Notable success for Mayo club at All-Irelands
Hannah Grimes, Eve Costello, Mia O'Malley and Habiba Walsh from Lake District AC taking some time out from their competitions at the All-Ireland Championships in Tullamore.
Athletics: The country is in the grip of Olympic fever and who knows, perhaps there are some budding young athletes in Co Mayo who might be parading behind the Irish flag in Los Angeles in four years’ time or in subsequent Games to come.
The Athletics Ireland All-Ireland Underage Championships were held in Tullamore recently, and among the several Mayo clubs competing at those were the Ballinrobe-based Lake District AC, who had no fewer than 60 athletes involved in competition.
The talented team comprised 31 athletes from the U9 to U12 age group and 29 athletes from the U13 to U19 age group, and there were some exceptional performances which saw the club bring home an impressive array of medals.
Among the highlights in the U9 to U12 group were Tom McHale and Fionn Horan both securing silver medals in the U10 turbo javelin with impressive throws. Éanna Browne and Evan McCormack added to the medal count with a silver in the U9 turbo javelin, demonstrating exceptional talent and promise.
In the same age group, the following athletes also proudly represented Lake District AC: Sigurd Keane Jensen, Lucy O'Malley, Laoise Heneghan, Sophia Hughes, Ruth Donnelly, Lorna Naughton, Tadhg Browne, Elsie Sheridan, Oisin Ronan, Hibiba Walsh, Alex Gavin, Padraig Costello, Hannah Grimes, Michaela Mellett Jennings, Julia Wawer, Fiadh Chanter, Caoimhe Casey, Cianan Kelly, Emily Hughes, Paidi Casey, Luke O'Malley, Eve Costello, Caoimhe Varley, Thady Hughes, Ruairí Keane, Síun Finnerty, Cassie Grimes and Mia O’Malley.
Elsewhere, Oisín Waters Moran earned a silver medal in the U13 boys javelin, showcasing excellent skill and precision. Rory Wilson secured a bronze medal in the U15 javelin, adding to his impressive achievements this season. Eoin Jennings also won a bronze medal in the U15 javelin, contributing to the team's success. Fionn Jennings claimed a silver medal in the U14 boys javelin, while Barry Lanagan took gold in the U17 boys javelin with a standout performance.
In the U18 boys javelin, Aaron Crowley captured the gold medal, with Ben Place earning bronze in the same event. Liam Lynch rounded out the javelin success with a silver medal in the U19 boys javelin. Additionally, Keane Hughes achieved a bronze medal in the 800m, demonstrating his speed and endurance on the track.
Also representing Lake District with distinction and delivering some remarkable performances in the U13 to U19 age groups were: Leigh McCormack, Ciobha Reilly, Grace Jennings, Sarah Brennan, Rhianna Waters Moran, Oisín Flavin, Darragh Morrin, David Marrey, Caoimhe O'Connell, Seamus Burke, Donnacha O'Connor, Cillian O'Connor, Alan Lydon, Ryan McCormack, Sophia Place, and the U15 girls relay team of Grace Casey, Ciobha Reilly, Sadhbh Reilly, Sarah Brennan, and Ella Feeney.
To commemorate their achievements, each athlete who qualified for the All-Ireland Championships was presented with a personalised water bottle from the club who said it was gesture to recognise and celebrate their hard work and dedication. The club added that the success over the course of successive weekends at the All-Ireland Championships was made possible by the dedication and support of our exceptional coaches, whose guidance and encouragement have been invaluable to the athletes' development.
“We are proud of their performances and look forward to seeing their continued growth and success in future competitions,” the club said in a statement.
