ST. JOSEPH’SA.C.
The exploits of Shane Power and Sophie Becker throughout 2016 put St. Joseph’s firmly on the national map in track and field, and they both started 2017 in the same way.
At the national Junior and Under-23 indoor championships championships on Sunday, January 29, Shane earned himself a silver All-Ireland medal in the Junior men’s pole vault, a super achievement seeing as he had spent six months waiting for a new pole to arrive and only started training with it in the week before the championships. In addition, Shane cleared a fantastic four metres, setting a new personal best.
Not to be outdone, Sophie also had a day to remember. Competing in her first season in the Under-23 category, Sophie raced to gold when she won the 60 metres sprint, and later in the afternoon she powered away from the field to take the 200 metres national title in a time of 24.76.
Last weekend at the A.A.I. games, Maggie Helen O’Connor had a fantastic victory in the 3,000m walk in a new personal best of 15:43:54. John Joe Lawlor finished fifth in the men’s 3,000m walk. Shane Power finished fourth in the Senior men’s pole vault, and Eoin Power was third in the heats of the Senior men’s 400 metres.
The John Treacy 10 mile road race took place in Dungarvan with Sally For- ristal having a superb race, finishing fifth lady in a time of 1:02:29. Damien Blocki race walked the ten miles in an unbelievable time of 1:06:17.
The county Intermediate cross-country championship saw a large field line up in Grennan, Thomastown, last weekend facing a tough eight kilometres course. However, the valiant efforts of the St. Joseph’s foursome saw them miss out on team medals.
The team were led home by Patrick Bookle in ninth position, followed by Davin Lanigan (14th), Michael Power (20th) and Paul Sheehan in 21st place. Tracey Malone kept the club flag flying in the women’s race.
The county Juvenile relays also took place in Thomastown with a superb day of St. Joseph’s performances. The girls’ Under-10 race set the tone for the day with Sarah Foley, Aisleann Mullally and Lily Ryan having a superb win with mere yards separating the first three teams after 750 metres.
The boys’ Under-10 team of Joss O’Connor, Kyle Bolger and Ciarán Cummins won in an even more exciting finish, with Ciarán overcoming a stumble and fall near the finish to get up and come back to win on the line.
The girls’ Under-12 team of Grace Glennon, Maeve Bookle and Mairéad Mullally fought a superb battle with St. Senan’s, eventually settling for second place.
The club’s second team of Eabha Mullally, Lily Doyle and Aoife Lanigan finished in twelfth place.
An unfortunate fall relegated the boys’ Under-12 team of James Cummins, Conor Lanigan and Niall Cummins to eleventh position.
Another superb team performance in the girls’ Under-14 race over a combined distance of 1,500 metres saw Ciara Mullally, Rachel Foley and Aine Purcell race to a fantastic win, with the boys’ Under-14 team of Danny Glennon, Tomás Mullally and Evan O’Toole eventually having to settle for second.
The second club team of Jamie O’Connor, Fionn Connolly and Aidan Lawlor finished a valiant sixth.
The St. Joseph’s awards night and dinner dance takes place in the Rhu Glenn on Friday, February 17.