Busy day at Munster Athletics Championships

It was another trip to Nenagh last weekend for Fanahan McSweeney athletes in the U12-U19 age group Munster Athletics Championships. It was a busy day of events starting with the 60m sprints. Micheal Quirke was in heat 5 of 5 and won convincingly in a time of 9.07. He blasted home to win his semifinal at 8.98s, and even faster in the final at 8.78s to secure a silver medal. Not content with one medal, Micheal also won silver in the U12 long jump with a jump of 4.18m with a field of 35 athletes.

David Towey Jr took part in the U13 sprint hurdles and high jump. It was another double medal haul for David with bronze in the hurdles in a time of 11.00s and a gold in the high jump with a fantastic jump of 1.40m. Elsewhere on the track Sean Riordan was in form in the U13 600m and galloped to the gold in a field of 27 with a time of 1.46.53s. He also took home bronze in the 2kg shot putt with a throw of 9.06m.

The 60m sprint in the U13 age group had 26 competing. Sean made the final along with Eoin Toland and despite a great race , they didn’t medal. Eoin also took part in the 60M hurdles and the long jump but the competition was fierce and he was very happy with his performance. Their clubmate Oran Hegarty took the silver in the U13 shot putt event with a throw of 9.29m. Oran had also competed in the U13 sprint and had a great run but did not make the final. He came fourth in the long jump with a jump of 4.29m, just missing out on an All-Ireland qualifying place.

Jack O’Rourke ran a great race in the U12 600m with Sean. The experience will stand to him in future races.

The lone female of the day was Kotryna Pacerinskaite. Kotryna won gold and more spectacularly, set a new championship record in the U18 3 kg shot putt with a throw of 12.76m.

Another great day out for Fanahan McSweeney AC and all qualifying athletes are looking forward to the All-Ireland Indoors in Athlone on March 18th and 19th.

A warm thank you to parents, officials and the hosts, Nenagh Olympic AC for another well run and safe event.

Kotryna Pacerinskaite (centre) who won gold and a new championship record in the U18 shot putt.

Micheal Quirke won silver in 60m sprint and silver in U12 long jump.

Sean Riordan won gold in the 600m and bronze in the U13 shot putt.

David Towey won Jr gold in high jump and bronze in U13 hurdles.