An extremely busy day at Day 1 of the Dublin Juvenile Championships saw 92 Clonliffe Athletes enter various track and field events. It was a very exciting day for some of our Juveniles, with for me, Race of the Day being the U15 Boys 800 m final.
Starting with the heats in that race, Conor Kenny stamped his intentions in heat one taking the win in 2:11.79. Braxton O’Shea came in 2nd with a Q and a time of 2.13.85. In the same heat, Joel Thomas had a fine run finishing 8th in 2:27.72. In heat 2, Mark Kelly secured his place in the final taking the win in 2:22.52, Eoghan Thompson finished 9th in that heat in 2:29.11. With Conor, Braxton and Mark in the final a competitive race was always on the cards, and the field did not disappoint. Conor and Braxton were in the top 4 throughout but it was never really clear how the race would play out. With rivals, Dylan McCambridge Crossan of DSD and Michal Moran of Donore Harriers also looking for glory it was a nail biting finish. Over the last 80 the race suddenly looked like a National Final. Fighting to the line Conor Kenny took the victory in 2:09.40, with Dylan in 2:09.74. Michal Moran took the bronze in 2:10.24 and Braxton taking the last qualification spot to Nationals in 2:10.80. Mark Kelly finished 9th in 2:19.91
Other medals of the day were
U17 Boys 800m, Edy Blaque in 2nd in 2:05.72.
In the girls U18 3000m Isla Duncan was a joy to watch as she found her race rhythm and took silver in 10:41.76
In the girls U19 3000m Sarah Doherty took a short break from the Leaving Cert studies to do her 3000m and was rewarded with a bronze in 11:44.37
In the Boys U19 3000m Aidan Benjacar took Silver in 9:13.22
In the U15 Girls Javelin Ava Cosgrave continued her fine form taking a bronze with a throw of 20.94 and a place in the Nationals
The U12’s and U13s ran there distance races on time and while there were some fine runs, it proves difficult to get top 4 for nationals. Isaac O’Neill won his heat in 1:44.52, Max Bamford finished 2nd in his heat in 1:52.81. In the girls U13, Ava Fagan won her heat in 1:52.46 and Maeva Edo Czechowska finished 2nd in heat 2 in 1:51.07
In the U14 boys, Daire Cronin was third in his heat in 2:26.96 with a Q to the final where he finished 13th in 2:32.92. Sam Steenson finished 4th in heat one in 2:27.21 and a Q to the final where he ran 2:25.81. Seamus Phelan going from strength to strength finished 4th in his heat in 2:25.22 and a Q to the final where he finished 7th in 2:25.27. Some fantastic experience gained by the lads. In the U14 Girls, Nessa Byrne finished 5th in her heat in 2.36.03 giving her a fastest time to the Final where she finished strongly.
In the U15 Girls, Kate Gill came 4th in her heat in 2:29.94 and a q to the final with Carragh Nigfhloinn finishing 4th in heat 2 in 2:34.64, both girls through to the final. In that final the 1st 4 positions took form after about 200m. Kate took a couple of places after 600m and a very strong finish to take 5th overall in 2:28.36. Carragh also finished strongly in 8th in 2:31.84
All results from today are available on the below link.
http://live.dublinathletics.com/jo-25-1/menu.html
There are far too many great performances today to mention them all but based on today, this is hotting up to be a great Championships for the Clonliffe Juveniles. Tomorrow, Sunday 25th is the turn of the U9 to U11 out in Tallaght and we wish them all the very best of luck.
Special thanks to our army of coaches who were out today supporting our athletes and particular mention to our volunteers who make it possible for our athletes to compete, Sinead Crowley, Joanna Riyad, Graham Kidd, Alison Byrne, Pairic O’Mhuirheartaigh, Max Bamford and Lorraine Fagan.
Entries for the rest of Individual Events in the championships close on the 1st of June with strictly NO LATE ENTRIES.
Eugenia Bateson, Juvenile Captain