FINN ONEILL AND TROY MCCONVILLE CLAIM ALL IRELAND TITLES IN ATHLONE
15 October 2018
Finn O’Neill (Limavady GS) and Troy McConville (Craigavon Senior HS) claimed All Ireland Schools Combined Events titles as five local athletes picked up medals at the Athlone IT (Ireland) event (Saturday 13th October 2018).
Five athletes were also selected to represent the Ireland Schools team at the Schools Combined Events International in Glasgow, Scotland next month (November 2018).
City of Derry AC spartan Finn O’Neill set three new personal bests on his way to victory in the Minor Boys category, where he finished on an impressive 2938 points (1st place); Finn, who is young enough for this age group next year, ended his competition with a win in the 800m, running 2:11.34.
In the Intermediate Boys competition, Northern Ireland based pair Troy McConville (Craigavon Senior HS) and Jordan Cunningham (St Malachy’s AC) claimed the top two places. Troy hit three new personal bests, including at 12.47m Shot Put and 23.19 200m on his way to victory, finishing on 3596 points (1st place), while Jordan set four new personal bests, including an 8.41 60m Hurdles and 23.00 200m, to secure 2nd place with 3480 points. In the Intermediate Girls category, Niamh McCorry (Loreto College Cavan) finished with strong Shot Put and 800m performances to move up to Bronze with 3144 points.
There was further success for familiar faces in the Junior Boys and Girls categories. Molly Curran (St Ciaran’s College) took 2nd place in the girls standings with 3194 points (including an impressive Shot Put of 11.63m) , while Finlay Stewart (Belfast HS) also picked up a medal after reaching 2873 points for 3rd place in the boys competition.
To round off an excellent day for the Northern Ireland and Ulster athletes, Troy McConville, Jordan Cunningham, Niamh McCorry, Molly Curran, Finlay Stewart and Niamh Moohan earned selection for the Ireland Schools team who will compete in Scotland on Saturday 3rd November 2018.
Full results for the All Ireland Schools Combined Events Championships including a number of other impressive NI & Ulster performances are available HERE.
Elsewhere this weekend…
Mark McKinstry (North Belfast Harriers) and Catherine Diver (Beechmount Harriers) ran out victorious as athletes from across Northern Ireland descended on the DUB Playing Fields in Belfast for the annual Northern Ireland Masters Athletics Association (NIMAA) XC.
The event was also the trials for the upcoming British & Irish Masters International XC, which will take place in Wales next month (November 2018) and the NIMAA XC Championships.
In the men's 8k, Mark McKinstry showed his class with a strong dominant performance. The North Belfast Harriers man, a senior Northern Ireland cross country international, recorded 25:00 for 1st place. Behind, last year’s winner Allan Bogle (City of Derry AC) claimed 2nd place, before fellow North West based athlete Chris McGuinness (Foyle Valley AC) completed the top three in 26:10 (3rd place).
Catherine Diver saw off some excellent competition to win the ladies 6k event. The always impressive Beechmount Harriers athlete edged out Gemma McDonald (Ballycastle Runners) and Amy Bulman (Willowfield Harriers) to secure top honours. Catherine broke the tape in 22:26 (1st place), with Gemma following in 22:33 (2nd place) and Amy 22:56 for 3rd place.
The 6k event also included the Vet65+ Men and it was Paul Elliot of Beechmount Harriers who led the way, running 24:18 to lead the men home.