Kennelly jumps to bronze

THE highlight of the Indoor season took place in Abbotstown, Dublin at the National Sports Arena, where the Irish Life Health National Senior Indoor Championships were held last weekend.

Some of Kerry’s elite athletes were present on the day and equipped themselves well. There were two medal winners from the championships. Ciara Kennelly of Killarney Valley AC maintains her good form, taking a bronze in the Senior women’s high jump with a clearance of 1.74m.

Ciara’s jump of 1.75m last weekend secured her qualification for the European Youth Olympics. David Kenny (Farranfore Maine Valley AC) continues to show he is a force to be reckoned with when he claimed the bronze medal in the men’s 5k walk in a new PB time of 20.41.92.

The Munster schools cross county took place in Waterford last Friday. There was a large contingent from

Kerry schools. Niamh O’Mahony from Pres Tralee and An Riocht was the overall winner of the Inter Girls event in 10.42.00.

Tralee Harriers’ Oisín Spillane and Mercy Mounthawk student claimed a bronze medal in the Senior boy’s race. In the Senior girls race the silver team medals went to Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine Kenmare with Alyce O’Connor (8th), Rhona Randles (11th) and Grace Sayers (14th). Also qualifying for the national finals in Clane on March 9 are:

Minor Boys, 9th Tommy Arthur, Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine; 15th Michael Lynch, St Brendan’s Killarney

Junior girls 15th Abbie Dunlop, Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine

Inter Girls 7th Shauna McCar thy, Killorglin CC Inter Boys 14th Oisín Ó MuirÍ, Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí, 17th Luke Ó Ceallachaín, Gaelcholáiste Chiarraí 19th Jack O’DOnoghue, Tralee CBS 20th Michael O’Reilly, Pobalscoil Inbhear Sceine Senior boys 14th Darragh O’Leary, St Brendans Killarney

Congratulations to Grace Lynch from Iveragh AC who was part of the Irish team that finished in third place in the Armagh International 3km with a new PB of 9.41.

Award season is still in play and this time it was the turn of Athletics Ireland National Awards for Juvenile Athletes. Tralee Harriers’ Jordan Kissane was honoured as the top Kerry juvenile athlete of 2018.

Among Jordan’s many achievements in 2018 were three National gold medals; in the indoor 200m and outdoor 100m and 200m.

Niamh O’Mahony, from Presentation Tralee, Co Kerry, on her way to winning the Intermediate Girls 3000m during the Irish Life Health Munster Schools Cross Country event at WIT Sports Campus in Carrignore, Waterford Photo by Matt Browne / Sportsfile