James Kelly secures IAAF World Junior Championships standard in Donegal

15 May 2018

James Kelly secures IAAF World Junior Championships standard in Donegal

Finn Valley AC star James Kelly threw an IAAF World Junior Athletics Championships qualifying standard on his way to victory at the 49th annual Donegal Track & Field Championships in Stranorlar at the weekend (Sunday 13th May 2018).

On his last throw of the day, James launched his 6kg Shot Putt 18.30m, a new personal best.

Fellow Finn Valley AC athlete Blaine Lynch was also in impressive form in the field, landing a 43.16m effort in the Javelin (400g) competition. This is the longest throw ever by an Irish Under 13 athlete and is the longest throw in the UK and Ireland this year by an Under 13 athlete.

Brendan O’Donnell (Lifford Strabane AC) set a new County senior record in the Hammer, with a 56.09m effort.

In the men’s competition, there were double gold medal winning performances by Simon Archer (Finn Valley AC) in the 100m and 200m, Danny Mooney (Letterkenny AC) in the 800m and 3000m, Damian Crawford (Lifford Strabane AC) in the Shot Putt and Discus, Aidan Gillespie (Rosses AC) in the Long Jump and High Jump.

Dylan Kearns (Finn Valley AC) in the Javelin, Aidan Gillespie (Rosses AC) in the Long Jump and Chris Kearns (Finn Valley AC) in the 400m Hurdles all successfully retained their titles from last year.

In the women’s events Emma Brown (Finn Valley AC) was the outstanding performer with a treble in the 100m, 200m, and 400m events. Bridget McDyer (Finn Valley AC), who has recently been selected for the Irish Universities team retained her shot title.  Lagan Valley AC’s Lynsey Glover also successfully defended her Hammer title.

Full results for the event are available HERE.  Report compiled with information from Athletics Donegal.  Photo by Finn Valley AC.

Elsewhere this weekend…

A number of local athletes were in action at the British Milers Club (BMC) Sport City Grand Prix in Manchester, England (Saturday 12th May 2018).

Conall Kirk (Annadale Striders), Callum Crawford-Walker (Annadale Striders), Neil McCartan (East Down AC) and Rachel Gibson (North Down AC) all recorded personal bests.  Conall clocked 1:51.42 over 800m, with Callum running 1:52.45 over the same distance.  In the 5,000m, Neil crossed the line in 15:13.44, while in the 1500m, Racel continued her excellent start to the season with a 4:27.01 finish.

Great Britain & NI athlete James Hamilton (Ballymena Runners) ran a seasons best of 4:03.75 in the 1500m.