McTeggart hits new high
AMY McTeggart’s standing in European athletics continues to grow after she won three medals for her country - including two golds - at the CSIT World Games in Riga, last week.
Athletes from France, Switzerland, Austria, Finland, Mexico, Brazil and Iran were among those competing in beautiful sunshine in the Latvian capital, and the first test for the Boyne AC star was the long jump where she produced a new personal best to finish in third place.
Later the same day she turned her attention to the javelin, and this time McTeggart won gold with another PB of 34.92m.
The high jump competition took place on day two and this time and her Iranian opponent finished tied at the same height.
Both assumed they would share the gold medal, but in an international competition there can be only one winner and so it was back on with the spikes for a jump-off to decide the placings.
When it came to the crunch the Iranian jumper, going first, knocked the bar and McTeggart cleared to secure her second title of the championship.
She was due to arrive back in Ireland yesterday (Monday), happy to have done herself, her club and country proud.
Also medalling at the CSIT Games was Duleek native Keith Marks who had four season’s bests - including one effort of 7.41m - en route to silver in the long jump competition.
The former Cushinstown athlete, now with Clonliffe Harriers, also scored 10 points for his team across three events - high jump, long jump and relay - as Clonliffe secured third place overall at the recent European Clubs Cup Championship in Portugal.
It was their first-ever European medal after decades of trying, and a first for Marks also.
Elsewhere, it was a spectacular weekend for the younger Boyne athletes on days two and three of the Leinster Championships - and not just because of the weather.
Tara Meier made it a golden double with super wins in both the 80m and 250m hurdles, while clubmate Lily O’Connor also took gold in her 250m hurdles race.
Saturday saw a fine throw from Euan Canniffe in the U-14 javelin, securing him a silver medal, while on Sunday Aaron Fennell threw a whopping 36.05m in the turbo javelin, setting a new championship best performance, a new personal best throw and claiming the Leinster title. That was after he won silver in the 60m hurdles the day before. Teammate Paddy Price made it a one-two for Boyne in the turbo javelin event as he took a well-deserved silver medal.
Ruarcan O’Gibne had a very successful weekend, as he took gold in both his 1500m race and 3,000m steeplechase, while also winning silver in his 800m event.
Likewise, female steeplechaser Eva Cummins also took gold in her race, adding to the bronze she won in her 1500m race.
Distance runner Anna Faulkner is certainly making her mark in competitive action, as she took silver in her 1500m race and followed this up with a bronze in the 800m.
Another strong javelin performance from Kate Kelly saw her take a bronze in the girls event, while Cathal Monaghan put his hard work to good use with a silver medal win in his javelin competition.
There were great performances also from Killian Ekhator, Amitesh Bala, Max Kingston, Killian McLoughlin, Callum Sheedy, Tom Cummins, Tadgh Everitt Thompson, Lily Cummins, Caer Ni Ghibne and Cliodhna Nolan. The medal winners in each event now qualify for the national finals in July.
Some of Boyne’s senior members took to the hills of Balrothery to take part in the East of Ireland Half-Marathon at the weekend, with super runs in the searing heat from Karen Fairclough, Nicky Veale and Sarah Jane Ruddy.