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| Lorna Fitzpatrick SH Newry |
They may make European and world championships. Some may even qualify for the ultimate – the Olympics Games. Yet for many of the young athletes in Tullamore last Saturday, the Aviva All Irelands Schools Track and Field Championships will remain a highlight of their career.
The scenes of joy at the finish told their own story. In the senior 1500m, Lorna Fitzpatrick of Sacred Heart Newry fell to the ground in disbelief after she beat defending champion Amy O’Donoghue of Villiers Limerick.
Likewise Leinster champion, Aaron O’Hanlon of St Mary’s Drogheda in the inter 1500m.
Only in the second half of the race did O’Hanlon pull away for victory. Behind him, Cillian Kirwan of St Fintan’s knocked six seconds off his personal best.
On a good day for St Fintan’s, Peter O’Brien cleared 3.80m to win inter pole vault while Eoin Strutt beat Leinster champion Jack Reid of St Joseph’s Rochfortbridge in the U-16 mile.
Obviously thrilled to run an Irish youth record of 10.72 seconds in the senior 100m was Marcus Lawler of CBS Carlow. Later in the afternoon, Lawler won the 200m, repeating his inter double of a year earlier.
Siofra Cleirigh Buttner of Colaiste Iosagain is no stranger of victory but she punched the air with delight when she won the inter 800m in a record 2:10.27.
Buttner went on to win the 1500m for her 11th national schools title – and she still has a few years to go!
Race of the day proved to be the senior boys’ 1500m. Shane Fitzsimons from Rochfortbridge made the early pace but dropped back when challenged by Sean Tobin from Clonmel and Patrick Monaghan of St Colman’s Newry. Only in the chase for the line did Fitzsimons storm back for victory.
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| Jamie Murtagh Ashbourne CS |
Making history were the 12 inter girls lining out in the first ever All Ireland schools’ steeplechase race. Jessica Coyne of Crescent Limerick won, with Sarah Fitzpatrick of Our Lady’s Terenure the runner-up.
In the field, Jamie Murtagh of Ashbourne CS won an absorbing inter high jump on countback at 1.97m; second was David Cussen CSN Cork. Also for Ashbourne, junior Keith Marks won the high jump and Shane Joyce the triple jump. In the senior high jump, Andrew Heney of Mount Temple arrived on crutches yet managed a winning leap of 1.90m.
Thrower of the day was Alice Akers of Scariff CC with a throw of 48.22m in the inter girl’s hammer – breaking big sister Rachel’s 11-year-old record.
Selecting the Lar Byrne Athlete of the Meet was no easy task. In the end Sarah Lavin’s 100m hurdles victory in a record time of 13.73 clinched it.
Ending the days was the senior 5000m, with Kevin Dooney of CBC Monkstown closing his schools career with a fine victory. Dooney moves to Yale University next autumn. Best wishes to all schools athletes in their future careers!
* Cillian Kirwan from St Fintan’s High School in Sutton had the honour of running with the Olympic Flame into Howth last Wednesday where he was greeted by President Michael D Higgins and Sebastian Coe of the London Olympics.
* Cillian Kirwan from St Fintan’s High School in Sutton had the honour of running with the Olympic Flame into Howth last Wednesday where he was greeted by President Michael D Higgins and Sebastian Coe of the London Olympics.
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