AAI Junior & U23 Championships, Tullamore

Leevale athletes had a successful day at the AAI Junior & U23 Championships, which were held in breezy conditions in Tullamore.

Patrick Maher started the day off on the perfect note by winning the Junior 400m hurdles in impressive fashion. Even with strong wind on the back straight, Patrick ran a very respectable 55.6 seconds. Teammate Chris Murnane finished in fourth place in the same race.

Kate Humphries competed in the Junior Women’s 400m hurdles and 200m events. In the long hurdles she ran a brave race and pushed Orla Finn all the way, to finish in a strong second place. She then competed in the 200m spring and once again ran a strong race to finish in third place.

16-Year-old UK based, Paul Scanlan, competed in the Junior 400m. Paul has been selected for the Irish EYOD team travelling to Finland next month. He displayed the reason for his selection by running a time of 49.89 and finishing fourth overall.

Edmond O’Halloran guested in the Junior Men 110m Hurdles, just to get a timed run over the EYOD height of 3”. Based on today’s performance, there is not doubt that Ed will travel to Finland in excellent form.

Pawel Hazler dominated the U23 men’s throwing events, finishing first in the hammer & discus, while taking second in the shot putt. Pawel broke his first four throws in the hammer, but only needed one legal throw to win the event, which he did in the fifth round.

Louise McArdle’s form is improving with every run. Louise once again ran a PB to finish second in the U23 Women’s 400m in a time of 56.31. She then ran the 200m in a time of 25.40 to finish in fourth place.

Imelda Morrisson, home for the summer from Swansea University, competed in the U23 women’s long jump and finished in second place to Kelly Proper with a jump of 5.34m.

The day was rounded off by two strong realy races from the junior mens 4×100 and 4×400 teams. Both teams gave a display of strong running and sharp batton changes to win both races.

All the performances of the young athletes bear well for the next round of the leagues, which will be held in Santry next Sunday.

Leevale results:

JUNIOR MEN

JUNIOR WOMEN

U23 MEN

U23 WOMEN

Full results