KERRY AAI Juniors, U23 and Masters T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS 5^th May: CIT saw the remaining action for last weekend’s athletic line-up, which proved very fruitful for our athletes. First up were the relays where Tralee Harriers did not fail to impress. The junior women’s 4 X 100 relay was won by three of our U16 and one of our U17 girls, Dearbhail Foley, Sinead O’Connor, Molly McGilton and Ciara Walsh. This very popular, hard-working group are a credit to their club for their individual and relay performances. Competition at this age group if fierce, which puts their 100m performances in perspective with Dearbhail and Molly both qualifying for the final and acquitting themselves well in a field of enormous talent. Tralee Harriers also featured on the podium for the junior men’s’ 4 X100 relay, with our team of Dara O’Carroll, Michael Kelliher, Danny O’Connor and David Boyd coming second to Leevale with a fantastic time of 45.74 only 0.06s behind gold. Well deserved celebrations were had! David Boyd put in a very impressive performance that weekend winning bronze in both the 100m (11.43s) and 200m (23.42s) giving David a new p.b. This athlete is always an example to all of what discipline and sheer determination can achieve. Cian Foley made the 100m final also, with Danny O’Connor competing in the final of the 200m sprint. Dara O’Carroll has put in tremendous work for the 400m, which is starting to pay off with a silver medal in the junior men’s race (53.27s new p.b.). Hopefully this is going to be a good season for Dara also. In the high jump competition Andrew Kearney took silver for a very impressive 1.85 ms. Andrew is hugely talented at this event and never fails to take home some silverware. Danny O’Connor, who also has great potential in the high jump, came third, just piping his clubmate Michael Kelliher for the medal. Ciara Walsh, another massive performer at these events took gold in the junior women’s high jump with a jump of 1.55m. Ciara has dominated this event for the last few major competitions and it doesn’t look like this will change any time soon. Ciara also competed in the 800m. Sinead O’Connor who is improving dramatically this year jumped 9.10m in the triple jump and joined Molly McGilton in the long jump competition. There were two championship bests recorded by our own Claire Fitzgerald in the shot (12.92m) and discus (41.50m). Claire also went on to win gold in the javelin (32.75m). Fantastic achievements from an athlete with extraordinary talent. Another member of the famous throwing family, Karen O Connor, won bronze in the in the discus (30.06m). Karen’s brother, Alan O’Connor won a plethora of medals in the U23 men’s competition. Alan won gold in the discus (35.55m) and the shot (11.67m), taking silver in the javelin (35.71m), the 28lbs distance and 28lbs over the bar with throws of 8.61 and 3.20 respectively. Congratulations to Karen and Alan.

On the same day the Masters men were busy winning fantastic accolades of their own. Tremendous respect is due to these magnificent athletes who really dominated the events they entered.  In the V2 category was John Foley who is running fantastically this year, winning silver in the 100m and gold in the 200m. Pat Canty (V4) was a joy to watch in the 100m, taking gold in an excellent time of 12.98S and gold in the 200m in 26.42s. Pat also won the long jump (4.90m). No stranger to the podium, Patsy O’Connor (V4) won the shot (12.67m) with Pat Canty coming third. Patsy also won the discus, javelin (39.95m) and the 56lbs WF destroying the competition in all events. Patrick Fanning (V5) easily won the discus also. In the V8 category, Martin McDonagh swept the board winning the shot (9.70m), discus (24.64), Javelin (21.81m) and 56lbs WF. The relay team of Patsy O’Connor, John Foley, Pat Canty and newcomer Michael Godley took the gold medal in an excellent time of 52.44s.

Kerry County Championship (Day 2) 11the May: The club went into this competition falling well behind in the points race as a result of our low attendance at day 1 of the competition. This however, is an age group that is very strong within the club of which all are duly proud as most clubs struggle to hold athletes. The athletes performed out of their skins to put the club in pole position for day 3 and well done to all involved. Never one to disappoint, Louise O’Connor took home two gold medals winning the U14 80m and the high jump. Congratulations to Kate Boyd on winning gold in the U15 javelin, with clubmate Rachel Patton taking silver in the same event. Louise then joined Hannah Ryan, Katie Liston and Michaela O’Connor to take bronze in the U15 4X100 relay. Well done to all. Eoin O’Carroll also had a good day this weekend with a series of wins including U14 80m, high jump, discus and finally picking up bronze in the U15 javelin competition. Danny Pierse took home the silver medal in the high jump with clubmate Brian Barry winning bronze in the 80m. These three fantastic athletes joined up with Shane O’Sullivan for a great win in the U 15 4x100m relay. Sinead O’Connor had an excellent day winning gold in the U16 100m, silver in the long jump and bronze in the high jump. So too did Molly McGilton who won silver in the U16 100M and bronze in the discus. Ciara Walsh stayed true to form winning gold in the high jump and long jump and finally this tremendous trio joined forces with Cliona O’Connor to easily win the U17 4x100M RELAY.

The U16 boy’s high jump was won by an excellent newcomer Clarence Kennedy who took a second gold medal in the U17 long jump also. The return of Jamie Byrne ensured gold for the club in the U17 100m with Danny O’Connor taking bronze. Danny also went on to take gold in the U18/19 high jump and silver in the U17 long jump. Another returned athlete U17 Philippe Barnett easily won gold in the U17 javelin with a magnificent throw of over 37ms. These four boys teamed considerable forces to win gold in the U17 4x100M relay. Not to be outdone by his father, Cian Foley won gold in the U18/19 100M while also picking up bronze in the U18/19 long jump and high jump. To finish off a fantastic series of results is the reliable Clare Fitzgerald who easily won gold in both the U18/19 discus and javelin.     

The master’s results of this competition will follow in next week’s notes.

EVENTS:

TRAINING: Masters circuits training continues on Monday nights at 8pm in the KDYS. Training for all U9-19s: Tuesday 7pm at ITT, Thursday 7pm at An Riocht, Castleisland and Saturdays in An Riocht at 10.30am (selected athletes only).

RUNNING LEAGUE (Fit4Life): The running league continues on Friday evening at 6.30pm from the Aquadome and Wednesday evenings at 6.30pm from St. Brendan’s Church. This league is primarily geared towards the casual runner/walker and is intended to be a mass participation event for all standards of athlete. All newcomers are welcome.

CLUB E-MAIL: The club has set-up an e-mail system so athletes and members can receive regular updates by e-mail. Athletes and members can register their e-mail address via the website at www.traleeharriers.com.

CONDOLENCES: the club wishes to extend sincere condolences to Mary Browne (wife of coach John Browne), Joan Hill and their respective families on the recent death of their Mary and Joan’s mother.