On Saturday the 23rd of July 2016 we had four athletes who had qualified from Leinster Competitions to compete in the All Ireland Track and Field Championship which were taking part at our second home in the Tullamore Harriers Stadium.
Our first competitor in action on day 2 of the juvenile national finals was Evan Mitchell who stepped into the throwing circle for the under 18 hammer, fresh for a strong performance in the Tailteann Games. Evan who was has shown great progress in recent years under Belvedre College Coach Phil Conway had put in huge effort through out this season and there was much expected of this young talent. Evan was back in the Midlands over the weekend throwing in excess of 45 meters and much to the delight of his entourage he polished off a fine season with a silver medal. This was Evan’s first national medal, no doubt the first of many.
Next up was Aideen Reilly competing in the U/12 Girls 60m. Aideen was in a field of 3 heats all with huge talents. After a slow start out of the blocks Aideen did well and caught the leaders but just couldn’t manage to make it through the heats after finishing in 4th place. Aideen is just back from holidays with a stent of sickness and didn’t manage to get back to full fitness. Aideen has the bragging rights of reaching 2 X All Ireland relay finals in U/12 & U/13. Aideen finishes her T&F season with an array of Meath medals an indoor Leinster Gold and Silver for LJ and 60m and also a Bronze in the indoor National All Irelands for LJ. What a season for Aideen who is no stranger to All Ireland finals. A huge career ahead of our little Reilly all Star.
Lorena Harrisson was up next in the U/13 girls 80m sprint. Another tough ask for Lorena who has done exceptionally well to make a final in the All Irelands. Lorena had a fine start but just couldn’t match the performance of the first 2 who qualified. This is a huge learning experience and we are all very proud of Lorena in her first of many to come All Ireland finals. Again this is the end of a T&F season for Lorena who has done exceptionally well through out the season performing well across Meath and Leinster Championships. Lorena has a Silver in Meath for 60m & LJ. Also like Aideen, Lorena had the pleasure of running in a Dunboyne AC All Ireland 4 X 100m Final. Next year will be a test for Lorena and the club hope to have her for the full year and her coaches have full faith in her abilities as she is improving week on week and has a huge career ahead.
Also in action in the field events on Saturday was another of the club’s finest performers, namely Thomas Thornton. Thomas made the trip to Co. Offaly not knowing what too expect, three week ago he was a double gold medallist in the long jump and triple jump, but was plagued with a heel injury since, only able to do a bit of running in the last week and not get risking any jumping practice. Thomas who had already missed out on the long jump competition got one jump in the triple jump before having to retire with the re occurring injury. That one jump which was well below what he has jumped in 2016 was still good enough for him to claim fifth in the competition.
There was an early start for the evergreen Conor Leane as he strolled onto the tartan on the Sunday the 24th of July 2016, nerves having him anxious, the race plan embedded in his memory. Again there was a huge amount expected from this young flyer after he had majestically got the monkey of his shoulder earlier in the year when he claimed an Indoor All Ireland title. But as we know …best made plans…Conor got bunch in going into the first bend, getting tied up in traffic and by the time he got out of the crowd he had a lot of work to do. Conor began to pick his competitors off one by one and on his final kick moved himself into bronze position-inches from silver and .7 of a second off gold, for another podium finish. A decent end to the season, with a well earned rest ahead.
Victoria Knox was our second runner in action on the final day of the All Irelands in Tullamore, following a strong run at the Provincials she had her coaches up the wall having missed two week training as she went to the Gaeltacht, cramming a few session into this last week on her return. Victoria was competing at her first national finals at the under 15 250m hurdles. Victoria showed her true potential in this event as she ran a strong heat to finish third and qualify for the final. In the final Victoria finished a respectable seventh.
On the inside of the track on day 3 we had the second of the Thorntons brothers on duty at this national stage. The younger (and according to himself the most handsome). To echo the fact that Dunboyne AC is more than an running club, Philip Thornton was our fourth thrower looking for glory at this highest level as he exhibited his growing strength in the under 15 shot putt competition. Philip who has improved by over a meter in the last few months finished 6th overall, not bad for a fella who scraped a medal in the Meath Championship two years ago. As his coach Declan would say, he is a’ work in progress’.
Our final athlete in action for this season’s Juvenile Track and Field finale was Niall Bermingham who has been hard working improving his technique as of late. Niall was another athlete who has been patient, going from a gold medal in last years development competition to maturing to the premier league of under 19 high jumpers. Niall was in full flow in his competition having reach the 1 meter 70cm mark, well in the mix, when disaster struck. Niall twisted his ankle and had to retire from the competition. As has been quoted very often in our reports- sport can be cruel. We wish Niall, and indeed Thomas a speedy recovery…chins up.
As always well done to all, it is an achievement in itself to make it to the All Irelands. A big thank you to all the Juvenile and Fit for Youth coaches who played their part in producing a successful 2016 Track and Field season at club, county, provincial, national and international levels- ye cannot be praised enough for dedicating your time towards our budding stars. Also a big thank you to the parents who travelled (aka taxi service) for the many journeys near and far through out this long season. Roll on the Cross Country Season!!!!!
