The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Triple gold for Harriers’ Commane
THE Munster U-14 – U-19 track and field championships were held at CIT in Cork last weekend where blistering sunshine and gentle breezes made for ideal conditions and Kerry athletes took full advantage.
Stars of the weekend were undoubtedly the U-15 and U-16 boys from Tralee Harriers with many podium finishes battled out between them on the track and field. Conor Commane was on top form taking gold in the U-15 boys’ 100m, 200m and long jump.
New to the club, and hot on the heels of success in the All-Ireland schools finals, Mervyn Shalemba won gold in the U-16 boys’ 100m and 200m.
Saturday was brought to a thrilling end with the U-16 boys’ 4 x 100m relay team knocking two seconds off the Munster record. The team of Mervyn Shalemba, Basit Oyebanji, Jordan Kissane and Cillian Griffin getting the baton safely round the track in a blistering time of 45.38 seconds.
Not to be outdone, the U17 boys’ 4 x 100m relay team won silver on Sunday, finishing close behind Leevale, with both teams beating the previous record. Well done Cathal Fitzgibbon, Mervyn Shalemba, Cillian Griffin and Luke O’Carroll on their record breaking time of 45.22 seconds.
Tralee Harriers were top Kerry medal winners of the event, with Kenmare chomping at their heels. Medals by club below with full results available on the Munster Athletics website.
Tralee Harriers: Orla O’Reilly bronze in U-18 girls’ 100m and 200m; Rachel Bowler gold in U-19 girls’ triple jump and silver in long jump and 100m; Conor Commane gold in U-15 boys’ 100m, 200m and long jump; Mervyn Shalemba gold in U-16 boys’ 100m and 200m; Jordan Kissane silver in U-15 boys’ 100m, 200m and high jump and bronze in the long jump; Cillian Griffin silver in U-16 boys’ 200m and 250m hurdles; Oisin Spillane silver in U-17 boys’ steeplechase; Owen Healy silver in U-16 boys’ 800m. Boys U-17 4 x 100m relay silver.
Kenmare: Alyce O’Connor silver in U-17 girls’ 800m and 1500m; Christine McCarthy silver in U-18 girls’ high jump and bronze in the long jump; Gary Randles silver in U-16 boys’ shot and bronze in the javelin; Shauna Doellken O’Shea gold in U-19 girls’ steeplechase and silver in the 1,500m; Abby Littlejohn bronze in the U-15 girls’ discus and javelin; Cormac O’Sullivan silver in U-19 boys’ triple jump.
St Brendan’s: Lauren O’Grady gold in U-18 girls’ discus, bronze in hammer and shot; Darragh Courtney gold in U-17 boys’ 300m hurdles; Aaron Malik bronze in U-17 boys’ 300m hurdles and discus. Farranfore / Maine Valley:
Leanne Cronin silver in U-18 girls’ hammer and bronze in U-18 discus; Elaina Norris silver in U-19 girls’ discus; Patrick Kearney bronze U-14 boys’ hammer; Cian Spillane bronze in U-14 boys’ 800m.
Gneeveguilla: Shona O’Brien gold in U-18 girls’ 800m and 1,500m; Sinead Warren gold in U-18 girls’ hammer; Jack Greaney gold in U-15 boys’ triple jump.
Killarney Valley: Ciara Kennelly silver in U-16 girls’ high jump; Sarah Leahy bronze U-19 girls’ 200m.
An Riocht: Katelyn Reid silver in U-15 girls’ hammer and javelin; Sean Pollmann-Daamen silver in U-15 boys’ 1,500m.
Lios Tuathail: Michael Tony silver in U-17 boys’ triple jump;
Nathan Wright bronze in U-16 boys’ triple jump; Boys U-17 4 x 100m relay bronze.
Star of the Laune: Fiona Doyle, bronze in U-17 girls’ 200m and silver in high jump.
In addition there were dozens of Kerry athletes who finished just outside the medals in fourth place, earning themselves a place at the National Championships on July 8 and 9 should they wish to take them.
THREE of Kerry’s finest athletes have earned a place at the European Team Championships in Finland on June 23 to 25. They are Clare Fitzgerald (Tralee Harriers) discus and An Riocht athletes Shona Healsip in 3,000m and Denis Finnegan in triple jump.