Forde caps fine season
THE NATIONAL under-age track and field championships same to an end in Tullamore on Sunday with the third and final day of events.
Jack Forde of St. Killian’s rounded off a great season with a trio of classy performances. He won the Under-15 triple jump with a P.B. of 11.14m, picked up a silver in the high jump (1.68m), and completed the set with a bronze in the shot putt with another P.B. (14.27m).
Pádraig Hore of Taghmon went one place better than last year’s second place finish when winning the Under-18 discus.
His best throw of 47.61m gave him a margin of almost 3m over his closest pursuer.
Talented Taghmon multi-eventer Aisling Kelly signed off on her season with a silver in the 200m to go with the silver won in the 100m and the bronze in the long jump.
Sonia Mooney of Adamstown was fourth in Under-17 javelin.
Euan McLaughlin of St. Killian’s came ninth in Under-16 javelin with a P.B. of 29.82m.
Cian Flanagan of United Striders finished one place further back.
Ciara Kelly of United Striders placed eighth in Under-18 high jump with a best of 1.45m.
In the Under-18 200m, Menapians athlete Aaron Tierney Smith finished in sixth place (23.29s) followed closely by clubmate Jack Hayden in seventh (23.31s).
Amy Forde was forced to withdraw from the Under-18 hammer due to injury.
In the Under-19 200m, Ciarán Maher of Menapians placed fourth (23.27s).
The national development championships were held in a warm but blustery Tullamore on Saturday. This competition gives under-age athletes one last throw of the dice before the end-of-season break.
Adam Leahy of Menapians opened his account with a bronze in the 100m (12.51s). He then went on to win the high jump with a leap of 1.45m.
Taghmon athletes came away with a handful of medals: Muireann Hore won silver in Under-16 shot putt and there were bronze medals for Hannah Roche-Kelly (Under-16 100m), Dearbhla O’Hanlon (Under-15 high jump) and Caoimhe Reville (Under-12 shot putt).
Amy O’Brien (Enniscorthy) won gold in the Under-12 shot putt with a P.B. of 7.18m.
Sinéad O’Reilly of Menapians placed second in the Under-13 600m in a P.B. of 1.45.78m.
Her sister, Róisín, picked up a silver medal in the Under-16 800m (2.27m).
Well done also to Menapians athlete Cathan Bates who, on his first visit to Tullamore, competed in the Under-12 60m and 600m. His clubmate Ailbhe White made the final of the Under-13 80m and, but for difficulties in finding her mark in the long jump, might well have been among the medals.
The Irish boys’ team finished second to England at last weekend’s S.I.A.B. schools international meet in Santry.
The girls’ team also finished second to England.
Joshua Hewlett (New Ross C.B.S.) placed fourth in the javelin, following a brilliant series of throws, his best of 53.37m. Marguerite Furlong (St. Mary’s, New Ross) placed fifth in the discus, pushing her best out to 38.23m.
Fixtures: July 18, Cork City Sports, C.I.T., Cork; July 19 (6.45 p.m.), Leinster Junior championships (pole vault, hammer and shot putt), Santry; July 20-23, European Junior championships, Italy; July 20 (7.30 p.m.) Menapians A.C. 5k road race, Wexford (register at Wexford R.F.C.); July 22 and 23, Irish Life Health national Senior track and field championships, Santry; July 26 (Wednesday, 7 p.m.), Mr Oil Co. Wexford Senior track and field day two, Enniscorthy track; July 29, United Striders A.C. five-mile road race and three-mile walk, Terrerath; July 30, A.A.I. National League round two (various venues).