Olympian indoor track and field season off to a flyer

All-Ireland Indoor Masters Track and Field Championships

Recently Olympian YACs Martin O' Donnell contested the Masters Indoor Track and Field All Ireland Championships in Athlone IT and was in flying form.

Martin in his last year in the M45 category contested the 60m and showed a lot of the younger opposition a clean pair of heels as he blasted his way to a brilliant Bronze medal. He later contested the Triple Jump and claimed an incredible Silver medal in a new age category personal best on 8m52cms.

This augers extremely well for the outdoor season when Martin will move into the new M50 category.

U20 All-Ireland Indoor Track and Field Championships

Well done to our solo competitor/member Sophie Parlour who recently contested the u20/23 All Ireland Indoor Track and Field Championships. Sophie contested the ultra competitive u20 woman’s 60m and qualified for the final in a swift 7.85secs coming second in her heat.

In the final she was unable to reproduce her heat form but still came a very creditable 6th place in a time of 77.92secs. Overall, a great start to the indoor season and club track and field action for this promising young athlete as she transitions from juvenile to junior/senior level athletics.

Donegal Winter Track and Field Meet

A great day of athletics was had on Sunday 4th February where our young Olympians competed at the Donegal Winter Track & Field event held at Lifford track.

Thirty Seven of our young athletes across the U9-U19 age groups competed in a range of track and field events in the early season opener in preparation for the upcoming indoor championships. There were several fantastic performances and for many it was their first time competing in the Olympian vest.

Sprints

In the 60m Hurdles Hanna Carty (U13), Lucy Campbell (U14) and Kellie Carty all won bronze medals. This was an excellent and well deserved result as all three girls have been working extremely hard in this event. Lucy Donaghy also ran well in the U15 girls race. In the 60 metre sprints there were some very promising performances.

Olympians who participated in the recent Donegal Winter Throws competition.

The club had a number of sprinters in action which ranged from the very young to the more experienced U19 age group. Special mention to Oisin Gibbons, Aoibhinn Strain, Priyanshi Aggarwal, Martina and Alessia Perri, Suryaansh Gupta who all competed in their first track event for the club and ran very well.

Competing for the U14 girls were Lucy Campbell and Brianna Doherty, both ran fantastic races with Lucy finishing in second place claiming a silver medal and Brianna finishing in third place to win a bronze medal. No stranger to the Podium is sprinter Aine Strain, Aine won two very well deserved medals claiming silver in the 200m and bronze in the 60m, close behind Aine was Meghan Jackson who was fourth in the 200m and 60m.

Ashleigh Ward also ran well in the 60m. Martin Corbett claimed a gold medal in the U15 boys 60m. Callum Cassidy claimed a silver in the U16 boys race. Ever improving Eoghan O’Donnell won a Bronze medal in the 60m whilst his sister Ellen claimed a Gold medal in the U19 age group. Bonnie Gillard claimed gold medals in the 60m & 200m.

Middle Distance

There were some fine performances in the middle distance events. Molly Heaney was superb and was rewarded with a silver medal for her efforts in the U17 800m. Cassie Lynch (U14-800m), Kellie Carty (U15-800m), Zuzia Michalkiewicz (U13 600m) and Jack Dowds (U12-600m) all finished in fourth place. Also competing and running well were Conal Breen, Fiadh Dowd, Shea Dowd, Amy McDaid and Roisin Faul.

Field Events

Alex Zon (U9) had a fantastic day out competing for the first time in an Olympian Vest. Alex claimed medals in both the Turbo javelin and the Long Jump. Ronan Carty threw extremely well in very blustery conditions claiming a silver medal in the Turbo javelin.

Also competing in the Turbo javelin were Shay, Bartek and Jack. In the Long Jump Zuzia Michalkiewicz won a silver medal in a very competitive U13 girls long jump competition.

It has been a successful start to the new Track and Field season for Olympian YAC.

Every single athlete competing did so with great Olympian heart and determination Some PB’s were also achieved and there was lots of fantastic performances across a range of disciplines. All the club coaches were super proud of everyone’s efforts and a big thank you has to be said to all parents/guardians who continue to travel and support all the athletes.

A special thank you to the event organising team, Lifford/Strabane A.C and to all the officials and Athletics Donegal for a great day of track and field. Next weekend the club throwers will be in action in Aura where they will compete at the Winter throws classic event. Best wishes to all athletes who will be competing at this event.

Training continues on a Tuesday at Glenswilly GAA hall and on Fridays at Aura Track. new members are always welcome for further details please contact any club coach or message ou r facebook page.