Galway’s rising stars win gold at the national juvenile finals
GALWAY athletes turned on the style in claiming four gold medals at the National Juvenile Track & Field finals in Tullamore over the weekend. Making the winners’ podium at national level were Emma Moore and Thomas McStay of GCH, Sarah Gilhooley of Athenry AC and Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC.
Moore was crowned Irish U15 champion for the 800m with a superb record-breaking run of 2.11. This race was the most competitive of Saturday’s programme with the first three girls home breaking the previous record as runner-up Sarah Hosey and third placed Fiona Dillon also dipped under the old mark.
But it was the talented Moore who won out, with her second national record this year, and also adding to her National Indoor and Schools titles already captured. Next up, she will represent Ireland at the upcoming Schools International Track and Field event which takes place in Scotland this weekend.
McStay had a terrific run to claim gold in the U19 boys 3000m race on Sunday evening. He ran a terific time of 8.43, and executed his race to perfection, surging away on the last lap to take gold. He also finished fourth in the 800m final the day before.
GCH also secured other individual medals, with the consistently strong Aoife Sheehy of GCH winning two medals, firstly a silver in the U19 100m hurdles a time of 16.26 seconds, before takinmg bronze in the U19 400m. Ava McKeon also won a silver medal over hurdles for GCH in the U14 75m event in a time of 11.77 seconds. Conor Hoade claimed bronze for the city club in the U15 80m hurdles.
On Sunday, Robert McDonnell won a silver medal in the U17 400m for GCH, clocking 51.19 in the final, and will also represent Ireland in the Schools International in Scotland. Aaron Brennan, also GCH, won a well-deserved bronze medal in the U18 3000m in a fine time of 8.55.
Sarah Gilhooley of Athenry AC ran a superb race over the barriers to take gold in the U18 2000m steeplechase. Liam Shaw, also of Athenry, claimed a national silver medal in the U14 shot putt, throwing 14.15m.
Darragh Fahy of Loughrea AC showed top class sprint speed winning the U12 60m event in a swift 8.26 to take Galway’s fourth gold medal of the weekend.
For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.
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