We were meant to have a total of six athletes in action over the weekend at the All Ireland Track and Field Indoors Championship which were being held at the Indoor facility at AIT in Athlone. However half of our outfit ended up unavailable due to illness which would bring a huge dint into the silverware that we meant to be adding to the trophy cabinet.
Only Aideen Reilly and Marc Leane were in action on Day 1, with Tadhg O Muircheartaigh (who is always good for a medal or two on the national stage) out with the flu. Aideen was double jobbing as she was in action in both the long jump and 60m sprints. This is Aideen’s first year competing as an individual, and has shown huge progress in the long jump in recent times. Aideen took a few jumps to get going but pulled one out of the bag as she glided through the air 4 meters and ten centimetres into the sand. This fantastic leap was good enough to win Aideen bronze in this under 12 competition, just 1 centimetres off silver. Poor Aideen had a long wait for the 60m sprint heats, and despite a bad start she qualified with ease for the final. Again there was a long wait and by the time the final came around Aideen looked tired, but still ran a great race to finish in fifth.
Marc Leane had the luxury of being able to turn up after lunch for his under 14 60m sprints and having trained well in recent weeks he was fit and ready to go. A disastrous start brought Marc’s indoor season to a close as at this level there is no margin for error and 60m was to short to recover. Marc was gutted, a lot of hard work for little reward…how cruel sport can be.
Day 2 saw another of our under 12 giggler, namely Sophie Dolan making their debut as an individual against the cream of Irish Athletes. Poor Sophie had being sick all week, but despite both coaches and parents trying to persuade her to sit this one out she was adament that she was going to the start line. Sophie had to dig deep and with her usual fighting spirit she qualified from the 600m heats for the final. The indoor facility in Athlone is like a furnace and her opening race combined with Sophie being under the weather would bring down the curtains on her day. A decision had to be made to withdraw this budding star from the final much to her disgust… but we have had doubt that had Sophie being her usual self, she would have being climbing the podium.
Our under fourteen contingent fell from three to one as Tadgh was still sick and Doireann Ni Fhlatharta was also unavailable due to illness. Looking at the results of the Shot Putt and the 800m, these’s athletes Leinster performances would have earned them medals, but alas it was not to be. Conor Leane now had the added pressure to win respect for is fallen comrades and he would not let the side down. Conor took to the front and qualified with ease with the fastest time for the final of the 800m. After several pep talks, an adjustment in his diet intake, some lactate recovery and the second warm up of the day it was final time. Conor had his usual rival battling for glory, having coming second at the National finals on grass, indoor track and outdoor track on ore occasions than one can remember Conor was more focused than usual and the writing was now on the wall. Conor took to the front from the gun and stretched the field, the other athlete’s faces saying it all as they struggles to keep in touch, and just as the final 100m was in sight and it looked as two of the rivals could spoil the party, Conor kicked and blew the opposition away coming home in an impressive 2 minutes 14 seconds with still plenty left in the tank. With the monkey well and truly off his shoulder now, the top of the podium will belong to this talented athlete for many a years to come.
Our final athlete in action over the weekend was Cian Smyth who was was competing in the under 13 60m hurdles. Having decide to concentrate on the shorter distances this year, Cian has a good 2016, being crowned Leinster Champion a few weeks ago. Cian qualified with ease from the heats as second fasted competitor and all was going to plan. The final came near the end of the days racing and having burst out of the blocks, Cian hit the first hurdle and that knocked him out of his stride, and despite a hugh effort that saw him claw his way back into the race Cian finished a frustrating fourth just outside the medals. His downfall was not being able to control his speed was how his mum synopsized the race… or as we say to control the beast within. This young fella is a definite star of the future.
Well done to all and a speedy recovery to all.
