Beyond Paris
09 August 2024
Photo Credit: Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
With most of the focus being on Paris, local competitions are still on going. Over the past couple of weeks there have been some stand out performances from Northern Irish athletes in the National U20 & U23 Outdoor Championships, Athletics NI Open Meet, Carlingford 5k, Road Runners Race Series, Day 3 of the Irish Juvenile Championships, London Diamond League and a few more.
There were some impressive sprint performances in the National U20 & U23 Outdoor Championships, with a PB for Jamie Moffatt (North Down AC) of 10.66 (wind -0.2) to secure silver in the Men’s U20 100m with Euro U18 finalist Ben Sykes (Orangegrove AC) in third in a time of 10.78. In the Men’s U20 200m, Toby Thompson (Ballymena & Antrim AC) was second in 21.72 (wind +1.7) and European U18 medallist Conor Kelly (Derry Track Club) did his World U20 selection prospects the world of good taking gold in the Men’s U20 400m with 47.62 and Adam Courtney was fourth in a very competitive 48.72.
There was a win for Lughaidh Mallon (Lagan Valley AC) in the Men’s U20 1500m, this secured his selection for the World U20 Championships which are being held in Peru later this month. In the Women’s U23 1500m Rebecca Rossiter (CNDR) finished third and Roise Roberts (CNDR) finished second in the Women’s U23 5000m.
In the throws Ellie McCurdy (Lifford Strabane) took the Women’s U20 Javelin gold in a SB of 38.89m and Youth Academy athlete Blaine Lynch (Finn Valley AC) took bronze in the Men’s Javelin with 51.70m.
Additionally, the Athletics NI Open Meeting held at the Mary Peters Track last Thursday night saw 140 athletes compete in a variety of track and field events with ideal conditions producing many PB’s and SB’s. This was a meeting organised with short notice and thank you to the officials and ANI staff it proved to be a very successful event.
The annual Carlingford 5k was held with victory in the Women’s race going to Hannah Gilliland (Annadale Striders) with clubmates Robyn McKee 3rd and Cameron Stewart finished 2nd in the Men’s race. Friday also had the inaugural Road Runners AC Road Races at the Maze Complex in Lisburn with wins for Gladys Ganiel (North Belfast Harriers) in the Women’s 10k and Eskander Turki (Annadale Striders) in the Men’s 10k.
Elsewhere, on the previous weekend James Gormley (Carmen Runners) ran a PB of 3.36.66 in the 1500m at a meeting in Belgium.
Day 3 of the Irish Juvenile Championships brought more success for local athletes. Harry McKenzie (Enniskillen RC) won gold in the Boy’s U17 1500m with Ava Diver (Beechmount Harriers) finishing third in the Girl’s U17 1500m race. In the Girl’s U19 1500m Annabel Morrison (Enniskillen RC) finished second in a tactical race.
Nick Griggs (CNDR) continued his run of good form with another NI record in the 3000m running 7.36.59 in the London Diamond League. A few days later in the Tooting BMC, he lowered his 1500m PB to 3.35.04 also taking a convincing win in a high-class field.