International Weekend Roundup

24 July 2019

International Weekend Roundup

It was another busy weekend for Northern Ireland & Ulster athletes on International duty around Europe at the European U20 Athletics Championships, the Anniversary Games in London, the Ystadpelan meet in Sweden and the Schools International in Swansea.

Northern Ireland had two athletes invited to compete at the 2019 Anniversary Games in London’s Olympic Park stadium at the weekend. On Saturday, Ciara Mageean (Steve Vernon) finished 11th in the 1500m that started slow with athletes jostling for position and running wide before Laura Muir, of Scotland, pushed the pace and finished with a 57 second last lap. Ciara came home with a solid 4:03.7 and said, “I was disappointed with my position but it was another solid time [after her Northern Ireland record of 4:19.03 for the mile with a 4:01.21 split in Monaco] over the 1500 distance and another step in the right direction”.  The following day, Eve Walsh Dann (Roger Sexton) took to her starting blocks in the T38 100m and finished a superb 5th with 14.70 just 0.16 outside of her personal best. Eve relished the experience saying “I’m pleased with my performance in front of such a  big crowd.”

Meanwhile, Northern Ireland & Ulster celebrated seven medal winning performances at the Schools International, in Swansea. Oliver Swinney (Mike Fountain), Jenna Breen (Joanne Savage) and Ava Ross (Glaslough Harriers Monaghan) collected silver medals in the 100m, 300m and 3000m Walk respectively. Oliver ran a personal best time of 10.94 in the 100m whilst Jenna was just outside of hers with 39.74. Ava stopped the clock at 16:09 in the Walk. Jenna also collected a silver medal in a close run 4 X 100m relay where the Irish team just pipped Wales on the line. Bronze medals went to Victoria Lightbody (Andrea Anderson), Niamh Moohan (Tir Chonaill AC) and Joshua Knox (Michelle Rea). Victoria ran close to her best in the 800m when she finished 3rd in 2:10.96, Niamh ran a highly creditable 11.87 and Joshua jumped a personal best of 13.63 in the Triple Jump

Congratulations to all NI & Ulster athletes who were selected to represent the Irish team at the Schools International: Cara Laverty (1500m), Rosie Roberts (3000m), Rory Carson (200m) Cameron McCaughey (800m), Dylan McBride (1500m), Callum Morgan (3000m), Caelan Campbell (400mH), Daniel Scott (High Jump). Adam Badger (Long Jump), Shane Breslin (Shot). James Wright (Javelin). Jude McCrossan (Hammer)

Full results from the Schools International can be found here:

https://data.opentrack.run/x/2019/GBR/siab/event/

Also in Sweden, John Kelly, was re-writing our record books with a new Shot Put personal best of 1801. Please see the report here:

https://athleticsni.org/News/Athletics-NI-News/Ciara-Mageean-and-John-Kelly-break-their-own-Northern-Ireland-records

For a full report on the European U20 Athletics Championships see here: https://athleticsni.org/News/Athletics-NI-News/Shining-Generation-of-Northern-Irish-Juniors-Star-in-Sweden)

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