Aoife shines back on home soil
AOIFE Cloke-Rochford (Bree) was in domestic action last weekend at the national Junior championships following her medal-winning exploits in Latvia a week previously.
Aoife took silver in the girls’ 100m in 12.61s, just 0.1s behind the winner. She followed up with another silver in the 200m (26.29s), just ahead of third-placed clubmate Sophie McCabe (27.04s). Sophie went on to take a brilliant gold in the 400m (59.87s).
Peter O’Connor (Enniscorthy) won a silver medal in the 110m hurdles (16.76s). He also took a silver in the long jump following a very consistent series of jumps, 5.93m being his best.
Liam Turner of D.M.P. was one of a break-away trio in the 3,000m. The superior finishing power of his opponents meant he came home in the bronze medal position (9.52.40s).
The Bree A.C. team of Ciara Laffan, Maura Doyle, Chloe Casey, Lea Bolger, Kiera Wilson and Ava Doyle were third in the girls’ Under-10 4 x 100m at Saturday’s national relay championships in Tullamore.
The national Under-9, Under-10 and Under-11 events were also run off at this meet. Non-relay events in these age groups are run as pairs.
The Menapians duo of Alfie Whelan and Oisín McDonagh won bronze in the Under-10 boys’ long jump.
Ava Doyle and Lea Bolger of Bree placed third in the Under-9 girls’ 60m and fifth in the long jump. Their clubmates, Ciara Laffan and Kiera Wilson, won the Under-10 long jump and placed fifth in the 60m.
Laura O’Brien and Neasa Long (Enniscorthy) placed fourth in the Under-9 turbo javelin.
Athletes and officials love the county ‘ B’ track and field championships. The competitive tension of championship athletics is less in evidence and the atmosphere is usually very relaxed with everyone in good form.
So it was in Enniscorthy last Friday as young athletes from all over the county came together in a spirit of friendly rivalry. With the perennial problem of lack of club officials, it was great to see some of the older juvenile athletes getting stuck in and lending a hand.
Most of these same athletes, even those going on to nationals next month, have competed at the ‘B’ championships at some point. They know what a thrill it is to get this second bite at the cherry and, all going well, bag a county medal.
All athletes can now look forward to a well-earned break from training before getting back into it in September.
Fixtures: July 1, Irish Life Health national Junior and Under-23 track and field championships, Tullamore; July 1, United Striders 5k, Geraldine O’Hanrahans G.A.A. clubhouse, New Ross; July 2, Irish Life Health Juvenile inter-club relay championships, Athlone I.T.; July 2, Irish Life Health national Masters track and field championships, Tullamore; July 5 (Wednesday, 7 p.m.), Mr Oil Co. Wexford Senior track and field day one, Enniscorthy track; July 5 (7 p.m.), Leinster Junior championship (javelin and discus), Irishtown, Dublin; July 8 (7 p.m.), Kilmore 5k (Kilmore Seafood Festival); July 12, Morton Games 2017 track and field, Santry.