Fiona’s fine form continues
Kilmore athlete adds indoor title to cross-country win
THE IRISH Life Health National Senior indoor championships took place at the Sport Ireland National Indoor Arena in Abbotstown last weekend.
For some this event was all about securing qualification for the European indoors in Belgrade (March 3-5). For others it was simply about getting the win or, at least, a place.
Fiona Kehoe of Kilmore is one such athlete. Coming off the back of a great cross-country season, during which she won the national Novice, she has just picked up her first Senior indoor track title.
Indeed, Fiona’s 800m final was, for most people, the most exciting race of last weekend’s national A.A.I. indoor championships. Having fallen off the quickening pace on the last lap, the Kilmore girl found herself in second position and in danger of losing contact.
With less than 20m to go she found that extra gear and, reeling in the leader, edged in front over the last five metres to pull off a stunning win. Fiona, with a time of 2.08.17, had just 0.2s to spare over second place.
Ryan Carthy-Walsh of Adamstown picked up his first Senior title, winning the high jump with 2.00m. Coming in at 1.90m, he sensibly did just enough to secure the gold, clearing three heights at the first attempt.
This crowned a really good week for the teenager who was sixth in 2.05m at the A.I.T. international grand prix earlier in the week. Needless to say his coach, Athletics Wexford President Nicky Cowman, is thrilled with Ryan’s fine early-season progress.
There was double gold for Leon Reid of Menapians on his first outing with the club. He was an impressive winner of both the 60m title, in a time of 6.75s, and of the 200m in 21.08s. Making it a one-two for Menapians in the 200m was the talented young David McDonald who took silver with a big new P.B. of 21.51s.
Aoife Cloke-Rochford (Bree), still on a high from her triple gold medal at the Leinster indoors the previous weekend, continued her good form in qualifying for the final of the 60m in which she clocked a P.B. of 7.73s.
Annie Stafford (Menapians) continues her return to form following serious injury, finishing eighth in the long jump. Her leap of 5.12m was just off her season’s best.
Ciarán Maher of Menapians placed seventh in the semi-finals of the 60m (7.38s). His clubmate Aaron Tierney-Smith also came home in seventh place in the 60m hurdles final.
The same club had three athletes - Shaun Donohue, Ken Malone and Conor Wilson - running the 400m qualifiers with just one hundredth of a second between the times of Donohue and Wilson (51.13 and 51.14 respectively).
It has been a busy week for Conor as he also competed, midweek, at the A.I.T. international grand prix, recording a time of 7.26s for 60m.
An all-ages Irish race walking squad head off at the weekend to a meet in the Isle of Man. The aim is to sharpen up for the race walking grand prix in the Czech Republic in April.
Among those travelling is Adamstown athlete Joe Mooney. Joe will be competing over ten km. at the weekend.
He will be hoping to impress the selectors and make the team for the European Race Walking Cup in May.
Athletics Wexford reminds schools that the Wexford Sportshall 2017 finals take place at Astro Active, Enniscorthy, on Wednesday, March 1 (10.30 a.m)., with a pre-event warm-up from 9.45 p.m.
The event is open to all national schools. Teams are drawn from third and fourth classes (combined), and fifth and sixth classes (combined). The maximum number per team is twelve.
Entries to the event should be made through schools. If your school wants to take part contact Athletics Wexford. E-mail wexfordathletics@gmail.com or telephone 087-6701081.