Youth Athletes from Northern Ireland Impress This Weekend
29 January 2019
A plethora of Northern Ireland’s athletes showed their talent this weekend at events across Ireland and the UK, as they took on the Irish Life Health Junior & U23 Indoor Meet; the Combined Events International; the Welsh Athletics Senior Championships and the Scottish National Senior & U17 Indoor Championships.
The Irish Life Health Junior & U23 Indoors saw a number of NI athlete travelling to the AIT International Arena in Athlone on Sunday 27th January 2019. Youth Academy athlete, Lauren Roy (City of Lisburn AC) won gold in a PB time of 7:42 in the Junior Women’s 60m Sprints final against Patience Jumbo-Gula (Dundalk St Gerards AC), who was part of the Silver-winning Irish 4x100m Relay Team for the IAAF World U20 Championships in Tampere in July 2018.
Beechmount Harriers’ Davicia Patterson also won gold in the Junior Women’s 200m Sprint in a time of 24.46, which also gained her a new PB. Jack O'Farrell (Burren AC) won Silver in the Junior Men's 1500m in a time of 4:03.07.
Ballymena & Antrim AC’s Craig Newell was 2nd in the U23 Men’s 400m in a time of 48.49. Rio Catney (North Down AC) was 4th in the U23 Women’s 1500m in a time of 5:08.43 while her North Down teammate Rachel McCann was 3rd in the U20 Women’s 400m in a time of 59.43.
City of Lisburn athlete Adam Hughes was 3rd in the Junior Men’s 400m in a PB time of 49.40, while teammate Anna McCauley won 3rd place in the Junior Women’s 60m Hurdles in a time of 8.84, which was also a new PB.
Commonwealth Games athlete Kate O'Connor regained the Irish indoor pentathlon record at the Combined Events International in Cardiff on Sunday 27th January 2019 as she set a mark of 4,214 points. Kate had previously set the record in Sheffield earlier this month, only to have to beaten by Grace McKenzie some 10 days later in the USA with 4211 points. Kate’s new record included PBs in the 60m Hurdles 9:02 and the 800m 2.17:22.
Another athlete having a great weekend was Cardiff-based Youth Academy Graduate Andrew Wright (James Thie, previously Mark Kirk) returning from injury to take 1st place in the 800m at the Welsh Athletics Senior Championships.
Saturday also saw Annadale Striders athletes Conall Kirk & Callum Crawford-Walker open their Indoor seasons at Athlone across the 800m distance in the National Indoor League Round 2. Conall finished in 1:50.93, while Callum finished in 1:52.93. City of Lisburn AC athlete Kelly Neely ran an all-time best 800m for V40 in a time of 2:11.73. The race also saw the welcome return of Katie Kirk, who finished in 3rd place.
Youth Academy coach, Dean Adam’s won 3rd place over 60m in a SB of 6.87 at the Scottish National Senior & U17 Indoor Championships. Victoria Lightbody (City of Lisburn AC) took a triumphant 2nd place in the Women's U17 800m in a time of 2:15.86. Lydia Mills (Ballymena & Antrim AC) competed in the Women's Long Jump finishing in 5th place with a distance of 5.71m.
After another busy weekend of athletics we welcome all amendments or if you notice an omission, please email marketing@athleticsni.org