Most successful CYG for NI Athletics ever as medallists return home with Two Golds
27 July 2017
The gold medal winning performances by Aaron Sexton (North Down AC / Roger Sexton) and Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley AC/ Niall Wilkinson) last weekend at the Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas ensured that it was Athletics Northern Ireland’s most successful Youth Games yet.
NI & Ulster Senior Champion Sommer again bettered the Commonwealth Games High Jump standard of 1.82m by jumping 1.83m to take 1st place. Adding to her success, Sommer also managed to break the long standing 17 year old Commonwealth Youth Games record by 1cm, which was previously set by South Africa’s Marzca Gertenbach.
The weekend also saw another remarkable performance by Aaron as he shone in the 200m, recording a time of 21.93 in qualifying and 21.83 in the semi-final, before taking victory with a time of 21.57 (-1.5) in the final.
Anna McCauley (City of Lisburn AC / Maureen McCauley & Tom Reynolds) also performed well in her first major international competition by achieving a time of 14.26 in the 100m hurdles, just missing out on a spot in the final by one place. NI & Ulster Senior 400m medallist Davicia Patterson (Beechmount Harriers’ / Paul Magee) reached the 400m final with a time of 55.54 in the heats and followed this with a time of 55.86, achieving 8th place in the final.
Athletics Team Coach Laura Kerr was quoted saying, "All four athletes rose to the challenge of some of the best athletics nations in the world. Their commitment to hydration protocols, heat exposure and cooling strategies in the final days prior to competition paid off. I am delighted for Aaron and Sommer to have come away with gold medals. To hear the NI anthem twice on the final night at the stadium was very special for Team NI. Davicia Patterson (400m) overcame 6 weeks out of spikes to execute her 2nd best race ever and make the final and Anna McCauley (100m Hurdles) consolidated her excellent season only missing the final by 1 place. Ahead of the Gold Coast I am delighted to see such confidence and ambition amongst Northern Ireland's athletes and coaches."
The Commonwealth Youth Games in the Bahamas was definitely one to remember for sport in Northern Ireland as outside athletics, five silver and five bronze medals were also excellently achieved by other NI team members.
To see the NI Athletes returning home CLICK HERE