Held in conjunction with the prestigious 'Irish Senior Indoor Championships', Part 1 of the 'Ulster/Northern Ireland Indoor Juvenile Championships' proved to be a happy hunting ground for the youngsters of Tír Conaill AC, on Saturday and Sunday last.
Karl Griffin, Louise Harvey, Mark McGuinness, Emma Brady, Kelly McGrory, Karen Tracey, Clare Brady, Ryan Haughey, Sabrina Taylor, Ginta Berga, Hannah Campbell and Ailis O’Gara, many competing for the first time at this level, left Donegal Town shortly after six o’clock and endured snow blizzards as their minibus journeyed to Belfast.
In the Boys 1995 800m, 4th Heat, Karl Griffin ran a smart tactical race to win in a good time of 2mins 19.9 secs. Club colleague Mark McGuinness, running in heat 3 also qualified for the final when he filled 2nd place in a time of 2mins 18.3secs. The four heat winners and the three fastest losers lined up for the seven man final in mid afternoon. Mark led for two of the four lap race and led by five metres when Lagan Valley pair Tom Magee and Rhys Clellans decided to surge to the front. Karl Griffin covered the move and at the bell was a metre behind the leaders. Midway down the back straight, one hundred metres from the finish the Tír Chonaill lad challenged, increased the pace and went onto to win impressively in a good time of 2mins 15.5 secs. Mc Guinness, who made the early running held on bravely to finish in 4th place -2mins 21.4 secs. Later Mark threw 9.33m for 6th place in the Shot Putt while Karl threw 8.73metres.
Karl Griffin (Tír Chonaill AC) in the qualifying heat of the 800m
Karl Griffin goes to the front with 100m to go in the 800m Final
Karl went on to win the race
Karl Griffin (290) at Presentation
L-R: Neil Martin, Chairman Ulster Athletics, Tom Magee (Lagan Valley),
Karl Griffin (Tír Chonaill AC Winner) and Rhys Collins (Lagan Valley)
Three club athletes qualified for the Girls 60m Hurdles Final. Kelly Mc Grory, who earlier was a clear winner of the 60m Final, time 8.44secs., Emma Brady who finished 5th in the same final, 8.82secs and Karen Tracey all lined up in the six girl hurdles final. In a closely contested race Kelly led at the 2nd hurdle, Aisling McPhillips took the lead at the 4th hurdle and went on to win in a time of 10.16secs. Emma Brady came from 4th position at hurdle three to finish second in a time of 10.46secs while Kelly held on for third in a timeof 10.57secs. Karen was 6th in a time of 10.76secs. Later in the afternoon Karen high jumped 1.25 while Hannah Campbell cleared 1.15metres.
Louise Harvey, the elder stateswoman of the group, in the 1993 age group, had a busy two days. On Saturday she won the 60m Hurdles - 9.54secs. and High Jump -1.50metres. On Sunday she qualified for the 200m B final and ran 27.9secs for a 2nd place finish.
In the 1995 Girls 60m Clare Brady, 9.31secs and Ailis O’Gara, 9.71secs ran well while Sabrina Taylor Shot Putt, Ryan Haughey Shot Putt and Ginta Berga, Long Jump all can be happy with their performances.
Kelly McGrory, centre, wins the 60m Final
Girls 60m Hurdles Final
L-R: Emma Brady partly hidden in Lane 1
Karen Tracey Lane 3 and Kelly McGrory Lane 5
Girls U17 200m B Final
L-R: Louise Harvey 2nd, Cliodhna Timoney Letterkenny 1st
and Harvey, Ballymena/Antrim, 3rd