Harriers 13-medal haul at the Munster Junior/U-23 Indoors

THE opening event of the 2018 Indoor Season kicked off last weekend in Nenagh, where several Kerry athletes braved the minus temperatures, warmed up best they could, and took part in the Munster Junior/U-23 Indoor Championships and the Munster Indoor Juvenile and Youth Combined events.

Tralee Harriers AC were the standout club with a total of 13 medals, Aoibheann O’Brien brought home double gold in the U-23 60m and long jump where she set a CBP. Cillian Griffin again took top honours with gold in the combined events winning the Youth Pentathlon. Orla O’Reilly brought home silver in the Junior women’s 60m, with Jordan Kissane taking silver in the U-16 Pentathlon. Bronze medals went to Rachel Bowler in the Junior women’s long jump, Luke O’Carroll in the Junior Men’s long jump and Oisin Spillane in the Junior men’s 1,500m, 4th place finishes went to Elinor Dennison in the Junior long jump and Owen Healy in the Youth Pentathlon, taking fifth were Leanne Cronin in the Junior shot and Cillian Griffin in the Junior 60m. The Junior Boys relay team of Basit Oyebanji, Owen Healy. Cillian Griffin, Oisin Spillane and Luke O’Carroll brought home silver medals inside the old record time fractional behind a very strong Leevale AC’s men’s team.

Killarney Valley’s high jumpers were very strong in their events and no more so than the golden girl Ciara Kennelly, who once again showed her and in her first year as a Junior athlete secured the gold with ease with a jump of 1.70m. Jordan Lee, the up and coming paralthlete high jumper and the one to watch, performed very well finishing in fourth with a jump of 1.65m.

Dion Marcus of An Riocht made a return to the Indoor circuit and brought home gold in the U-23 400m in impressive style, great opener from this seasoned athlete. Farranfore Maine Valley’s Rossa Foley, had a hat trick of silver in the U-23 competition, securing his medals in long jump, weight for distance and the shot put. The always competitive St. Brendan’s Aaron Malik was also shining silver taking second place in a hard fought contest in the Youth Pentathlon.

There were two Kerry medals in the Indoor walks with Patrick Murphy of Castleisland AC taking Gold in the O-50 in a time of 14.41.95, and Michael O’Connor of Farranfore Maine Valley taking silver in the O-65 in 17.53.84.

The Celtic Cross-country Championships took place in Antrim on Saturday 6th January which saw three of Kerry’s finest long distance athletes in action. The top performer of the day was Kenmare AC’s Shauna Doellken O’Shea who finished in 5th place overall in the Women’s U-20 race and was part of the Irish team who won silver medals. Competing in the Women’s International race were An Riocht’s Laura Crowe and Shona Healsip who finished in 18th and 19th places respectively.

Next weekend sees the Senior and Masters Indoors Competitors and Junior Triple Jumpers head to Nenagh and start their competition season. Kerry County Development Squads return on Sunday, Jabuary 14 at 11am in An Riocht. Check Kerry athletics Facebook page for more details.