U18 European Medallists & Broken Records

Ben Sykes (Orangegrove AC) set a new record, surpassing Aaron Sexton’s U18 100m three times over two days in at the European U18 Championships in Banska Bystrica, Slovakia. Despite being young for his age group, Sykes won his heat in 10.71, the semi-final in 10.65, and finished 7th in the final with 10.75. Conor Kelly (Derry Track Club) broke the 47 second barrier with a remarkable 46.97, earning the bronze medal and breaking his own Irish and NI U18 record.

Ulster athletes shone at the championships with Thomas Williams (Shercock AC) became the U18 European Champion in the Hammer with a throw of 73.95m. Ethan Dewhirst (Tir Chonaill AC) won his 400mH heat in 52.65 but did not advance from the semi-finals. Caolan McFadden (Cranford AC) ran 4:03.97 in his 1500m heat but did not progress to the final. Caoimhe Gallen (Lifford Strabane AC) threw 58.83m in the Women’s Hammer, finishing 7th in the qualification round. Erin Friel (Letterkenny AC) competed in the Women’s Sprint Medley Relay team, finishing 6th in their heat.

At the SIAB Schools International in Carmarthen, Wales, Joshua Awujoola (Orangegrove AC) finished 4th in the 200m with a PB of 22.24. Kacper Zmslony (Newry AC) also secured 4th place in the 400m with a PB of 50.20, and Cameron McCracken (North Down AC) was 5th in the 100mH with 13.63.

In the 3000m events, Harry McKenzie (Enniskillen RC) finished 4th with a new PB of 8.43.68, Ava Diver (Beechmount Harriers) was 5th with 10.18.32, and Emily Morris (Willowfield Harriers) was 6th with 10.22.37.

Caleb McFadden (Ballymena & Antrim AC) took 2nd in the High Jump with a seasons best of 1.94m, and Javelin thrower Austin Adair (Ballymena & Antrim AC) finished 3rd with a throw of 54.86m.

At Day 2 Irish Juvenile Championships in Tullamore, Jamie Moffatt (North Down AC) broke the U19 Boys 100m record in 10.70 which would have been a PB but for the wind of +2.1. Finn McClean (Regent House) earned silver in the U16 Boys 100m with 11.15 (wind +3.1), and Grainne Moran (Dundalk St Gerards AC) took silver in the U18 Girls 400m with 58.79.

Emer McKee (Willowfield Harriers) won the U17 Girls 3000m, Annabel Morrison (Enniskillen RC) won the U18 Girls 3000m, and Tom Fleming (Loughview AC) won the U18 Boys 3000m. Emily Morris (Willowfield Harriers) returned from the SIAB’s in Wales to finish 3rd in the U17 Girls 3000m. While Frank Buchanan (St Michaels AC) moving up in distance finished 2nd in the U19 Boys 3000m.

In the jumps, Jude Glover (Lagan Valley AC) was 3rd in the U16 Boys High Jump, and Harry Nelson (Lagan Valley AC) took 3rd in the U18 Boys Triple Jump with 12.54m. Paige Shaw (North Down AC) won gold in the U15 Girls High Jump with 1.62m. Blaine Lynch (Finn Valley AC) won the U19 Boys Javelin title with a throw of 50.26m, and Jason Craig (Lagan Valley AC) came 3rd with 39.75m.

Elsewhere, Nick Griggs (CNDR Track Club) ran in his first Diamond League and rose to the big occasion, lowering his recent 3000m record set in Cork by five seconds to clock 7.36.59 finishing 10th in a world class field. Rachel McCann (North Down AC) raced in Belgium, finishing 5th with 54.16, and a few days earlier, she placed 2nd in Italy with 54.68.