Tipp athletes impress at Munster Schools Championships
When viewing the Munster Schools Athletics Championships in Castleisland last weekend, one could come to the conclusion that it didn’t matter whether you wanted someone to run a mile, jump with style or throw an implement a thousand miles we as a club pretty much have all bases covered.
Schools athletics has four categories, Minor (1st years), Junior (2nd years), Intermediate (3rd/4th years) & Seniors (5th/6th years).
Starting with the Minor girls, Jodie McGrath continued her good form with a second place in the Pole Vault and third in the 75m hurdles and helped St Mary’s Nenagh to fourth in the 4x100m relay.
Tom McCutcheon was also in good form with a third place finish in the 100m and anchored St Joseph's College Borrisoleigh to third place in the 4x100m.
In the Junior girls, Ailbhe O’Neill of St Mary's Nenagh went one better than last year when very comprehensively winning the 800m title in a 2.21.8, a personal best. Grace Brennan in her first schools competition jumped well for fifth in the High Jump in 1.45m.
Alex Reynolds was the star of the junior boys category when going one better than the east Munsters when winning the Discus in 33m. His St. Joseph's College Borrisoleigh teammate James Sage led most of the way but eventually finished second in the 80m hurdles.
Ben Connolly added to his medal collection with a 36m throw in the Javelin for third place.
Lewis Doyle’s 24.8s 200m was a personal best and good enough for fifth.
Alex, James & Louis joined Aaron Ryan and had a great win in the 4x100m relay.
The Junior Boys also received the Cup for overall Best East Munster School and tied with St Flannan's for top Munster Junior Boys school.
The Minor boys relay team of William Maher, Colm Ryan, Gavin Ryan and Tom McCutcheon received bronze medals. Tom McCutcheon also came third in 100m.
Next up was the Intermediate category and Josh Egan, St Munchin’s finished third in his new event of 400m hurdles in 62.2.
Ted Collins, Glenstal Abbey, continues his comeback after illness with another personal best of 2.02.9 in the 800m finishing fourth.
St Mary's Newport’s Seán Carolan’s 41.87m was enough to win the Discus and he was also third in the Long Jump with 6.33m.
Also with St Mary's, Aimee Hayde won double gold in the Intermediate 1,500m & 800m events setting a new record in the 800m of 2.11.61 which has stood since 1997. Roisin Power took silver in the Junior Shot throwing a fine throw of 10.34m and Faye Berry had a very good run in the Intermediate Hurdles but was out of the medals.
In the throws, Josh Delaney, Nenagh College finished third in the Shot Putt with 11.25m.
Joe McEvoy was the star of the show with two fine wins in the senior category. He started with a win in the High Jump with a leap of 1.90m and followed that up with a personal best of 44.8m in the Javelin. He rounded off his busy day when anchoring St Anne’s CC Killaloe to third in the 4x100m relay.
All these athletes will be competing next in two weeks at the All Ireland Schools finals in Tullamore on Saturday 2nd June.