As the track and field season comes to a close, Olympian YAC’s athletes were right in the thick of the action over the past few weeks with various All-Ireland competitions and medals came home in abundance.
Picture: Karen O’Donnell powering to silver medal in womens V1 200m
All Ireland Juvenile Track and Field Championships
Sean Mc Ginley contested Day 3 of the recent All Ireland Juvenile Track and Field Championships, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Inspired no doubt by his training partner, Boyd Russell’s bronze medal at these championships in the U13 Boy’s 600m, Sean competed, as always, with grit, determination and great heart within the U16 Boy’s 1500m. Sean left everything on the track, clocking an extremely impressive new personal best of 4mins 18 secs and walked away with a tremendously well deserved Bronze medal.
Sean McGinley with bronze medal at All Ireland Juvenile Champs 2018
Well done again to every single one of our young athletes who took part over the last few weeks at the All Ireland Juvenile Track & Field Championships. Fantastic performances by all and exciting times ahead for all athletes, coaches and parents/guardians involved in the club.
All Ireland Masters Track and Field Championships:
Club coach Michelle O’ Donnell, in her return to the competitive arena in over 10 years burst on to the scene again with a fantastic first time performance in the Masters T&F Championships held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly to claim the Gold medal and mantle of All Ireland Champion in the V1 (over 35) woman’s Javelin event, with a fantastic throw of 27.11m, which was 5m more than her nearest rival.
Just over an hour later she took to the discus circle and picked up her second All Ireland medal claiming silver with a throw of 21.82m.
After her absence from the competitive throwing scene and dedicating most of her club time to younger athletes it was a just reward for all her efforts and is a great example for young throwers of the club to aspire to.
Sister and club coach Karen added to the tally picking up 4 more medals in the V1 (over 35) woman’s category, bringing their combined total of medals to 6 (1 gold, 2 silver and 3 bronze).
Michelle and Karen O’Donnell with their medal haul at the All Ireladn Masters T+F Championships
Karen started her day picking up bronze in the 100m with a seasons best of 13.77. From the 100m she went straight to join her sister Michelle at the javelin and picked up another bronze medal with a throw of 21.90m, just narrowly missing out on silver by 2cms. Back on track again she recorded another seasons best and claimed Silver medal in 200m in 28.41 with her final medal coming in the 400m being dipped for the silver by 0.03 to claim her third Bronze medal in 65.74.
Community Games :
Some of Olympian YAC’s athletes contested the recent All Ireland Community Games in Limerick with great success.
Sean Mc Ginley , fresh from his bronze medal at the All Ireland juvenile club championships went one better in the U16 1500m, claiming an extremely well deserved Silver medal.
Lara Faul threw 19.54 in the u16 Girls Discus to make the top 8 in the country.
Lucy Campbell (U8 80m) and Brian Devine (U10 200m) both ran very well to place 5th in their respective semi finals.
Emma Mc Daid threw extremely well in the U12 Girls ball throw to make the top 8, an achievement made even more impressive by the fact she still has another year in this age group next year. Michaela Mc Hugh threw over 6m in U14 Girls Shot Putt, narrowly missed out in getting through to Top 8.
Well done to all who competed with great heart, we are all proud of you.
TRAINING
Training will recommence on Tuesday 4thSeptember at 7:00pm – 8:15pm and Saturday mornings from 11am till 12.15pm at the Glenswilly pitch.
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.
