Isabelle, Rory, Saoirse, Doireann and Paul qualify for the 123.ie All Ireland Schools Championships.
It was a long trek to Castleisland for West Waterford athletes to compete at the 123.ie Munster Schools Championships. In near perfect conditions the competitions got underway @10am and the long programme of over 120 events was completed by 6pm.
Silver for Isabelle Gaffney
Competing in her first Munster Schools Championships and representing St Augustine’s Isabelle toed the line in the Minor Girls 800m. This was run at a very fast pace and Isabelle took 2nd place in a time of 2.15.88. In fact the Minor girls ran faster than the junior and intermediate girls with only the seniors running faster than them. Isabelle’s time was 10 secs faster than her time in East Munster.
Silver for Rory Donnolly
Rory Donnolly has taken up race walking this year and has improved with every outing. On Saturday last competing for St Augustine’s he finished 2nd in the Munster Schools Championships covering the 1200m distance in 7.23.39 and will now compete in his first ever All Ireland Championships in Tullamore.
Two Silver Medals for Saoirse Quinn
Competing for St Augustine’s in both the discus and hammer at Intermediate level Saoirse claimed a silver in both events. In a tight Discus competition she threw 28.29 for second place and in the hammer it took a personal best throw of 37.49 to secure the silver medal.
Bronze for Doireann in Senior Walk
Doireann Hickey was representing Meanscoil san Nioclas in the senior girls racewalking event. Doireann covered the 3000m distance in a time of 17.17 to take 3rd place in the event.
Bronze for Paul Mullarkey in Senior Shot
Competing in his final Munster Schools Championship as he sits the Leaving Cert in a couple of weeks time Paul Mullarkey made it on to the podium when he threw 10.24 to take third place in the Senior boys shot. Paul was representing Dungarvan CBS in the event.
The five medallists now qualify for the 123.ie All Ireland Schools Championships which this year will be held over two days Friday June 2nd and Sat June 3rd so check the timetable to see when your event is on.
In the junior boys 1500m Noah Commins just missed out a place in the All Ireland as he finished 4th in a very competitive junior boys 1500m with only 1sec separating the top 4 athletes. Sarah O’Riordan finished 5th in the Inter 800m in 2.42.69. Lauren Cliffe finished 6th in the 300m in 46.81 and Oisin Whelan was also 6th in the minor boys 800m in 2.20.46
Well done to all our athletes and coaches keep up the work now as its less than a month to the club championships.
Club Championships Continue this Week
Week three of the club championships will get under way this Wed @6pm. It is great to see so many of our younger athletes taking part in this event. This week its the longer races on the track starting with 400m for the under 9’s and moving up the distances as we move up the age groups to finish with 800m for the under and over 14 age group. Under 9’s will have the turbo javelin, under 11’s and 12’s the long jump and under 14’s the shot Putt.
