Ryan wins U23 high jump title
Strong displays in Athlone
THE IRISH Life Health National Junior and Under-23 indoor track and field championships were held in Athlone on Sunday.
Ryan Carthy-Walsh of Adamstown impressed in the Junior men’s high jump, winning with a third-time clearance of 1.98 metres. Fellow Adamstown athlete Joseph Mooney took silver in the Junior men’s 3k walk.
In the Under-23 women’s long jump, Annie Stafford of Menapians made a welcome return from serious injury to take silver with a jump of 5.07 metres.
Sophie McCabe of Bree took bronze in the Junior triple jump with a fine last round jump of 10.88 metres. Peter O’Connor of Enniscorthy was sixth in the Junior men’s long jump with a last round leap of 6.04 metres.
On what was a good day for Enniscorthy, James Fortune placed fifth in the Under-23 long jump while Chris St. Clair Johnson was fifth in his heat of the Under-23 400m in a time of 51.83. Chris was also in action in the Under-23 200m, qualifying for the final where he finished sixth in a time of 23.76.
Shaun Donohue of Menapians narrowly missed out on the final of the Under-23 400m, clocking a time of 50.62 seconds in the heats. Jack Hayden of Menapians and Sophie McCabe of Bree ran in the Junior 400m heats, clocking times of 52.73 and 64.38 respectively.
The strength of Menapians showed through with Ciarán Maher setting a P.B. of 23.29 seconds in the Junior 200m, while Sam and Luke O’Neill ran 7.50 and 7.30 in the Junior men’s 60m heats.
Sam went on to finish fifth in the Junior 60m hurdles in a time of 8.84, with Peter O’Connor of Enniscorthy finishing behind him in sixth in a time of 8.88.
Olivia Howe of Bree was seventh in her heat of the Junior 60m in a time of 8.46.
At the Irish Life Health national indoor track and field league, Menapians made history becoming the first Wexford club to reach the final. This takes place at the National Indoor Arena, Abbotstown, on Saturday, February 4.
The club was ranked fourth overall after the first two legs of the league. Good performances by Mikey Cullen, Cian Murphy and Conor Wilson in the second round helped the club secure fourth place.
County Wexford athletes will be in action again next Sunday at the Irish Life Health Athletics Ireland indoor games.
Menapians athlete David McDonald celebrated his 18th birthday with a P.B. of 6.93s last Saturday to win his 60m heat at an international indoor meet in Vienna.
And, despite a sluggish start, he ran the same time in the final. He is definitely one to watch.