Athletics: Records fall at All-Irelands in Tullamore

Sophie Becker

Lindie Naughton

With around a thousand young athletes turning out for last weekend's two days of competition at the GloHealth National Juveniles in Tullamore, the future of the sport has never looked brighter.

Among the highlights of the weekend were a new M18 record of 48.70 secs for Christopher O'Donnell of North Sligo, while in the W19 500m, Sophie Becker of St Joseph's AC was a clear winner in 57.12 seconds.

Over the longer distances, Carla Sweeney of Rathfarnham WSAF won the W18 1500m with Annalee's Clodagh O'Reilly dominating the W19 race.

Fastest times over 3000m came from Hope Saunders of Clonliffe who won the W19 title in 10 minutes 03.16 seconds. and Mullingar's Shane Hughes winner of the M18 title in 8:39.65.

Of the jumpers, Adamstown's Ryan Carthy Walsh soared over a record 2.08m to win the M17 high jump. Winning the M17 triple jump with a record 14.11m leap was Jordan Hoang of Tullamore Harriers.

A 51.14m effort gave victory in the W17 hammer to Kathlyn Furlong of DMP, while Owen Russell of St Andrew's won the M19 title with a record throw of 65.75m. Dunleer's Liam Connaughton won the M16 javelin with a record-breaking throw of 52.85m.

A week earlier, winners in the 800m included Emma O'Brien of Inbhear Dee W17, Molly Brown of MSB W15, Donore's Louis O'Loughlin, M15 and Corinne Johanna Kenny of StLOT who just missed out on the W14 record.

Juveniles