Double Gold and Championship Record for Isabelle Gaffney at 123.ie All Ireland Indoor Championships
It was a great weekend in Athlone for Isabelle Gaffney as she claimed two All Ireland Titles and a new championship record. It started on Saturday with the 800m. Running in the second of two heats Isabelle took control of the race from the gun and showing great tactical awareness she held the inside line throughout the four laps. When the challenges came on the second and third laps she upped her speed to hold her position and sprinted clear on the last lap to come home a convincing winner in 2.11.93 a time just marginally outside the championship record.
Sunday was going to prove a tougher day with heats and a final of the 400m to navigate. First up at 10am were the 400m heats. With four heats only the winner of each heat was guaranteed a place in the final with the two fastest non automatic qualifiers going through. With such a tough qualifying standard all four heats were hotly contested and Isabelle won her heat posting the fastest time of the day. In the final Isabelle came out of the bend in 5th place and she used her speed on the straight to move up to second. Having successful rounded the bend she took the lead on the back straight and held it all the way to the line in 56.28 almost half a second faster than the old Championship record.
Personal Best for Aisling Hickey in under 14 Race Walk
West Waterford had just one other competitor in action in Athlone on Sunday as Aisling Hickey took to the line for her first All Ireland Competition. Race Walking is making a huge resurgence in Ireland at the moment and that was evident from both the numbers competing in each age group and the standard of the walking. The under 14 walkers started at a very fast pace which they held throughout the 1000m. Aisling slotted into 4th place for the first three laps but was challenged by two more athletes in the closing laps. One got past but she held off the other to finish in 5th place walking 18secs faster than she did in her Munster Championships.
Training on the Track In Clonmel on Wed 1st and Tues 7th April
On Wednesday next our training will move to the track in Clonmel. The bus will leave the Friary @10am. This will be a great opportunity for our young athletes to get some practise on the track before the county championships kick off in late April. We hope to see you all in Clonmel on Wednesday.
