Track and Field Season Underway

The Track and Field season has begun in earnest with three competitions taking place in the past week. On Wednesday last we had a number of our athletes competing in the District Schools in Antrim, on Wednesday night the Donegal U9, 10 and 11 Championships were held at the Finn Valley Centre and on Sunday the Un-even age groups and Senior and Masters Championships were held at the Finn Valley Centre also.

Many of our athletes were competing for their various schools in Antrim on Wednesday endeavouring to qualify for the Ulster Schools Championships, which will also be held in Antrim on the 20th and 21st May.

District Schools in Antrim

In the minor girls Karen Ferguson had a very good run winning the 800m in 2.44. Jodie Stewart won the 75m Hurdles, Laura Feely was 2nd in the Shot and also qualified automatically for the Hammer. Aileen Brennan was 2nd in the High Jump, Fionnuala Lindsay was 2nd in the 1500m and Ailish Patton was 3rd in the 800m.

In the Intermediate girls Laura Friel followed up her victory the previous week in Belfast with a very impressive 1.62m High Jump and was delighted with her new p.b. Breda McGinty was an easy winner in the 1500m and Shauna Guthrie was 2nd in the 3000m. Automatic qualification for Aoife Whelan and Clara Dunnion in the 1200m Walk, Geraldine Kelly in the Triple Jump, Nikki Alcorn in the Pole Vault and 3000m Walk, Fionnuala Bruton, Maeve Culhane and Charlene Kelly in the 2000m Walk.

In the Junior Boys Clive Heapes was 2nd in the Hammer. In the Intermediate boys Ian Ward won the 1500m with Enda Doherty 2nd, Enda won the 3000m. Ciaran McNulty won the Javelin and 3rd in the Shot with Gavin McCrudden 2nd in the Javelin. Paul Doherty qualified automatically for the 100m Hurdles.

In the Senior Boys Stewart McClean won the 400m (52.9) and was 3rd in the 200m. Alan Cavanagh won the 5000m and was 3rd in the 2000m Steeplechase. Michael Reid was 2nd in the Discus and 3rd in the Javelin.

All the above athletes have now qualified for the Ulster Schools Finals in Antrim on Friday and Saturday and we wish them all the best of luck.

Donegal Championships

On Wednesday night our U9, U10 and U11 athletes competed in the Donegal Track and Field Championships with excellent performances from Caoimhe McMenamin, Daniel McGlinchey and Blaithnid Patton. On Sunday the un-even age groups, Seniors and Masters were in action with many medal winning performances by our athletes.

Jodie Stewart won the U15 Hurdles and Long Jump and was 2nd in the 200m, Ciara Gallen won the U17, Javelin, Hammer and Discus and was 3rd in the hurdles, 200m and Long jump. Aoife Whelan won the 2000m Walk U15, Fionnuala Bruton won the U17 walk and was 2nd in the Shot, Maeve Culhane won the 3000m U17, Laura Friel won the High Jump U17 (1.55m), Shareen McCrudden won the U15 Javelin, Laura Feely won the U15 Shot and was 2nd in the Javelin, Madeline Penrose won the U15 Walk.

Stewart McClean won the U19 200m and Javelin, Clive Heapes won the Shot, Javelin, Discus and Hammer U15 making it a clean sweep for him in the all the throwing events U15, Gavin McCrudden (37.80m) won the U17 Javelin, Ian Ward won the U17 3000m , Gavin Carlin won the U15 200m, High Jump and was 3rd in the Shot. Paul Doherty won the U17 Hurdles, 200m and was 3rd in the Javelin, Michael Penrose won the U15 Walk.

Cormac Gallen was 2nd in the U15 Discus and 3rd in the Hammer, Ryan McNulty, Silver in the U13 Long Jump and bronze in the 800m and Javelin.

Ciara Hegarty was 2nd in the U17 800m, Mark Bonner 2nd in the U13 800m, Denise Beirne 2nd U 17 200m and 3rd Long Jump, Darren McGlinchey 2nd U17 3000m, Bronagh Sweeney 2nd U17 3000m, Alan Cavanagh 2nd U19 3000m, Rochelle Tourish 2nd U13 Javelin, Karen Ferguson 2nd U13 Long Jump, Clara Dunnion 2nd U15 Walk, Matthew Kelly 2nd U15 Javelin.

Bronze medals for Eilish Patton U15 800m with a new p.b. of 2.36.8, Brian Patton in the U19 800m, Caroline Moss U13 Shot, Aoife Gallagher U13 200m, Christopher Gallagher U13 Shot, Siobhan Gallagher U15 High Jump and Ciaran McGill U15 Javelin.

In the Senior Championships Enda Doherty was 2nd in the 800m and Frank Chaney was 3rd. Gerard Doherty was 2nd in the Discus and 3rd in the Hammer, Brendan Alexander was 3rd in the Javelin and Michael Penrose was 3rd in the 3000m.

In the Masters George Gallen won the Javelin with Michael Kelly 3rd and Drew Doherty was 2nd in the 3000m.

Kieran McConnell

Congratulations to club athlete Kieran McConnell who competed in his County Championships in England last weekend and won both the U20 and Senior Discus events. Kieran threw 45.95 with the 1.75kg Discus U20 and 40.72 with the 2kg Discus in the Senior Championships. This was excellent throwing from Kieran who had missed two months training in the winter due to injuries but is obviously in top form again.

Upcoming Competitions

The Finn Valley area Primary Schools Track and Field will take place on the 18th and 19th May, Ulster Schools Finals in Antrim on 20th and 21st May and the Donegal Senior and Even-age group Championships in Letterkenny on the 29th May.

Newsletters by Bernie Alcorn, Club P.R.O.