Derval O’Rourke Doubles at All Ireland Championships

 

Once again weather conditions for the Nestle All Ireland schools track and field championships were a big disappointment, with rain and cold conditions the order of the day at the magnificent Tullamore Harriers stadium.  Derval O’Rourke of Christ King was far from disappointing however, with a most impressive double, winning the 100m and 100m hurdles without too much effort.  Darren Coughlan of Hamilton Bandon had a good win in the senior 200m with a time of 22.48 and was third in the 100m behind Jer O’Donoghue of St. Brendan’s Killarney whose wining time was 11.14. Jessica Zebo of Regina Mundi hurdled fluently to win the inter 80m hurdles in 12.31 with Niamh Cremin of Ursuline Blackrock third in 12.62.  Deirdre Ni Mhurchu of Colaiste an Phiarsaigh in Glanmire again repeated her double of last year.  Competing in the intermediate throws she had little difficulty winning both the shot with 10.45 and discus with 37.38.  The throws proved successful for Fionnuala Lombard of Mount Mercy who won the senior shot with 10.94 and placed third in the discus, while Elaine O’Callaghan of St. Mary’s Mallow won the inter high jump with a jump of 1.65.  Niamh Walsh of St. Mary’s Midleton was an impressive winner of the inter 300m hurdles in 45.09 with Dawn Kelly of St. Aloysius third in 46.39.  Aisling Maunsell of colaiste Choilm was second in the inter 300m in 41.8, while Brian McCarthy of Youghal CBS was second in the inter long jump with 6.34.  James Grufferty of Bruce college was the only Cork runner to win a medal in the senior middle distance events.  He battled on strongly to take bronze in the 5,000m with a time of 15:18.53 behind Sean Connolly of Belvedere and Thomas Frazer of St. Malachy’s.  The winning time was 14:59.08.