Another Busy Weekend at the Munster Championships
Cork was the venue for two days of exciting Munster championship athletic events as West Waterford athletes took to the track and field to compete against the best in Munster in running, hurdling, throwing and jumping competing against the best in Munster. Luck was on our side as the weather stayed warm, dry and sunny over the two days.
Munster Titles for Sophie, Aisling, Isabelle and Michalina
Sophie Beresford enhanced her track record as a walker to watch for the future with a strong performance in the under 16 racewalking event crossing the line to take another Munster title in 9.24.13. Aisling Hickey continued the Costin race walking tradition with a good win in the girls under 13 event covering the distance in 12.27.88 for a new championship record. On Sunday West Waterford captured two more Munster titles. Isabelle Gaffney had a cracking battle over the last 150m with last year’s All Ireland champion Aisling Kelly of Ennis Track Club. Isabelle crossed the line first to take the under 16 800m title in a time of 2.19.92. Michelina Goclik has been making steady progress all year at the discus. She started the competition with a huge standing throw of over 27m and later using the turn threw 29m 26 to take the under 17 discus title. In the shot putt Michelina had a new personal best of 9m 45 to take the bronze medal.
Huge Personal Best for Noah Commins in the 1500m
It was a very good weekend of racing for Noah Commins. Competing in a stacked 800m on Saturday he again broke 2mins when finishing second in the 800m. On Sunday he took almost 10 secs off his best time in a very fast 1500m race crossing the line 3rd in a time of 4.09.42. Getting under 4.10 in the 1500 is another milestone all young athletes strive for and with his sub 2mins in the 800m his performances are heads in the right direction.
First Munster Medal for Kasey Connors
Our hurdlers have been progressing in leaps and bounds this year and showed over the two days that they can hold their own with the strongest clubs in Munster. On Sunday Kasey Connors had a great run in the 250m hurdles. Leading for much of the race she was just caught by Arwenn Mulligan close to the line finishing 2nd to win her first individual Munster medal in a new personal best time of 38.45 and this is a time that will improve the more she races. In the same race Siún Cunningham was 5th in 42.73. In the sprint hurdles Eabha Broderick and Madison Connors continue to improve their times with Eabhan running 13.23 and Madison 13.91 in the 75m hurdles. Siún was fastest over 80m hurdles in 15.25 with Luisne recording 15.70. In the 200m heats Kasey ran 27.58 in the heats to qualify for the final where she finished 8th. Eabha Broderick ran 29.15 in the under 14 heats and Ava Kiely clocked 29.93 in the under 15 heats.
Bronze for Ava Kiely in the under 15 Discus
The under 15 girls are on a steep learning curve in the discus and among a group of 4 of them anyone can come out on top on any given day. All the All Irelands Ava was the best of them finishing 4th in the schools event. On Saturday Lorraine Coakley turned the tables round to take the victory with Ava finishing 3rd with a best of 24m12. Mario Zakis had a new personal best in both the discus and shot as he qualified for the final eight in discus, javelin and Shot. His best finishing place was 4th in the discus which qualifies him for the All Ireland with a throw of 25m 48. Newcomer Dylan O’Leary was competing in his first Munster championships and he finished in the top ten in both shot and discus.
Maebh Rowe the best of the Long Jumpers
We had three newcomers competing in their first Munster championships in long and triple jumps. On Saturday Goda Mikalauskaite jumped 4m 10 in the under 15 long jump and finished 5th in the triple jump with 8m30. Ava Ryan also competed in the lon jump and had a best of 3m22. On Sunday Maebh Rowe made it into the final 8 with a best jump of 4.31. with only 4cms separating 4th to 8th place. Our sprinters were also in action on Sunday. Maddie Connors ran 11.61 to qualify for the semi finals of the 80m and to show she can do any event she also competed in the 1500m finishin g 10th in 5.45.26. In the 100m Kasey was fastest in 13.53 with Luisne 14.06 and Maebh 14.88. these three teamed up with Siúnto finish 6th in the under 16 relay in a time of 55.92 which meant all four ran faster in the relay than they did in their individual sprints.
Tailteann Games on Saturday in Carlow
It is a great honour to be selected on your provincial team for the annual schools inter provincial Tailteann Games which this year will be held in Carlow. West Waterford will have three athletes on the Munster Schools team. Isabelle Gaffney competes in the 800m, Noah Commins in the 1500m and Michalina Goclick in the Discus. This is possible the most difficult under age championships of the year as it puts the best of the under 15, 16 and 17 athletes from the four provinces against each other.
All Ireland Team Games in Tullamore
West Waterford will have its biggest ever group of athletes competing in the under 9-11 team games in Tullamore on Sunday next. In the under 9 category Maddie Grant and Hailey Phelan will compete in the Turbo Javelin and sisters Mollai and Íde ni Lonáin will compete in the 300m. In the long jump Rian Murray and Cillian O’Brien will compete under 10 and Alex Whelan and Andy Zakis will represent the club in the under 11 event. This is a team event where the scores of both athletes are added together to decide the meal winners. Best of luck to all 8 young athletes in their first All Ireland event.
Munster B Championships in Templemore on Saturday
Any athlete who competed in the Munster Championships in Waterford on the 6th and 7th of June and in Cork on the 14th and 15 and did not win a medal can compete in the Munster B Championships in Templemore. This is a good stepping stone for new athletes to be competitive at a Munster championships event and we would encourage all those who are eligible to compete to do so.
Great Jumping at Week 2 of the Club Championships
We have a good turn out across all the ages for the club championship with all ages running the long sprint last week and other jumping and throwing. The highlight of last weeks competition was the boys under 10 long jump where Rian Murray jumped 4mts for the first time and Cillian O’Brien jumped 3m83. This is an improvement of half a metre on their performance in the county championships and their combined score would have won the Munster championships in their age group. This week sees everyone competing over middle distance races and its the turn of the under 11 athletes to take to the long jump.
Dates for All Ireland Qualifiers
The All Ireland Championships will be held over 3 days in June and July. The following West Waterford athletes have qualified.
Saturday June 28th
Michelina Goclik Discus 2pm Shot 4pm
Ava Kiely Discus 11.15
Sophie Beresford Walk 3.30
Sunday June 29th
Jarlath Hurney Shot 10.00
Mario Zakis Discus 10.00
Isabelle Gaffney 800m 1.30
Noah Commins 800m 1.30
Sunday July 12th
Kasey Connors 250 Hurdles
Noah Commins 1500m
