International success for Lystus
THE HIGHLIGHT of a great year for Lystus Ebosele (D.M.P.) was winning gold and silver for Ireland at the Celtic International Games in August.
She won the Under-18 discus with a throw of 37.90m, well short of her 39.97m P.B. achieved at the 2018 Leinsters. Lystus placed second in the shot putt (3kg) with 13.51m.
The D.M.P. girl was typically modest when summing up her performance in Scotland as leaving ‘room for improvement’. Team Manager Amanda Hynes begged to differ, saying that Lystus was one of the stars of the Irish team.
Her summer medal haul included gold at the All-Ireland schools in Senior shot putt, and a pair of Under-18 golds at the national championships in shot putt and discus.
No barriers to Róisín’s progress: Steeplechase specialist Róisín O’Reilly (Menapians) has just enjoyed her most successful year yet. Highlights included winning the All-Ireland Under-17 2,000m steeplechase in a C.B.P. and P.B. of 7:06.73 minutes; winning the All-Ireland Junior 3,000m steeplechase; placing fourth at All-Ireland level in the Under-17 1,500m and Under-17 cross-country; representing Ireland at the S.I.A.B’s and Celtic Games.
Scary moment of the year: Bree’s Olivia Howe caused quite a scare with the unorthodox approach she took in her efforts to win the Under-19 100m at the Leinster track and field championships. In the final few metres, and with a fingertips victory just about in her grasp, such was her determination to get her dip in first that she crashed to the ground as she crossed the line…head first!
Recognising the seriousness of the situation, the medical people moved very quickly and ensured Olivia received textbook treatment. The Bree girl was taken to the local hospital and kept in for observation overnight.
She was given the all-clear the following day and released. That last desperate dip gave her the win in a time of 13.62s, her margin 0.03 seconds.
European duathlon success for Ciara: Last October Ciara Wilson of D.M.P. A.C. and Performance Science Ireland placed ninth at the European duathlon championships in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza. She was competing as a member of the Ireland Elite team. The event started with a 10k run, followed by a 40k bike and lastly a 5k run. Earlier in the year, Ciara placed second in the national duathlon.
Wexford Winter League: The annual Wexford Juvenile winter league was run, over three weeks in November, at Enniscorthy Sports Hub. The event provides a great opportunity for younger athletes to test themselves in a competitive, yet relaxed, setting.
Numbers were very good, especially in the younger age groups. And, as always, there were lots of close-fought contests. United Striders retained their title as best overall club.
The Kilmore winter league also saw plenty of good competitive action in all age categories, with the final round in early December.
So long Toddy: Last April Wexford athletics lost one of its favourite sons with the passing of Toddy Moore. Toddy was President of Kilmore A.C., honorary life President of A.A.I., and a life member of Athletics Wexford.
For more than six decades he gave unstinting commitment to athletics in his home place of Kilmore, throughout the county of Wexford and, as an administrator, much further afield. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.