National senior title no. 22 for Saragh
Saragh Buggy won her 22nd National title at the National Senior Championships at the weekend
IT was a sell out at the National Indoor Arena in Abbottstown for the National Senior Track and Field Championships which were held over last weekend.
From a St Abban’s perspective, the weekend once again belonged to Saragh Buggy who claimed her ninth consecutive National Senior Indoor Triple Jump title. It took a season’s best and national lead of 12.85 to land her latest national title. Her victory at the weekend adds to her previous 21 national titles making it 22 national titles for Saragh.
In the competition, Saragh registered five jumps but didn’t completely seal victory until her last jump. She opened with a mark of 12.44, increased this to 12.47 on her second round, before increasing it again in round three with a mark of 12.55m. Round four saw a 12.20m jump before a huge leap in round five of 12.85 ensured Saragh took the gold medal.
On what was already a fantastic day for the club, it was made even more special when her coach Eoin Kelly was presenting the triple jump medals, a previous winner of the men’s event himself.
Saragh’s brother Eoghan was in action in the 400m where he finished just outside the qualifying placings running 50.37. John Delaney also missed out on qualification for the final when he placed sixth in the semi-final in 51.07. Ger Kelly was in action in the Men’s Weight for Distance where his best of 5.42m was good enough for sixth place. Maisy O’Sullivan also safely navigated her way through to Sunday’s final of the Women’s 800m when she finished in second place in heat two.
Onn the second day of the championships, St Abban’s had a host of athletes in action but unfortunately they just missed out on podium positions.
Maisy O’Sullivan came closest when she finished in fourth place in the Women’s 800m. Maisy was positioned well throughout but was overtaken on the final lap. Her time of 2:10 was just two seconds outside the medals.
Ger Kelly was back in action in the Men’s Shot Putt where his throw of 9.86m saw him finish in seventh place. Grace Fitzgerald was in the Women’s Long Jump where her best of 5.35m also saw her finish in seventh place. Amazingly just 1cm separated the athletes from fourth place back to seventh showing the fine margins involved in the Long Jump pit.
Well done to each of the athletes involved over the weekend and also to their coaches and support teams which ensures they can excel on weekends like this.
