Great success for Mayo athletes at opening day of nationals

Athletics: Three gold medals were won by Mayo athletes as the 123.ie National Juvenile Track and Field Championships in Tullamore on Sunday, July 7. Two of those winners medals came from Emma Nolan of Swinford AC, as she took the top podium spot in the U13 girls javelin (29.91m) and shot put (10.92m).

A championship record was also broken by Westport AC’s Freya Renton, as she claimed gold in a time of 2.10.89 in the U15 girls 800m. Her sister Holly came in a respectable seventh in the same race.

Five silver medals were also brought home by Moy Valley AC’s Sean Nolan (U19 boys 800m, 1:56.94), Swinford AC’s Cathal McNicholas (U16 boys discus, 42.60m), Castlebar AC’s Isabelle Hanrahan (U14 girls 800m), Lake District AC’s Oisin Waters Moran (U13 boys javelin, 28.10m) and St Colman’s South Mayo AC’s Kyle Gleeson (U13 boys long jump, 4.68m). In addition, three bronze medals were claimed by Moy Valley AC’s Thomas Munnelly (U15 boys 800m, 2:07.93), Lake District AC’s Rory Wilson (U15 boys javelin, 37.86m) and Swinford AC’s Aine Ramsey (U14 girls shot put, 11.73m).

Special mentions go to Claremorris AC’s Henry Griffith and Swinford AC’s Rachel McNicholas, both finishing fourth in the U13 boys 60m hurdles and U14 girls shot put respectively. Henry also came seventh in the high jump.

Other athletes from Mayo who were in action include Alan Hegarty, Benjamin Byrne Dempsey, Clodagh Lawlor, Alannah Bourke, Isabella Kearney and Freya Sweeney (Castlebar AC); Caoimhe Hughes, Patrick Cuddy, Rachel McNicholas, Aine Lavin, Aoibhinn McNicholas, Jane Heaney, Erin Crawford, Holly Gallagher (Swinford AC); May Duckett, Briain Daly and Meela Ni Mhearin (Westport AC); Kenzy Ramadan, Alannah Cunningham, Ellen Farragher (Claremorris AC); Roxane Sands, Daniel Gallagher and Oisin Cunnane (Moy Valley AC); and Leigh McCormack (Lake District AC).

The second day of the championships takes place this Sunday, July 21