The wind hurled derision at some of the record attempts and still the rewards came in magnificent ways at the annual showcase of rising athletics talent that is the Irish Schools Track and Field Championships.
Zak Irwin and Ciara Neville both came away from Tullamore with more than just titles to their name: with the wind reading staying in their legal favour, both Irwin and Neville clocked 100 metres qualifying times for the European Junior Championships, set for Eskilstuna, Sweden, in July.
For Neville, competing in the intermediate grade, there was an impressive 100-200m double – her 11.64 for the 100m well inside the European Junior qualifying time (11.75).
Better still, the Castletroy College student broke that intermediate record, and in fact clocked the fastest girls' 100m ever witnessed at these championships (as the senior record, held by Phil Healy, is 11.83).
Neville later signed off by anchoring Castletroy to the girls’ 4x100m relay title.
Irwin, from Sligo Grammar, ran 10.60 seconds to win the senior 100m.
Phoebe Murphy from Loreto Clonmel managed a senior girls' sprint double, although the strong wind readings ruled her times out for record or qualifying purposes.
Record ambitions
One athlete who made no secret of his record ambitions was Kevin Mulcaire from St Flannan's, Ennis: just two weeks ago, Mulcaire's 14:02.30 for 5,000m finally eclipsing the Irish junior record of 14:04.60, which had stood John Treacy for 40 years. Here, Mulcaire went after Treacy's schools' record of 14:17.1, and although he went for it from the gun, the strong wind took its toll on the 17-year-old, and he finished in 14:51.97.
With over 1,000 athletes spread between the track and field, representing 366 schools, it's impossible to highlight all those magnificent efforts. Among those who definitely stood out were Kevin McGrath, from St Patrick's, Navan, who cruised to an intermediate boys 800m victory in 1.57.22, while James Edgar from Friends School in Lisburn, won the intermediate 3,000m in 8.55.18.
Nadia Power from St Mac Dara's and Andrew Corscoran from St Mary's Drogheda won the senior 1,500m titles and Eimear Fitzpatrick from Our Lady's, Terenure, also defied the wind to take down a record, her 5.09.33 a new championship best in the intermediate 1,500m steeplechase.
And on the field, Michaela Walsh from Swinford threw an intermediate double – her hammer throw of 63.76m another championship best performance, while the the multi-talented Elizabeth Morland from Dunshaughlin collected two titles in the senior girl's high jump and long jump. Sophie Meredith from Newcastle West set a new record of 5.67m in the junior girl's long jump.
IRISH SCHOOLS ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS, AT TULLAMORE:
Senior Boys - 100m - 1 Z Irwin (Sligo Grammer) 10.60 2 S Lawlor (Kylemore College) 10.69 3 S Gibson (Bandon GS) 10.76 200m - 1 S Lawlor (Kylemore College) 21.51 2 Z Irwin (Sligo Grammar) 21.60 3 C Robinson (Carrickfergus GS) 21.75 400- 1 S Gibson (Bandon GS) 49.41 2 J Fitzsimons ( KTCS) 50.54 3 C O'Donnell (Magh Ene B'doran) 50.56 800m - 1 R Surlis (St Pats Cavan) 1:54.19 2 C Hayes (Col Chiarain 1:54.60 3 W Crowe (Sligo Grammar) 1:55.10 1500m - 1 A Coscoran (St Mary's Drogheda) 4:01.53 2 P McGabhann (DLS Churchtown) 4:02.12 3 S Curran (Dungarvan CBS) 4:06.39 2000m S/Chase - 1 J O' Leary (Clongowes Wood) 6:03.67 2 S Collins (St Flannan's Ennis) 6:14.41 3 B Flanagan (St Aidan's CBS) 6:20.40 5000m - 1 K Mulcaire (St Flannan's Ennis) 14:51.97 2 P Lynch (St Kieran's 15:20.33 3 J Fallon (Calasanctius) 15:32.69 3000m Walk - 1 A Egan (HS Clonmel) 12:39.87, 2 Tobin A (HS Clonmel) 13:28.00, 3 A Bell (St Gerards) 13:59.01 110m Hurdles - 1 M Behan (CUS) 13.90 2 B Fisher (Methodist Col.) 14.76 3 J Halwax (CBC Monkstown) 14.96 400m Hurdles - 1 J Halwax (CBC Monkstown) 56.16 2 D O'Mahony (Rochestown College) 57.77 3 S Samson (St Marys Galway) 57.82 High Jump - 1 D Cussen (Spioraid Naoimh) 2.05m 2 Keith Marks (Ashbourne CS) 2.05m 3 C O'Calloghan (Abbey vs Donegal) 1.85m Long Jump - 1 K Marks (Ashbourne CS) 7.21m 2 M Cullen (St.Peter's Wexford) 6.99m 3 I Brennan (St Columbas) 6.82m Triple Jump - 1 S Joyce (Ashbourne CS) 13.96m 2 C Durnin (St Mary's Dundalk 13.86m 3 I Brennan (St Columba's) 13.61m Shot Putt - 1 A Awonusi (Kilkenny College) 17.11m 2 E Sheridan (St Finians Swords) 15.14m 3 T De Jong (Belvedere College) 14.67m Discus - 1 E Sheridan (St.Finians Millingar) 50.62m 2 A Barkley (Belfast High School) 48.94m 3 T DeJong (Belvedere College) 41.31m Pole Vault - 1 S Fennell (St Augustines) 4.20m 2 Y Kanash (St Augustines) 4.00m 3 B Flynn ( St Joesphs Rush) 3.60m Javelin - 1 J Magee (Ballyclare High) 53.49m 2 S Joyce (Ashbourne CS) 52.25m 3 B Smith (Bandon GS) 51.94m Hammer 6kg - 1 A King (Col na Sceilige) 56.95m 2 T O'Neill (SM Kanturk) 50.38m 3 A Christie (Spioraid Naoimh) 48.97m 4x100m- 1 (Bandon Grammar School) 43.20, 2 (Blackrock College) 43.25, (Pres Athenry) 43.76 Teams -
Intermediate Boys - 100m - 1 D Murphy (CBS Kilkenny) 11.14, 2 T Odubote (Rice Coll Ennis) 11.22, 3 R Murray (SM Enniscorthy) 11.26. 200m - 1 S Edodo (Templeogue Coll) 22.05, 2 A Blackmore (Bangor Grammar) 22.80, 3 S Kilmartin (St Joseph's Galway) 22.86. 400m - 1 A MacFhloinn (GS Chu Uladh) 50.96, 2 J Mitchell (Ardscoil Ris Lim) 51.52, 3 N Prior (Colaiste Eoin) 52.01.800m - 1 K McGrath (St Pats Navan) 1:57.22, 2 C O'Driscoll (Carrigaline CS) 1:59.36, 3 J Harbinson (Belfast High School) 2:00.66. 1500m - 1 B Crowley (Knockbeg College) 4:09.97, 2 J McGuire (St Benildus Dublin) 4:12.09, 3 F Stewart (Lumen Christi Derry) 4:14.57. 3000m - 1 J Edgar (Friends School) 8:55.18, 2 F Curtin (Middleton CBS) 8:56.18, 3 C Dalton (SJ R'fortbridge) 8:58.48. 2000m Walk - 1 G Mc Mahon (St Caimins Shannon) 9:03.42, 2 A Carroll (Salesian Col) 9:44.70, 3 D Kenny (St Brendans) 9:54.98. 100m Hurdles - 1 D Ryan (Thurles CBS) 13.07, 2 S Mooney (Summerhill Sligo) 13.80, 3 A Clarkin (Castleknock CC) 13.85. 400m Hurdles - 1 S Essuman (Templeogue Col) 54.97, 2 C Barnes (Belfast High School) 55.02, 3 C Locke (Crescent C.C) 57.63. 1500m Steeplechase - 1 Philip Marron (Ratoath CC) 4:31.25, 2 J Roche (St Flannans Ennis) 4:39.39, 3 M Molloy (Killina SS) 4:42.70. Hammer 5kg - 1 S McCorry (Belfast RA) 59.42m, 2 B O'Donnell (St. Eunans) 58.75m, 3 T Coomey (Bandon GS) 47.52m. Triple Jump - 1 T Hunter (Dalriada Ballymooney) 13.60m, 2 S Thompson (Belvedere Col) 12.93m, 3 J Armstrong (Friend's School) 12.51m. Discus - 1 D Gaffney (St Finians Mulli) 43.25m, 2 E Flynn (Dungarvan CBS) 40.05m, 3 D McSweeney (CBC Monkstown) 40.02m. Javelin - 1 M Gaffney (Campbell College) 54.70m, 2 G Crawford (HC Strabane) 53.25m, 3 F Cox (SM Buncrana) 52.10m. Pole-Vault - 1 S Martin (Belfast RA) 4.15m, 2 R Ivers (CBC Monkstown) 3.60m, 3 D Nolan (Scoil Chonglais) 3.00m.High Jump- 1 R Carly (Good Counsel) 1.95m, 2 R Marrs (Royal Belfast AI) 1.95, 3 J Landy (Maynooth PP) 1.85m.Long Jump - 1 D Ryan (Thurles CBS) 7.10m R, 2 T Connolly (Col Chiarain) 6.42m, 3 O Wakefield (Priory Holywood) 6.26m. Shot Putt 5kg - 1 J French (Bandon GS) 14.90m, 2 J Kelly (R&P Raphoe) 13.98m, 3 D Gaffney (St Finians Mull) 13.93m.4x100m Relay - 1 Blackrock College 46.27, 2 Grosvenor Grammar Belfast 46.29, 3 St Marys Galway 46.44.
Junior Boys - 100m - 1 A Sexton (Bangor Grammar) 11.06 2 S Benson (St Flannans Ennis) 11.46 3 R Osuaha (Gormanston College) 11.57 200m - 1 A Sexton (Bangor Grammar) 22.47R 2 D Ryan (Thurles CBS) 23.18 3 S Benson (St Flannan's Ennis) 23.56 800m - 1 M Milner ( ColChoilm T'More) 1:57.58R 2 S Corry (Omagh CBS) 1:59.74R 3 E Byrne ( St Colmans Newry) 2:02.61 1500m - 1 D McElhinney ( CP Beanntrai) 4:18.76 2 A Fitzpatrick (St Kieran's 4:23.70 3 J Moran (CM Mullingar) 4:24.09 1200m Walk - 1 L Mc Donagh (Thurles CBS) 6:07.05 2 E Gaffney (Mohill CS) 6:09.17 3 D Tuite (St Aidan's CBS) 6:38.57 80m Hurdles - 1 D Mulqueen (St Annes Killaloe) 11.60 2 J Vermeer (Comeragh Col) 11.79 3 L Lalor ( St Gerards Bray) 11.84 High Jump - 1 B O'Donovan (Midleton College) 1.85m 2 E McIlroy (Methodist Col.) 1.70m 3 G Bell (DLS Dundalk) 1.70m Long Jump - 1 D Ryan (Thurles CBS) 6.34m 2 B Lynch (Spioraid Naoimh) 5.82m 3 A Dooley (Col Phobal Ros Cré) 5.81m Triple Jump - 1 J Benson (St Malachy's) 11.66m 2 C Maher (Belevedere College) 11.05m 3 L Pollock (Dalriada Ballymoney) 11.05m Shot Putt - 1 K Pawlowski (St Kieran's) 12.98m 2 D Miniter (Kilrush CS) 12.88m 3 T Mullen (HC Strabane) 12.74m Discus - 1 S Mockler (Thurles CBS) 42.23m 2 C Rohan (Roscommon CBS) 38.17m 3 C Kingston (Bandon GS) 37.72m Javelin - 1 L Connaughton (St Marys Drogheda) 47.28 2 D McCabe (St Mary's Drogheda) 41.16m 3 J McEvoy (St Annes Killaloe) 38.53m Hammer 4kg - 1 S Mockler (Thurles CBS) 47.80m 2 B Naughton (Nenagh College) 43.41m 3 P O'Callaghan (Col Chroist Rí) 41.74m Pole Vault - M Callanan-Keenan (GC Cheartharlach) 3.30m 2 A McNally (Lusk CC) 3.10m 3 C Cloona (St Augustines) 2.90m 4x100m- 1 (St Mary's Portlaoise) 47.75, 2 (Grosvenor Grammar Belfast) 48.04, 3 (Bangor Grammar) 48.24
Senior Girls - 100m - 1 P Murphy (Loreto Clonmel) 11.72, 2 R Harrison (Villiers Limerick) 11.97, 3 S Kate-Lacey (Loreto Kilkenny) 12.06. 200m- 1 P Murphy (Loreto Clonmel) 24.21, 2 R Harrison (Villiers Limerick) 24.34, 3 S Treacy (St Raphaels) 24.85.400m - 1 J Bromell (Castletroy College) 57.06, 2 S Becker (St. Mary's New Ross) 58.83, 3 Amy NíhAmaill (Colaiste Oiriall) 59.83. 800m - 1 L Shanahan (Bruce College Cork 2:13.52 2 C Sweeney (St Mac Dara's) 2:14.26 3 A Lally (Pres Athenry) 2:14.79 1500m - 1 N Power (St Mac Dara's) 4:50.74 2 C Murphy (St Dominics Cabra) 4:55.80 3 D Healy (Int of Education) 4:56.85 1500m S/Chase - 1 E Flanagan (SH Omagh) 5:09.63 2 A Armstrong (Coolmine CS) 5:16.96 3 C Cummins (Ursuline Thurles) 5:20.60 3000m - 1 H Saunders (Mount Temple Dublin) 9:56.88 2 I Carron (Skerries CC) 10:10.34 3 C O'Reilly (Loreto Cavan) 10:15.81 3000m Walk - 1 V Burke (Bower Athlone) 14:55.68 2 E Glennon (CM Mullingar) 15:38.27 3 K Bourke (St Wolstans CS) 16:38.41 100m Hurdles - 1 S Dawkins (St Mary's New Ross) 14.34 2 C O'Mahoneu (Lauren Hill) 14.46 3 A Borrel (East Glendalough CS) 14.76 400m Hurdles - 1 K Doyle (SM C'on Suir) 62.40 2 A Borel (East Glendalough CS) 66.34 3 C O'Connor (St Mary's Naas) 66.93 High Jump - 1 E Moreland (Dunshaughlin CC) 1.65m 2 R Rutherford (Glenlola) 1.60m 3 S Dawkins (St Marys New Ross) 1.60m. Long Jump - 1 E Moreland (Dunshaughlin CC) 5.88m, 2 L Mills (Ballyclare High) 5.78m, 3 S Connolly (Glenola) 5.57m. Triple Jump - 1 E McCabe (St Mary's Naas) 11.29m 2 L Mills (Ballyclare High) 11.03 3 F O'Shea (Laural Hill) 10.91 Shot Putt - 1 D Ní Riain (GC Luimnigh) 11.29m 2 A Torsney (Plunkett College) 11.03m 3 S Cunningham (Kilkeel High School) 10.35m Discus 1kg - 1 K Cronin (St.Brigids) 42.93m 2 A Torsney (Plunkett College) 40.97m 3 J Leeper (St Columba's) 34.76m Javelin - 1 J Burns (Cookstown HS) 35.49m 2 E Hull (Glenlola) 33.18m 3 Lauren O'Mahony (St Mary's Midleton) 32.25m Hammer 4kg - 1 A Akers (Scariff CC) 56.20mR 2 A Vaughan-Witts ( Borrisokane CC) 49.52m 3 K Brady (St Michaels Navan) 43.03m Pole Vault - 1 L Cussen (Col Choilm B'col) 3.15m 2 E Larkin (Villiers Limerick) 2.90m 3 M Dunford (St Augustines) 2.60m 4x100m- 1 (St Mary's New Ross) 50.06, 2 (Loreto Kilkenny) 50.20, 3 (Glenlola Collegiate Bangor) 50.90 Teams -
Intermediate Girls - 100m - 1 C Neville (Castletroy Col) 11.64R, 2 J Boyle (St Columbas) 11.92, 3 L Ryan (Crescent CC) 11.96. 200m - 1 C Neville (Castletroy College) 23.99, 2 J Boyle (St Columbas) 24.24, 3 S Mawdsley (St Marys Newport) 24.26. 300m - 1 S Mawdsley (St Marys Newport) 39.91, 2 E O'Toole (C&P Kilcullen) 41.60, 3 A Crossan (Loreto L'kenny) 41.86. 800m - 1 R Finnegan (Eureka Kells) 2:21.32, 2 A McKinney (Dom P' Stewart) 2:21.48, 3 A Mahony (Pres Listowel) 2:23.93. 1500m - 1 E O'Brien (Dom Col Wicklow) 4:42.59, 2 E Fitzpatrick (Our Ladys Terenure) 4:53.56, 3 J McCann (Rathdown Dublin) 4:54.09. 3000m - 1 N Ni Chiardha (Col. Iosagain Dub) 10:38.77, 2 C Harrington (C.P. Beanntrai) 10:39.13, 3 E Monaghan (ML Enniskillen) 10:40.99. 2000m Walk - 1 N O'Connor (St Wolstan's CS) 9.43.32, 2 O Delahunt (Ursulaine Sligo) 9.53.24, 3 O O'Connor (Waterpark College) 10.03.48. 80m Hurdles - 1 M Scott (Scoil Chonglais) 11.08, 2 C Deeley (Loreto Kilkenny) 11.26, 3 C Tobin (Castletroy College) 11.59. 300m Hurdles - N Malone (Castleblaney) 44.58, 2 R Dunne (St Colmcilles) 44.67, 3 C Tobin (Castletroy Col) 44.60. 1500m Steeplechase - 1 E Fitzpatrick (Our Lady's Terenure) 5:09.33R, 2 L Nicholson (Bandon GS) 5:22.01, 3 T Moore (SH Omagh) 5:23.95. Hammer 3kg - 1 M Walsh (SM&P Swinford) 63.76, 2 L O'Keefe (Loreto Balbriggan) 52.08, 3 S Hoey (Col Iosagain) 50.88. Javelin 500g - 1 O O'Brein (Ursaline Waterford) 43.29m, 2 G Casey (St Marys Naas) 41.60m, 3 A Hurley (Loreto Fermoy) 34.69m. Discus - 1 N Fogarty (SJ Rochfortbridge) 34.54m, 2 A Doyle (IS Killorgan) 33.80m, 3 S Hoey (Col Iosagain) 32.36m. Pole Vault - 1 E McCartney (Belfast High School) 2.95Mr, 2 C Walsh (Davis Coll) 2.75m, 2 K Ritchie (Belfast RA) 2.75m. Long-Jump - 1 A Crossan (Loreto L'kenny) 5.79m, 2 K Taylor (Col Mhuire Ennis) 5.54m, 3 S Lecky (Strabane Academy) 5.52m. Shot-putt - 1 M Walsh (SM&P Swinford) 16.46m R, 2 N Fogarty (SJ R'fortbridge) 12.89m, 3 S Hayes (MSM Rosscarbery) 11.45m. Triple Jump - 1 K Taylor (Scoil Mhuire Ennis) 11.21m, 2 S McCabe (MS Gharman) 11.05m, 3 K Farrelly (Strathearn) 10.88m. High Jump - 1 S Lecky (Strabane Academy) 1.72m, 2 C Delaney (Loreto Kilkenny) 1.70m, 3 P Tan (Methodist College) 1.60m.4x100m Relay - 1 Castletroy College 50.17, 2 Scoil Mhuire Carrick on Suir, 3 Mt Anville Dublin.
Junior Girls - 100m - 1 L Roy (Slemish Int) 12.32, 2 M Daly (SM C'on Suir) 12.42, 3 R O'Brien (Mt Anville Dub) 12.47. 200m - 1 F Doyle (IS Killorgan) 25.23, 2 C NihEideain (GC Cheartharlach) 25.60, 3 A McCauley (Methodist College) 25.68. 800m - 1 A O'Neill (Rice Coll Ennis) 2:19.57, 2 K O'Connor (SV Dundalk) 2:20.37, 3 S Doyle (St Leos Carlow) 2:21.45. 1500m - 1 S Healy (Holy Child Killiney) 4:41.40, 2 A-R Farrell (Mt Anville Dublin) 4:42.55, 3 C Rafter (Ursuline Thurles) 4:46.02. 75m Hurdles - 1 M Daly (SM C'on Suir) 11.59, 2 A Daly (Holy Child Killiney) 11.92, 3 K McGee (Newbridge College) 11.96. 1200m Walk - 1 S Greene (St Finians Swords) 5:31.30, 2 A Bourke (St Wolstans CS) 5:51.16, 3 E Delahunt (Ursuline Sligo) 5:55.76. Discus - 1 M Furlong (St Mary's New Ross) 37.71m, 2 M Quain (Col Croi Noamha) 30.43m, 3 R Stephens (GC Phort Lairge) 27.96m. Long Jump - 1 S Meredith (SMI Newcastle West) 5.67mR, 2 M Hourihan (Alexandria Coll) 5.25m, 3 O Bowes (Antrim Grammer) 5.21m. Pole-Vault - 1 A Cassidy (Bandon GS) 2.65m, 2 H Dougan (Belfast RA) 2.55m, 3 O Savage (Methodist Col) 2.55m. Hammer - 1 J Williams (Bailieborough CS) 54.00mR, 2 B O'Hanlon (Pres Wexford) 38.10m, 3 S Linehan (Colaiste Treasa) 35.87m. Shot-Putt - 1 M Furlong (St Marys New Ross) 11.87m, 2 S Linihan (Col Treasa) 11.27m, 3 S McMahon (SV Dundalk) 10.17m. High Jump - 1 S Meredith (SMI Newcastle) 1.60m, 2 F Doyle (IS Killorgan) 1.60m, 3 A Conway (MSM Claremorris) 1.55m. Javelin - 1 K O'Connor (SV Dundalk) 43.77m R, 2 K Moynihan (Davis College) 35.00m, 3 A Leary (Loreto Fermoy) 32.19m. Triple Jump - 1 J Joha (Col Iosagain) 10.61m R, 2 I MacPhearson (Belfast High School) 9.99m, 3 K Annett (Strathearn) 9.70m. 4x100m Relay - 1 Mt Anville Dublin 52.60, 2 Methodist College Belfast 52.86, 3 Bandon Grammer 53.01.
