Doubles Success at South Munster Schools for Leevale Athletes

The second day of the Evening Echo South Munster schools track and field championships were held at the CIT track today, with ideal weather conditions.  The noticeable feature of the two days of competition has been the change in fortune of the various disciplines in the sport.  Sprinting is now the strongest area of Cork athletics, with heats necessary in most age groups.  Middle distance, on the other hand, needs a big injection of effort to bring it back to full strength.  Darren O’Donovan of Colaiste an Spiorad Naomh (and Leevale) was in sparkling form in the senior sprints, winning the 200 impressively from Darren Coughlan of Hamilton Bandon.  The 100m was a much closer affair with the pair practically together until Coughlan pulled up with a hamstring problem some twenty metres from the line.  Sharon Kelly of Mount Mercy (and Leevale) was another to complete the double, winning both senior sprints, while John O’Sullivan of Colaiste an Spiorad Naomh (and Leevale) couldn’t have been more impressive in completing the intermediate double. Sean Conroy of North Mon (and Leevale), who recorded his first win in three years in the 800m at the first day of the championships, was back in action on Saturday in the senior 1,500m.  Taking the lead with 300m to go he easily pulled clear to win impressively from fellow Mon runner Robert Wade.  James Grufferty was fourth ahead of Ian Donovan.