St Abban’s juveniles pick up five medals at National Championships

DAY 1 and 2 of the National Juvenile Championships took place over the weekend in Athlone. St Abban’s had just over 20 athletes who qualified to compete across both of these days.

As with any national championships, it was extremely competitive in Athlone across both days and their athletes rose to the occasion putting it up to the best in the country.

On Day 1 Joshua Crosby put in an outstanding performance taking gold in the Boys U/16 Shot Putt. His throw of 13.96 was a new PB for Joshua and came in the opening round of the competition. He backed it up with three throws around 13.70m stamping his authority on the competition.

Abbie Delaney was the club’s second medallist on Day 1 when she claimed bronze in the U/16 Girls Shot Putt. Abbie’s best throw also came in the first round which secured a bronze national medal.

The final medal winning athlete was John Delaney in the Boys U/19 800m. John’s run of 1.55 18 was a new PB in what was a very close 800m race.

Also in action on Day 1 was Roisin Kearney who just missed out on the podium in the U/13 Girls 60m Hurdles when she finished in fourth place in the final. Sinead Fitzpatrick finished in fifth place in the U/14 Girls 800m. Annabelle Lawlor ran a new PB in the U/18 Girls 800m of 2:30.

In the U/12 Boys Long Jump Leo Smith’s jump of 3.81m saw him finish in ninth place. Joseph Lawlor finished 11th in the U/13 Long Jump with a leap of 4.11m. Harry Brennan was 10th in the U/14 Long Jump with a jump of 4.22 with Shane Kelly not far behind with a jump of 4.02m.

Elanna Kelly cleared 1.35m in the U/16 Girls High Jump. Aaliyah Troy and Cara English finished in 10th and 11th in the U/17 Girls High Jump with both clearing 1.40m. In the U/13 Boys Shot Putt Oran McCarthy finished ninth with a throw of 8.89m. Grainne Doyle threw a new PB of 9.28m in the Girls U/16 Shot Putt which saw her finish in ninth.

Well done to all our juveniles who were out competing on Day 2. Lily O’Neill and Roisin Kearney picked up silver and bronze in the Girls U/15 60m Sprint and Girls U/13 Long Jump respectively. Lily qualified through her heat in first place, and followed this up with a great run in the final to take a silver medal. In the U/13 long Jump, Roisin worked herself into the competition with her best jump of 4.41m coming in Round 5.

John Delaney finally managed to break 50sec (Club Standard) for 400m but narrowly missed out on a bronze medal. Faye Brennan also narrowly missed out on a medal when she finished in sixth in the U/14 Girls 60m Sprint. Faye finished ninth in the Long Jump with a best jump of 4.34m. Cara English competed in the U/17 Girls 400m finishing fifth in Heat 1 of the 400m. Cathal English’s clearance of 1.35m saw him finish in ninth in the U/14 Boys High Jump. Will Duffy competed in Heat 2 of the U/17 Boys 1500m.

Well done to all of the athletes who competed so successfully across the weekend. Also a huge thank you to their coaches and families who give up their time to ensure athletes are prepared well for these events.

Cian takes Laois Senior Road Title Cian Kelly backed up his Laois Senior Cross Country victory when taking the Laois Senior Road title on a beautiful morning in Ballyroan. The race was held on the familiar loop out of Ballyroan village and returning via the Abbeyleix Road.

From the outset Cian McDonald made the early pace, with Cian some distance back. As the race progressed Cian Kelly managed to bridge the gap and as they returned to the village for the final time Cian Kelly had made the race his own, taking victory from Cian McDonald.

Brian Kelly had a similar battle with Jack McMahon, with Brian overcoming Jack in the final kilometre to take the bronze medal. Stephen Hunter was sixth and Colin Coyne ninth to complete the scoring team who had to settle for silver medals after losing out to Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District by a single point. Also in action in the Men’s race were David McEvoy 10th, Dermot Ayers 13th and James Nolan in 26th.

In the ladies’ race Niamh Quinn set out with the leading group of Lisa Sweeney and the two McDonald sister Breda and Kate. When they returned from their loop, Niamh was in fifth place which she held all the way to the line. Claire Phelan was next in sixth, Aileen Lynch was third home for the club in 11th and Sinead Kelly completed the team in 14th. When the team scores were added together the ladies finished in third place behind Ballyroan Abbeyleix & District and St Michael’s.

Well done to all of these athletes who were out representing the club today and a big thank you to all in Ballyroan who hosted a very successful Laois Senior Road Championship.