Róisín bags provincial bronze
MENAPIANS HAD a quartet of runners competing at the longer distances at the Leinster Under-12 to Under-19 championships in Tullamore.
Róisín O’Reilly’s Under-17 800m was held up for the most of an hour as a result of Olivia Howe’s misfortune and, with a chilly breeze blowing across the track, the hanging about was not ideal race preparation. Róisín chose to run at a conservative pace and did enough to hang on for bronze.
Nathan Murphy continued his adventures at middle distance with a tactically savvy run in the Under-16 1,500m. He stayed out of trouble for the first half before moving through and getting up to take bronze in 4.27.61 minutes. Nathan qualified for the 800m final the following day but, finding his energy levels somewhat depleted, he sensibly called a halt mid-race.
Sinéad O’Reilly was sixth in the Under-14 1,500m. In the girls’ Under-16 1,500m, big-striding Ciara Dolan showed that her endurance training is really starting to pay off with a fine seventh place finish. Prediction: given her rate of development to date, Ciara is on an upwards trajectory and will be on the podium this time next year.
D.M.P’s Claragh Keane, still feeling her way back to full fitness following an early season bug, placed eighth in the Under-15 1,500m. Both Claragh and Eimear Fortune (Kilmore) made it through to the final of the girls’ Under-14 800m, with Claragh placing seventh and Eimear tenth.
Both athletes can now kick back, enjoy the summer and return to the fray in September with batteries fully recharged.
Darragh Flannelly (U.S.) continues to improve, year on year, and has been marked by more than one observer as one to watch.
Having, as mentioned earlier, won a bronze medal in the Under-15 1,500m, he came out on Sunday and won another in the 800m (2.12.41).
His finishing kick in the latter almost took him to the runner-up position. Bree’s Conor Doyle was ninth.
Competing at Under-17, Aaron Browne (U.S.) impressed all in his first attempt at the 400m, placing fourth in 55.18s. He went on to place eighth in the Under-17 800m.
Adam O’Connor (U.S.) was seventh in the Under-16 1,500m (4.36.97) and fifth in the 800m final (2.12.99).
Wexford had two runners in the girls’ Under-16 800m: Danika Gilshinan (St. Paul’s) was fifth and Louise Doyle (U.S.) was seventh.
Conor Keane (D.M.P.) placed a weary eighth in the Under-17 3,000m. Rory Cassidy (Kilmore) ran a P.B. in the Under-18 3,000m to place fifth. His 11:45 minutes was a whole minute faster than his time last year!
Late unannounced changes to the programme running order meant that one of the favourites for the 2,000m steeplechase, Róisín O’Reilly, missed the race. The Menapians girl was disappointed but one thing is sure: she won’t miss the next one!
Walks specialist Ryan Kielthy (U.S.) toed the line for the boys’ Under-17 steeplechase, finishing in fourth place.
Eimear Halpin of Menapians is getting faster and stronger with every competition. She finished second in the Under-15 250m hurdles and a strong third in the discus (0.75 kg.).
In the latter, Aisling O’Brien was sixth and Elaine Oladiran seventh.
Ciara Mooney (Adamstown) was third in the Under-14 shot (two kg.). Jodie Morrissey of St. Killian’s was back in tenth. Ciara was also fifth in the javelin with Caitlin Murray (D.M.P.) ninth.
Aoife Muldoon (U.S.) was second in the Under-19 long jump (4.32m). Tara Doyle (Adamstown) was second in the Under-18 triple jump (10.58m).
Aisling O’Brien of D.M.P. was second in the Under-15 triple jump (6.59m).
Katelyn Boggan (Kilmore) placed an All-Ireland qualifying fourth in the Under-15 long jump (4.75m), with Rachel Gregg (D.M.P.) and Eimear Fortune a little down the field.
Ailbhe White (Menapians) in tenth was best of the Wexford girls in the Under-14 long jump with a best of 4.19m. S.B.R’s Orlaith Deegan and Orlaith Byrne were just behind her.
Nathan Murphy collected his second medal of the weekend with a bronze in the Under-16 discus.
In the girls’ Under-16 high jump, Dearbhla O’Hanlon (Taghmon) placed sixth and Louise Doyle (U.S.) was seventh. Dearbhla also placed sixth in the 250m hurdles.
Of the three Wexford athletes in the boys’ Under-17 high jump, only Conor Brennan (D.M.P.) made the podium, getting third with 1.60m. Conor Murphy (U.S.) placed fifth and Adam Leahy (Menapians) was sixth.
Dannan Long (Enniscorthy) was fifth in the Under-14 high jump. Enniscorthy’s Jacob English was second in the Under-19 triple jump as well as placing sixth in the 110m hurdles.
Jacob was also third in the long jump (5.62m), just behind Samuel Delaney of St. Paul’s (6.02m).
Kevin O’Mahony (D.M.P.) won bronze in the Under-12 long jump, his best effort of 4.43m being five cms. behind second.
Clubmate Layla Stafford was second in the girls’ Under-12 long jump (4.32m), with Kara Morrissey (St. Killian’s) fourth, qualifying her for All-Irelands, and Sarah Phylan (Enniscorthy) 13th.
Kaylem Codd (D.M.P.) was second in the Under-15 shot putt (12.69m) behind St. Senan’s A.C’s talented all-rounder Tadhg Connolly. He was also eighth in the javelin.
Adam Peilow (D.M.P.) was sixth in the Under-18 shot. Cosmo Hewlett (U.S.) was third in the boys’ Under-14 javelin (38.39m), with clubmate Aidan Kehoe back in eighth.
Milan Kovacs was second in the Under-17 hammer (five kg.).
Other results - boys’ Under-13 javelin: Jack Halpin, seventh.
Boys’ Under-12 turbo javelin: Michael Kent (D.M.P.), fourth; Stephen Power (Adamstown), eighth.
Girls’ Under-12 turbo javelin: (Group 1), Shannon Codd (D.M.P.), fifth; Lilly Murray (D.M.P.), eighth; (Group 2), Stephanie Deegan (S.B.R.), third.
Girls’ Under-14 shot putt: Jodie Morrissey (St. Killian’s), tenth (6.82m - P.B.).
Boys’ Under-14 long jump: Malachy Cathcart and Tadhg McShane, both Enniscorthy, placed eighth and ninth respectively.
Boys’ Under-14 800m: Aidan Kehoe (U.S.) was tenth.
Girls’ Under-15 80m hurdles: Anna Finan (St. Killian’s), seventh.