Juvenile Track And Field Championships

On Sunday in Antrim a new generation of Finn Valley athletes excelled with early morning Michael Galllagher who has just finished his primary school days in Sessiaghoneill and easily won the national javelin in his age group with a 34-50m winning effort . He fluffed his first throw but went ahead in round 2 and as they say killed the opposition cold getting in a few more throws in around 33m . Interestingly the last young man from Sessiaghoneill to win a national javelin title underage was Damien Gillespie many years ago .

Continuing the success in the throws John Kelly got out to a personal best 12-53 m for the silver medal in the shot to the delight of his family all present on the day . Coached by his father John who himself was a champion thrower in his competitive days with Lifford AC we look forward to continued success from these young men.

Clive Heapes needed to get out round 50m to medal in the hammer but a pb of 48.93 on the day wasn't good enough and again the question is is he prepared to work at it cause he certainly has the strength to bring him from 4th to a higher ranking .

Blaithnaid Patton sets herself high standards when it comes to competition so no marks for guessing that she was bitterly dissappointed with the silver medal high jump so close to the gold in poor jump conditions . But mark it down she will be back more determined than ever next season .

On Saturday a walk medal for a battling Aoife Whelan which she can build on and a bronze for Pauric Mc Laughlin, Convoy in the steeple did everything right. He will improve and needs to work on water jump and last 250m . A pb for Clara Dunnion in the 3k and inexperience led to the demise of Caoimhe Mc Menamin in the hurdles and so another batch of Valley athletes in tullamore chasing AAI titles this weekend.

Tartan Track and Swimming Pool.