Plenty of success at T&F Nationals

THE Irish Life Health National Senior Track and Field Championships took place last weekend at the Morton Stadium in Santry Dublin. It was a great weekend for Kerry Athletics with fine performances all round on the national stage.

Tralee Harriers were again top of the podium with Clare Fitzgerald taking gold in the discus for the eighth time in a row and clinching the national shot title for the seventh consecutive year. She also won silver in the javelin. There was bronze for the Tralee Harriers 4 x 100m relay team of Aoibheann O’Brien, Solange Diego, Aoife O’Carroll and Rachel Bowler. Aoibheann O’Brien and Solange Diego took part in the long jump and triple jump respectively, both finishing in the top eight.

An Riocht Athletic Club had a large crew attending the championships with gold going to Denis Finnegan in the triple jump. Denis also finished in 4th place in a fiercely contested men’s long jump that saw the top four men leap well over 7m. Shona Heaslip took the bronze in a very competitive 5000m. Farranfore Maine Valley’s Emma and Niall Prendiville both won silver medals in their respective 5k and 10k walks.

Mairead O’Neill (Gneeveguilla) was in action in the hammer, throwing it out to 49.56 for a bronze medal. There was also bronze in the men’s hammer for Iveragh’s Adam King, who continues to impress with his throwing. His winning throw measured 63.88m with five out of his six throws going out past the 63m mark (and the one that didn’t read 62.96 on the tape).

Also taking part but finishing outside of final qualifying times were An Riocht athletes PJ Galvin in the 400H, William O’Connor in the 200m, Dylan Roche in the 100m and 200m and Jer O’Donoghue in the 100m. Lios Tuathail AC’s Kevin Lynch competed in the 200m and the 400m setting some very good times shy of the qualifying times. Darragh Browne competed in the 800m running well in his heat. Full results, with times and distances are available on the Athletics Ireland website.

Congratulations to Ciara Kennelly from Killarney Valley on her medal winning performance in the high jump at the SAIB Schools International in Dublin. Ciara equalled her personal best of 1.68m to take home the bronze medal. Ciara has also been selected for the Irish Celtic Games team at the beginning of August.

Niall Prendiville, right, Farranfore Maine Valley AC, during the Men’s 10,000m Walk event

Shona Heaslip of An Riocht AC, left, competing in the Women’s 5000m during the Irish Life Health National Senior Track & Field Championships Day 1

Aoibheann O’Brien, Tralee Harriers AC, in action during the Women’s Long Jump, at the National Senior Track & Field Championships

Emma Prendiville of Farranfore Maine Valley AC, on her way to finishing second in the Women’s 5K Walk at the National Senior T& F Championships

Solange Diogo of Tralee Harriers AC, competing in the Women’s Triple Jump during the Irish Life Health National Senior Track & Field Championships Day 1 at Morton Stadium in Santry,

Adam King of Iveragh AC, competing in the Mens Hammer during the Irish Life Health National Senior Track & Field Championships