NI AND ULSTER U14-U20 CHAMPIONSHIPS 2026

With places for the European U18 Championships on the line, the competition also provided athletes with an important opportunity to achieve qualification standards ahead of the championships in Rieti later this year.

One of the standout performances came from Madison Welby (City of Lisburn AC), who produced a superb gun-to-tape victory in the U17 girls 800m, clocking 2.09.48 to dip under the qualifying standard. Welby went on to complete a remarkable treble over the weekend, adding the 1500m title in 4.36.16 and the 400m crown in 59.01.

Ethan Carr (Ballymena and Antrim AC) also impressed with a dominant solo run in the U18 boys 400m. Carr recorded a personal best of 48.57, a performance that also moved him inside the qualifying standard for the European U18 Championships.

The U19 boys 200m final produced one of the closest finishes of the weekend. Jack O’Connor (Enniskillen AC) and Harrison Jamison (North Down AC) could not be separated on the photo finish, with both athletes awarded the gold medal after being given identical times of 22.83.

There was another thrilling finish in the U18 girls 100m final, where Kayla Russell (Lifford Strabane AC) edged victory by just two one-thousandths of a second from Ella McKelvey (Fast Twitch Athletics). Both athletes were officially credited with the same time of 13.02.

Annabell McDonagh (Annalee AC) delivered a hugely impressive front-running performance to win the U14 girls 800m in 2.14.59 — a time bettered only by Madison Welby across all age groups over the weekend. McDonagh later completed the middle-distance double by taking the 1500m title the following day in 4.49.48.

In the field events, Tara Laverty (Carrick Aces) also surpassed the European U18 standard in the discus with an outstanding throw of 45.44m. Laverty capped an exceptional championships by also winning the U18 girls shot with 12.58m and the hammer with 48.78m, completing what must rank as one of the most unique trebles in the history of the championships.

Curtis Ford (Lagan Valley AC) continued his impressive progress in the javelin, producing a winning throw of 61.12m. His performance placed him more than twenty-five metres clear of his nearest rival and moved him closer to the European U18 javelin qualifying standard.

Congratulations must go to all athletes who competed across the weekend, with the depth of talent on display highlighting a bright future for athletics in Northern Ireland and Ulster. For many of these young athletes, these championships may prove to be just the first chapter in what could become many years of impressive performances and success at national and international level.