Multiple Medals for Northern Irish Athletes in Glasgow, Cardiff and Athlone
30 January 2017
Scottish U17 and Senior Championships, Glasgow
A number of athletes travelled over to the Emirates Arena for the Scottish Senior and U17 Championships. Emma Mitchell (Queens / Eamon Christie) continued her outstanding winter when yet again beating her 1500m PB, taking the title in 4.16.20. Sprinter Dean Adams (Ballymena & Antrim) had set himself up well to challenge for medals in the 60m having run 6.94 in the semi-final but unfortunately his blocks slipped in the final and he did not finish. North Down AC athlete Clare Robinson had a PB in the 60m Hurdles with 9.45 when finishing 5th and an even more impressive PB in the Long Jump with 5.52m to take bronze in the Senior Women’s event.
There were also some excellent performances from young athletes including Bahamas Commonwealth Youth Games athletes Sommer Lecky (Finn Valley / Niall Wilkinson) and Davicia Patterson (Beechmount / Paul Magee) who dominated the High Jump and 300m with performances of 1.78m and 39.66 respectively. There was also a PB for Youth Academy 60m Hurdler Holly Mulholland (City of Lisburn / Sue Mulholland) who took 0.19 off her run from UUJ last week with 9.11.
Impressive start to season for Reid at Welsh Championships
Leon Reid (James Hillier) was close to his best when winning his heat at the Welsh Championships in 6.78 before taking gold in the final in 6.85.
Andrew Wright (Willowfield Harriers / James Thie & Mark Kirk) won his 800m heat before just missing the podium by a few tenths in the final with 1.55.17.
Irish U20 and U23 Championships, Athlone
There were a huge number of Medals and Personal Bests in Athlone on Sunday. Christian Robinson (City of Lisburn / Alan Kennedy) went in to the U23 60m as the second fastest qualifier but came through strongly in the final 20m to take the title in a PB of 6.92. Brothers John and James Kelly (both Finn Valley / John Kelly Snr) took the U23 and U20 shot titles with PB’s and 16.75m (7.26kg) and 15.08m (6kg) respectively.
Pole Vaulter Ellie McCartney (City of Lisburn AC / Jim Alexander) won the U20 event with 3.45m before attempting and narrowly missing what would have been a new Irish U20 record of 3.61m. Her training partner, Shane Martin (Ballymena & Antrim / Jim Alexander) won the U20 men’s pole vault with his opening height of 4.10m.
Naomi Morgan (City of Derry / Tom Reynolds) won the U23 Women’s 60m Hurdles in a seasons best of 9.21 before adding 5cm to her HJ PB with 1.60m for the bronze medal. In his first year in the U20 age group Aaron Sexton (North Down AC / Roger Sexton) ran an impressive indoor 200m PB to finish in second position with 21.76 behind Mark Smyth in 21.61.
Craig Newell (Ballymena & Antrim / Ian Neely) twice bettered his outright 400m PB with 49.43 in the heats before taking the bronze medal in 49.47. Caitlin Maguire (North Belfast / Bill Kelly) finished 5th in the 60m with a PB of 7.74 before reaching the final of the 200m from the tough inside lane. Andrew Proctor (Lagan Valley / Phill Snoddy) ran PBs in the 60m 7.15 and 200m 22.68 and finished 5th in the U20 200m final. Garbhan McKenna (Ulster University, Shercock AC / Tom Reynolds) ran a seasons best in the U23 60m Hurdles of 8.59 to take the silver medal.
Manchester Open Meeting
Kerry O’Flaherty (Newcastle AC / Richard Rodgers) produced another solid 3000m time in the build up to the Irish Senior Championships in three weeks’ time with 9.18.06.
London Indoor Games
Sarah Connolly (North Down AC / Martin Brockman) narrowly missed her PB by 0.01 when winning the C race of the London Indoor Games with 9.00.