys team of Callum Byrne, Edison Ekhator, Luca McLoughlin and Tadgh Forde Dunne all ran well and were unlucky not to medal. The U-11 team of Ledley King Abor, Alex Robertson, Oliver Carolan and Lorcan Forde Dunne had a super run to qualify for the final, where a poor baton change saw them just edged out of a winning place, finishing sixth overall.
It was back to Tullamore on Saturday last for the National Juvenile B Championships, where those who had not qualified through their provincial competition were given the opportunity to compete on the national stage.
A gutsy run by Lily Cummins in the U-15 100m sprint saw her qualify for the final, where she took a fine silver medal, while Saran Meite was unlucky not to qualify for her final.
Ella McLoughlin continues to improve and she finished in a fine fifth place in her 600m, while brother Killian was unlucky to just miss out on a medal in his 800m, finishing in fourth. In her 800m, Eadoin Carroll finished second in her heat, but again was unlucky to just miss out on a medal in the final.
A little closer to home, the SOSAD 5k saw a fine run from Tadgh Everitt Thompson to finish second overall with a new PB time of 17:29, while Rebecca Carolan took the ladies title in 20:33. There were great runs also by Eddie Kennedy, finishing fourth male, Jamie Bull, Mairead Hallinan and Catherine Tiernan.
Also in action on the roads on Friday last, Simon Ryan won the St Kevin’s 5K, recording a super time of 16.12.