The Capri-Sun All Ireland juvenile track and field championships were held in Tullamore Harriers stadium this weekend in cold and wet conditions. Under-age athletics tends to be unpredictable, and nowhere could this be better exemplified than in the boys under 18 400m. Here, Barry O’Brien of Leevale (cool guy in shades) went off at the gun a little slower than he normally does. But the tactic worked a treat for the well built six-footer as he took over the lead at the halfway stage, and then battled on strongly down the home stretch to win in a time of 52.57. Incredibly, this was his first ever 400m victory at any level, despite the fact that he has been running them for a couple of years! On Sunday, Barry continued his good form with a third place finish in the high jump with a 1.85m clearance. A sure sign that success always comes to the athlete who keeps on trying and puts in the work. Elsewhere, there was more success for Cork athletes in the field events. Brian Wall of Kelly of Ballincollig second, while Wall also took second in the javelin Fionnuala Lombard of Leevale won the under 17 shot with 12.58, and was second in the discus with 30.12. Clubmate Deirdre Murphy won her under 16 shot with 11.08, made it a double with victory in the discus with a throw of 32.15, and Niamh O’Riordan of Togher won the under 18 shot with 9.41. On the track Martina Hickey of West Muskerry took the lead at the gun and was never headed, winning in a time of 4:42.2. Dawn Kelly of Belgooly had a good win in the under 17 300m in 42.60, and Sinead Falvey of Leevale did likewise in the under 18 400m hurdles, and finished 5th in the 400m.