Gold medals for Rochford and Bergin at star-studded Athletics finals
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Moyne AC’s Katie Bergin, after winning the Women’s Under 23 100m at the 123.ie Junior & U23 Track and Field Championships in Tullamore. Photo: Ben McShane/Sportsfile Ben McShane / SPORTSFILEImage 2 of 2
Nenagh Olympic AC’s Laura Frawley who won silver in the U20 Long Jump and Ava Rochford who won gold in rhe U20 High Jump at the National Junior & Under 23 Track & Field ChampionshipsTipperary athletes were among the winners at a star-studded 123.ie National Junior & Under 23 Track & Field Championships hosted by Tullamore Harriers Athletic Club last weekend.
International stars Israel Olatunde (UCD AC) and Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh AC) provided three of the standout performances with Olatunde claiming gold in the men’s U23 100m final in a time of 10.42, a race that would see all eight finalists clock 10.71 or better in another great example of the depth in Irish sprinting at present.
O’Sullivan, fresh from her winning run at the previous week’s European Team Championships, claimed gold in the 800m (2.10.04) before returning to the track later in the afternoon to also secure gold in the 1500m (4.27.02).
In terms of local success, Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) backed up her U23 indoor 60m title to take the 100m gold medal in a thrilling finish with Adeyemi Talabhi. Bergin crossed in a winning time of 12.09, with Talabhi a close second in 12.14. She also added a silver medal in the 200m.
Nenagh Olympic AC’s Ava Rochford is the U20 High Jump champion thanks to her 1.76 clearance which was just short of Sommer Lecky’s 1.80 CR. She also won a silver medal in the U20 Pole Vault.
There were also silver medals won by Moycarkey/Coolcroo AC’s Dillon Ryan in the U23 Long Jump, Nenagh Olympic AC’s Laura Frawley in the U20 Long Jump and her clubmate Padraic Hassett in the U23 200m.
Bronze medals were also won by Newport AC’s Aimee Hayde in the U23 800m and Nenagh Olympic AC’s Luke Purcell U20 3000m Steeplechase.