Club Youngsters impress at AAI Juvenile Indoor Championships in Nenagh
Sat 10th/Sun 11th April 2010
It’s a long way to Tipperary’ or so the song goes. Following a very successful competitive weekend it was a relatively short journey home on Sunday evening last for club athletes and supporters. The occasion was 'Part 2 of the Irish Juvenile Indoor Championships' and Tír Chonaill athletes added to their impressive tally of two weeks ago with a number of outstanding performances.
On Saturday Karl Griffin negotiated qualifying heats of the Boys U16 800m and in a mid afternoon final was in a class of his own in running 1min 59.45secs for a new championships age best performance - he took over one second off the old record. The Donegal lad, who burst onto the athletics scene last year, fought throughout the lead up week with a flu bug, received a standing ovation from the large crowd as he crossed the finish line.
Karl Griffin wins with new Championship Best
Karl Griffin on the Podium
Karl Griffin with TC Chariman Paul O'Gara & dad Eamon
Relays are always exciting, full of uncertainty, and in Nenagh’s very noisy and crowded arena guaranteed to provide an unforgettable atmosphere.
Sunday’s heats and finals followed this pattern and three Tír Chonaill girls teams - all had qualified at Ulster Championships in Magherafelt some weeks ago - came through with unprecedented success.
In the morning session, Tír Chonaill's Under 15 4 x 200m squad of Eva McMullin, Emma Brady, Kate McGowan, Karen Tracey and Kelly Mc Grory ran an impressive 1min 51.75secs - the fastest qualifying time and entered the final as slight favourites. The final was competitive, fast and demanded an even greater amount of concentration, focus and accurate baton changing. Excellent legs by Emma Brady, Kate McGowan, and Karen Tracey found the baton with Kelly McGrory and Tír Chonaill having a slight lead. Kelly led around the first bend. Going down the back straight Limerick’s Emerald AC attempted on two occasions to get to the front but was held off by the Laghey lass. Around the final bend Kelly narrowly held onto the lead and entering the home straight - thirty meters from the finish - another attach came from the Limerick girl but the Tír Chonaill girl refused to give way - result Tír Chonaill 1min 49.45sec; Emerald 1min 49.61secs.
No1 Runner Emma Brady drives from the blocks
2nd change over in final Kate McGowan to Karen Tracey
Girls U15 Squad L-R: Eva McMullan, Kate McGowan,
Emma Brady, Kelly McGrory & Karen Tracey
The clubs U14 Girls squad of Ruth Gillespie, Eva McMullin, Sarah Timoney, Katie McCafferty and Kate McGowan qualified as a top four final team with a time of 1min 58.31secs. Leevale were impressive final winners with 0.2 secs separating the next three teams. Tír Chonaill’s 1min 56.98secs was three hundredths of a second outside a medal placing. This was an outstanding performance considering one of the team members was carrying a niggling groin strain injury into the race.
Tír Chonaill Girls U14 Team after the final
The clubs Girls Under 13 team of Anna Morrow, Amie McCafferty, Chloe Masterson and Eva Duncan ran a P.B. time - two seconds faster than qualifying in Magherafelt - and can be very happy with a 7th team overall position.
A sincere thanks to all the club coaches/parents and supporters who traveled to Nenagh. Your presence and encouragement is appreciated.
