The Dunboyne AC Juveniles and Fit for Youth athletes were on the road again this time for the Leinster Indoor Track and Field Championship 2017-Day 1 & 2. The fabulous AIT Indoor Facility was hosting this opening provincial track meet of the season. The club sent a small, but very competitive squad to the midlands for this competition held on Saturday the 11th/ Sunday the 12th of February. The following athletes were in action over the weekend (day 1 unless specified)

 

UNDER 12 BOYS

JED COLLINS -60M

CIARAN MCCORMACK -600M

MATHIEU KEIFFER -600M

Report- Both Ciaran and Mathieu qualified with ease from their heats and qualified for the final of the 600m . Ciaran finished sixth and Mathieu eleventh in a very fast race where the Leinster record was destroyed, looking good for Development Cross Country in Waterford. Jed competing in his first Indoor was very impressive in his heat as he left his competitors in his shadow, he was joined in the semi finals by Mathieu who also qualified despite having two 600m in his legs. Jed continued to impress in the semi finals, but it was one race too many for Mathieu. In the final of the 60m Jed had a belter, and the result was down to a photo finish. Poor Jed missed out on a medal by .01 of a second.

 

UNDER 13 GIRLS

AIDEEN REILLY -60M and LONG JUMP

ALEAH KELLY -600M

SOPHIE DOLAN -600M

SINEAD MAGEE -60M

Report- Aideen was our first medal winner of the day as she won bronze in the long jump despite literally having one proper jumping training session in preparation for this event. Aleah and Sophie barely lost their breath as they qualified for the 600m final. Both girls ran with different race plans, Aleah gone from the off and Sophie rely on her sprint finish, both girls races went to plan as Aleah took silver, Sophie bronze to make it a 1-2-3 for Meath in this provincial final. In the afternoon sprint session Sinead joined Aideen, and continued to show promise and was  not far off joining Aideen in the final. Poor Aideen was at AIT from 9am, she had qualified for the final, however a mix up by officials left her off starting list and despite trying to resolve the matter when it came to light the race started without her. We have no doubt that Aideen would have being collecting her second medal otherwise. This group is starting to challenge the older age groups as ‘coaches pets’. Roll on the All Irelands.

 

UNDER 13 BOYS

ADAM SMYTH -600M

Report-Adam who is more accustomed to longer races went to Athlone and had a go at this distance, falling short in qualifying for final. One to watch as the distances get longer.

 

UNDER 14 GIRLS

LUCY EGLINGTON  – 60M

RACHAEL NORMAN –  60M HURDLES and LONG JUMP (Day2)

KAYLA RYAN – 800M

LORENA HARRISON – 60M (Day 1) and LONG JUMP (Day 2)

DERVLA MCNIOCHLAS -60M

KATE GRIFFIN  –  60M HURDLES  (Day2)

Report- This group had our biggest representative in the Midlands, with three of our Sprint Divas in action on day 1. Both Dervla and Lorena qualified from the heats for the semi final with Lucy unlucky to be drawn in the fastest heat just falling short of qualification. Kayla was our sole distance runner in action, looking comfortable in qualifying in the final. The final was a bumpy affair and Kayla stayed well with the pace and finished a respectable sixth overall. Later in the night both Lorena and Dervla put in good performance and were unlucky not to make the final. Saturday saw Lorena back, this time competing in the long jump where she was joined by Rachael. Both girls jumped PBs despite not having any winter training behind them, however on this occasion it wasn’t enough for a place on the podium. Rachael was also contesting the 60 m hurdles with friend Kate Griffin. Both girls showed great improvement in this event in recent times despite a being a bit rusty after a winter’s break, Kate missing out on a place in the final by .01 of a second and Rachael missing out by.14 of a second.

 

UNDER 14 BOYS

ROSS LYONS -800M

CIAN SMITH -60M HURDLES (Day 2)

Report- Ross Lyons was another who impressed in his 800m heat. In the final he seemed get his race tactics mixed up and settled himself before recovering and going on to take bronze, but all that know him believe he is a contender for the Nationals. On Sunday Cian looked back to his best as he eased through the heats into the 60m hurdles final. In the final he got into his stride from the gun and coasted to gold wining by a margin of over 10 meters and clocking up a PB, regaining his provincial crown for another year.

 

UNDER 15 GIRLS

DOIRENN NI FHLATHARTA -800M

Report- Doireann took no risk in the heats as she qualified with a win. In the final she followed the coaches instructions and forced the pace from the start, some caught up and overtook her on last lap but this moved sapped them of their energy so a final dash saw Doireann retain her 800m Leinster title and set a new Leinster Record.

 

UNDER 15 BOYS

MARC LEANE -60M

CONOR LEANE -800M

Report- Conor was first up on Saturday, and having missed a lot of training due to an injury was out of sorts in his 800m, but some rest and recovery should see him back on podium in no time. Marc opted for the sprints in the indoors and had little problem qualifying from the heats. Marc was out of the blocks like a bullet in the semi finals and earned his place in the final. After a long wait Marc contested the final, falling just short of a place on the podium.

 

UNDER 16 BOYS

PHILIP THRONTON -SHOT PUTT AND 200M (Day 2)

Report- Philip was throwing on day 1 and in a mirrored performance from 2016 he was squeezed out of top spot on the podium as he had settled for silver. The podium had the same three muscled athletes on the same steps as last year. He will be looking for revenge at the Nationals. Philip was taking part in his first competitive individual race on the track had a lash at the 200m where he fell just short of automatic qualification for the final as he came third in his semi final.

 

UNDER 18 BOYS

THOMAS THRONTON -200M AND LONG JUMP (Day 2)

Report- The Leinster award winner was back in action injury free for the first time in quite a while. Thomas was giving the long jump a try as he awaits his favoured triple jump later in the month. Thomas came away with a silver which bodes well for a fortnights time. Later in the afternoon he qualified for the final of the 200m, where he finished a respectable fifth. Not bad for a lad who has been spending more time in gym than on track in recent times.

 

A big thank you to all the support that travelled and as always fair plat to all the coaches and those who officiated on both days.