Medals, Personal Bests & Qualification to All-Irelands for Rising Stars!

Rising Stars is one of Athletics NI flagship programs that helps those athletes at the foundation stage of the pathway continue to develop and train together once a week, with squad members from all over NI, many in clubs and a few competing as individuals, they turn up no matter what the weather throws at them and give it everything in each session! Credit to their club coaches and parents as well for the support outside their weekly squad training.

We encourage and promote a multi event approach for the squad to help drive the fundamental movements and create healthy, robust athletes who can move well.

Over the past month we have seen great successes (and many more not reported below)

UUJ Indoors

At the beginning of the month we saw many members of the squad descend on UUJ for the indoor throws, jumps and sprints events held over two weekends, with podiums galore!

Jumps and Throws

Nyla 1^st in Long jump with a 20cm PB.

Eve 2nd in Long Jump only 2cm behind fellow RS team mate Nyla, 3rd in High Jump and 4th in Shot

Isobel 1^st in her Long Jump, 2^nd in High Jump and 3^rd in Shot Putt

Rebekah coming in 3^rd in both the Shot and Long Jump!

Sprints and Hurdles

Eve returned the following week to finish 1st in the 60m Hurdles 3rd in the 60m Sprint.

Maisie proved that her focus on shorter events was paying off with a 1st in the 60m Sprint and 2nd in the 60m Hurdles.

Fiachna performing well over his sprints with a 2^nd  place in 60m Hurdles and 3^rd in his 60m sprint!

James finished 6th in the U16 60m sprint with a new personal best of 8.26

Parkrun

In Craigavon parkrun two of the squad took the top two positions with Adam taking 1^st in 17:33 and Harley mere seconds behind with a time of 17:44

Cross Country

We have a strong endurance background in the group, this was evident with some of the Cross-country District Performances across NI and Ulster

Rebekah – 9^th Minor

Ollie – 1^st Minor

Fahlin – 2^nd Minor

Fiachna – 6^th Minor

Eve - 6th Minor

Maisie - 11th Minor

Isobel – 6^th Minor (also helping her school finish in 1^st!)

Aaron - 7th Junior

David – Inter Boys (18:54)

Many of the squad have now qualified for All-Irelands after their amazing performances in the Ulster’s!

As Cross Country season nears its end, the South Down McGrady’s Financial Services Junior Cross Country Series came to a close this month also with podium places for 4 of the Rising Stars Squad. Fiachna, Eve and Aaron won outright with straight wins in their age categories and Maisie placed 3rd overall across the series.

Road Running

On a cold wet night in Armagh, Ollie (3^rd) and Fionn (10:32) had great races! Fiachna finished 12th after powering up the final 400m and Maisie took 14th place in the equivalent girls race. Thanks to Armagh AC for a great event.

Beyond Athletics

Outside of athletics Alice captained her U13 volleyball team to a win in the NI Championships, showing her multi-event and multi-port skills!

Eve was an integral member of her school's Year 9 Netball team as they narrowly missed out on winning the Minor B N.I. League Final.

There are many more results and performances across the board, and we could spend all day writing about them!

Rising Stars applications will open again in August / September 2024 with a view to adding to the existing squad.