ATHLETICS: PATSY McGONAGLE’S ATHLETICS REPORT

BY PATSY McGONAGLE: It was a case of the Kelly and Mc Guigan family lighting up the world on the double at Irish underage champs. in Tullamore over the weekend.

Let’s take it calmly one family at a time….John and James Kelly from St Johnston hit the target Saturday. John threw a pb javelin to swamp the opposition in the javelin hitting 49.06 (a pb of course by a few metres) and come 3pm younger brother James couldn’t wait to get into the circle and punched out a 11.56m to win set an Irish champ.

It was a record for this shot put age division and he was still smiling many hours later.

The first of the Mc Guigan clan went into action Saturday – Dalton 2k steeple returns a 6.20 to win yes a championship; a record and a facile victory which will give him much needed confidence for the race programme ahead.

Brother number 2 Fellan hit 70.74m in the under 16 hammer – and yes it was a a new championship record that had stood since 1992 to Mc Donald ,Windsor at 67m odd and really a 70m plus performance with a 4kg hammer is significant while his entire series of throws was up there so that was gold number 4.

Keeping the strong family theme Dempsey the older of the Mc Guigan lads at 19 was named by Athletics Ireland on the Irish junior team for the European juniors in Tallinn ,Estonia next week in the hammer having acheived the Q mark 66m some weeks ago with the 5 kg ball.

Moving to silver Blaithnaid Pattton accompanied by Dad Brendan just lost out on countback in her high jump clearing 1.61 a seasonal best but faults at 1.45m meant the colour of the medal was going to be silver.

Silver for Mark Bonner in the steeple the Stranorlar lad who like Blaithnaid is a pupil of St Columbas went out way too fast but gathered himself to hold the 2 nd spot.

Next weeekend Shaun Woods from Convoy is in Cardiff competing for the Irish schools team as is fellow Royal and Prior student John Kelly referred to earlier so Sunday he Shaun that is toed the line in under 17 400m holding on to collect silver.

Jade Leeper the dedicated Ballybofey girl who continues to improve got the discus out to a respectable 28.04 good enough for an encouraging silver national medal.

Over the 2 days there was bronze for Aaron Mc Glynn a 1.30 clearance in the high which represents a 7 cm improvement for the Glenfinn schoolboy, Sommer Lecky to the delight of her parents and grandparents from Castlederg got her first ever national medal in the long at 4-34 but wait for it 1 cm seperated gold ,silver and bronze not good for the nerves.

Finally the first medal on Sunday went down Castlefin way to Naoimh Mc Granaghan 3rd in javelin 24m plus and there is every reason to believe that in the years to come this same young girl will return and win many more medals .Medal total 11 and add in 6 further top 6 spots to Karen Kelly 1-40m in high her best ever , Sasha Byrne long jump 4.70m. , Shane Thompson in throws ,and the list goes on and on.

Add in powerful performances and record marks from Mark English 48.02 in the 400m a Donegal senior record at such a young age ideal preparation for European junior champs., Karl Griffin, Tirconnaill,  erasing a record in the 800m as he returned 1.52 odd at his ease in impresssive style moving ahead with 30m to go and also from Donegal Town Kate Mc Gowan a hurdles champ. best it adds up to what was a special 2 days for Finn Valley and Donegal athletes in general.

Just to note that Sinead Mc Laughlin recently medaled in the British Masters in Birmingham silver in both long 4.49m and high 1.40m and simply needs to push on from here into Irish Masters next month.

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