A: Grange, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, Ireland | E: info@mullingarharriers.com

AAI National Juvenile u/13 to u/19 T&F 2022 – Days 2 & 3 (9th/10th July)

 

Medals and personal bests at National Juvenile T&F

After some very mixed weather in June and into early July, the weather improved just in time for days 2 and 3 of the AAI National Juvenile T&F on Saturday 9th and Sunday 10th July. It was cloudy but very warm on Saturday, where the focus for Mullingar was on the race walks and the 3,000m events and on Sunday it was clear blue skies for the 200m and the 1,500m events. In all, Mullingar athletes won two gold, one silver and four bronze medals, had two fourth place finishes and ran six personal best times.

Despite being home just a day from competing at the European u/18 T&F in Jerusalem, Aisling Lane lost no time stamping her authority on the u/18 girls 3,000m race walk on Saturday morning and with a dominant display from gun to tape, recorded a fine victory and another National title in a season’s best of 14:41.60. On to the u/14 boys 2,000m race walk where Daniel Glennon put in a determined effort and was rewarded with second place and a well-deserved silver medal. John Glennon found conditions very tough in the u/16 boys 3,000m race walk as the oppressive heat took its toll but he pushed on to the end, finishing in fourth place, just out of the medals. We ended the walks as we started, with another outstanding performance from another athlete just returned from International duty in Jerusalem. Andrew Glennon waited until the final 2k of the u/18 boys 5,000m race walk to increase his effort and pace to slowly close down the early leaders and with a faultless display, took the lead to win by a distance in 23:45.92 and secure another gold medal for Mullingar.

In the u/16 boys 3,000m Jamie Wallace ran a very controlled race to remain in the leading pack throughout the race. The pace rapidly increased over the final lap and Jamie secured an excellent bronze medal in a time of 9:13.45, which  was a personal best by twelve seconds and is excellent running for that age group. Next up were Conor Sherwin and David Burke in the u/17 boys 3,000m. Conor immediately moved into the medal positions at the start of the race and like Jamie in the previous race, stayed focused on his target and was also rewarded with third place and  a bronze medal in a personal best time of 9:03.78. David Burke was competing in his first All-Ireland track and finished an excellent ninth place. Ross Killalea ran an excellent race in the u/18 boys 3,000m, contesting a medal right up to the final lap. In the end he had to settle for sixth place but had the satisfaction of breaking 9 minutes for the first time, finishing in 8:57.33, a new personal best time. Grace Byrne had a superb race in the u/17 girls 3,000m to finish fourth in a personal best time of 10:21.78. The first five athletes in the race were under the previous Championship Best, highlighting the quality of athletes in this age group.

Sunday was an absolute scorcher of a day, and by lunchtime the mercury was hitting 27degC in Tullamore under clear blue skies. Kyle Faherty safely negotiated the heats of the u/16 boys 200m to take his place in the final but he’s had a difficult year with injury and had to settle for a place out of the medals but can take some satisfaction from still being good enough to reach an All-Ireland final despite not being at his best.

Conor Walsh contested the u/14 boys 1,500m where he ran well in a very competitive race and though he finished out of the medals, the experience of competing in a National final will stand to him. Jamie Wallace ran a brave race in the u/16 boys 1,500m but his medal winning efforts over 3,000m the day before took their toll and he finished just outside the medals in sixth place, concluding an excellent season. Grace Byrne was back determined to get among the medals in the u/17 girls 1,500m. She ran a tactically astute race and produced her usual strong finish to take third place and a well-deserved bronze medal. Her time of 4:41.64 was again a huge breakthrough personal best time on a weekend where she confirmed her position as one of the leading juvenile middle distance athletes in Ireland. Conor Sherwin adopted brave front-running tactics in the u/17 boys 1,500m and was rewarded with a bronze medal in another personal best time of 4:09.59. This was his second National medal of the weekend and is a fitting reward for a rapidly improving athlete. Ross Killalea ran a really strong race in the u/18 boys 1,500m running close to his best but finished outside the medals in eighth place.

All our juvenile athletes will now take a well-earned break after a fantastic season where they represented Mullingar Harriers with distinction at both provincial and National level.