Saturday/ Sunday at Tullamore the national underage champs proved most successful for the young Valley brigade with at close of business sunday 11 athletes getting some 13 medals amongst that tally 2 national age group records to James Kelly as the young man from St Johnstone firstly nailed the shot in round 1 with 14.71m an improvement on the previous 13.91 indeed he had a second effort in excess of the 14m mark then before you could take a deep breath he was over to the javelin whacking out the spear to 36.42m which incidentally replaces the old mark held by Valleys Michael Gallagher at 34m plus . A seriously talented young man and the Kelly family now turn to next weekend to Ashford ,Kent where older brother John competes for Ireland schools in javelin and shot . Pressure what pressure .
Brothers Fellan and Dalton Mc Guigan werent going to be left out of the limelight by the performance days earlier of older brother Dempsey in Barcelona as Saturday pm Dalton was a runaway winner of the 3k steeple at 9.47secs then midday Sunday Fellan heaved the hammer out to a pb of 66.05m to record a win and feels he has a longer throw come the aaa champs later even eyeing up Gary Halpins national age group record which stands at 67m plus.
A gold medal late in the day for Jade Leeper in the discus at 31.49m surely a memorable occassion for a girl that simply work and works winter and Summer such a joy to see it happening for her . Jack Mc Geehin cleared 1.55m a silver his reward and a boost for coach Niall . Aaron Mc Glynn coached by Peader Mc Granaghan has dug deep on many times in his short career but truly many thought he was gone Sunday but never ever discount his will to win defeat just isnt in his psyche winning coming off the bend with a blinding run by 4m to spare .
Sean Mc donough from Drumquin P. S. came with his class to the local and primary school sports in May stood out with an impressive Ball Throw of 44m plus to win ,this event is of course the forerunner of the javelin as he climbs through the age divisions subsequently won Ulster and hammered the rest of Ireland Saturday with a 44.61m whizz the first ever Irish championship medal to come into that Co Tyrone village . Credit to Michael and Jesilda Penrose for involving the school and Mark for chasing up .
Naoimh Mc Granaghan whose Dad Seamus was Team Leader on this weekend did not dissapoint with a hammer silver 31.13 a new event for the Castlefinn girl and then towards the close of proceddings Sunday a 28.15m javelin a silver to add to the total .
Janine Boyle hit a 4.91m long jump bronze medal so deserved and no doubt brighter coloured medals will come her way such is her focus to the sport. Shaun Woods has had a busy season and it pretty much ended with a silver in the 400m under 19 timed at 51.10 secs while the remaining medal a silver came to Convoys Aine Kerr a pb of 4.40m close to the gold and as with all the listed medal winnners the common theme dedication attention to training and the desire to acheive .
Just inches as it were from grasping a medal were Ian Brennan long jump,Janine Boyle 80m but has the 200m to come in a few weeks ,Pauric Harold 4.18m centimetres from a medal and unluckiest of all Oisin Mc Elhinney cleared 1.35 a height that brought a silver and bronze to other boys but 4th for Oisin a student at Gleneely n. s .
Stark facts are that this season to date 21 young Finn Valley athletes have garnered national medals plus 14 further medals at under 20/23 plus one senior last weekend . Its a positive message but yes of course it can be improved . A big shout out to coachs ,parents etc who once again rallied round
THis Wednesday a number of our seniors compete Antrim and there is a fast 5k course this year in Churchill 7.30 Friday evening while Tori and Patsy begin their Olympic journey this coming weekend also . What an exciting season it has been!
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