It has been a very busy few weeks of athletics for Olympian YAC as the track and field season is heating up to be one of the club’s best yet.
ULSTER AND N. IRELAND CHILDRENS GAMES
Last Sunday saw Little Olympian’s run, jump and throw with great heart as they contested the Ulster and N. Ireland Children’s Games Championships at the Finn Valley Centre, Stranorlar.
Picture: Emma McDaid – gold medal u11 Girls Turbo Javelin
With a number of our young guns competing for the first time at this high level, and with over 700 children competing over the various age groups from u9 to u13 years, it was certainly a daunting challenge, but all of the little Olympian’s rose to the challenge and claimed an incredible 2 Gold medals, 3 Silver individual medals and 1 Gold and 3 Bronze team medals, as well as a Relay Bronze medal and many many personal bests (PBs).
The club’s youngest competitors of the day Kellie Carter and Charlie Barr got the ball rolling so to speak as competed in the u9 Girls 60m coming 10th and 12th respectively.
To gain qualification to the All Ireland Championships from u9 to u11, competitors jumps, throws and times are paired with club mates, with the top 3 teams gaining qualification.
Kellie and Charley’s amazing efforts were enough to see them 3rd best team on the day gaining themselves an extremely well deserved team Bronze medal each and a place together to contest the upcoming All Ireland Children’s Games Championships on the 1st July in Tullamore, Co. Offaly.
Emma McDaid showed exceptional technical ability, for such a young age, as she claimed the U11 Girls Turbo Javelin Gold medal and mantle of Ulster Champion. Emma was joined in the competition by team mate Orlagh Faul who placed a very credible 8th overall. Their throws were combined and together they 3rd best team overall and both also gained an amazing Bronze medal and a place at the All Ireland Children’s Games Championships.
Boyd Russell set the track on fire as he gave a fantastic winning display in U13 Boys 600m in an incredible PB of 1.41mins and was also crowned Ulster Champion yet again to add to his ever growing collection. Boyd also gained automatic qualification to All Ireland Championships.
Aoife McGeehin added an individual Silver medal to the club tally after just missing out on the title and Gold medal by a mere 6cm in U10 Girls Turbo Javelin.
Another close call came for Erin Friel in the U11 60m were she claimed a wonderful individual Silver medal (just missing gold by 0.04seconds). Erin added another individual Silver medal to her collection as she placed second with a great run in U11 Girls 600m in a simply brilliant PB of 1.57mins.
Erin Friel with her gold, 2 silver and bronze medals
Erin’s club mate Anna Russell finished a fantastic 6th overall. Their times combined was the quickest of all teams, therefore both girl’s bagged themselves an extremely impressive Gold team medal and a place at the All Ireland Championships.
Chloe Deeney placed 20th in the U.11 Girls 60m and together with Erin’s time were the 3rd best team on the day and both girls achieved an amazing Bronze team medal and a place at the All Ireland Children’s Games Championships.
The U11 Girls Relay team of Chloe Deeney, Erin Friel, Anna Russell & Orlagh Faul showed amazing team work as they bagged a relay Bronze medal and gained yet another place at the All Ireland finals.
U9 Girls
Kellie Carter -60m -10.96 – 10th & 5th LJ 2.53m
Charley Barr -60m – 11.03 – 12th & 300m – 8th
Niamh Doherty -60m -11. 73 – 22nd & LJ – 2.05m – 12th
Charley and Kellie team Bronze medal 60m
U9 Boys
Cahir Daly – Turbo Javelin & 9th 300m Heat
U10 Girls
Aoife Mc Geehin – Silver Medalist – 2nd Turbo Jav PB 14.32m & 8th LJ 3.00m
U10 Boys –
Alex Friel – 5th 60m Heat 11.21 & 13th 500m Heat
U11 Girls
Emma Mc Daid – Gold Medalist – Ulster Champion – 1st Turbo Javelin – 17m 53 & 7th LJ 3.29m
Orlagh Faul – 7th 600m Heat 2.09.82 & 8th Turbo Javelin 13.12m
Emma & Orlagh team Bronze medal Turbo Javelin
Relay- Bronze Medalist 3rd – Chloe, Erin, Anna & Orlagh
Erin Friel – Silver Medalist 60m 9.32 & Silver medalist 600m – 1.57.11
Anna Russell- 600m- 2.07.48 – 6th & LJ – 3.07m- 13th
Erin and Anna team Gold medal 600m
Chloe Deeney – 60m- 10.25-20th & 600m – 2.19.46 – 19th
Erin and Chloe – 60m team Bronze medal
Caitlin Mc Cabe – 8th 600m Heat 2.09.98 & 13th Turbo Javelin 9.42m
U11 Boys
Oliver Bose – 60m – 5th (Heat)
Christian Byrne – 60m – 6th (Heat) & LJ – 20th
Jamie Barrett – 600m 19th & LJ – 28th
Adam Daly – 600m – 18th
Oliver, Christian, Jamie, Adam Relay – 5th
U12 Girls
Ava Sweeney- Turbo Javelin – 6th, Shot Putt – 16th
U12 Boys
James Russell- New PB 20.03m 5th Turbo Javelin & 7th 600m Heat
Eoghan O’ Donnell – 11th Turbo Javelin 12.77m & 60m 11.03
U13 Girls
Ellen O’ Donnell – Javelin 14.77m – 6th & LJ-28th
Aine Carlin- LJ – 31st
U13 Boys
Boyd Russell- Gold Medalist & Ulster Champion – 1st 600m 1.41
Jimmy Doherty – 80m – 4th (Heat)
ALL IRELAND SCHOOLS
Massive well done to Sean McGinley who recently place a very credible 7th place at the u16 Boys 1mile race at the All Ireland Schools. Sean gained selection after achieving the Bronze medal at the Ulster Schools Intermediate Boy’s 1500m. This augers very well for the upcoming track and field season for this ever improving athlete. Watch this space.
TRAINING
Training will continue every Tuesday night at 7-8.15pm at the Glenswilly pitch and Saturday mornings from 11am till 12.15pm at the Aura Centre Track.
We are insured to cater for any and all abilities from 7 years of age right up to senior and master’s level who wishes to train, keep fit, have fun, and/or compete at a local to national/ international standard. New members as always are more than welcome. For further details, please do not hesitate to contact Martin O’Donnell on 0863838240 or message us via Facebook (Olympian AC) or feel free to come down and have a chat on any of our club training times.
