Olympians excel at Ulster and Northern Ireland Indoor Championships

A fantastic weekend was had recently in the Athlone IT indoor arena, Co Offaly, where 22 of Olympian's young Olympian athletes travelled to compete in the Ulster & NI Indoor Track and Field Championships.

For some of our athletes it was their first time competing in the indoor arena but the Olympian flame was definitely burning bright as each and every one of our athletes’ performed exceptionally with the club amassing a total of 19 championship medals, making Olympian YAC the 6th best club overall at the championships bettered only by Finn Valley, Letterkenny, Tir Chonaill, Roses AC and Loughview, and the only Derry club in the top 15.

Orla Mc Geehin in her first year of stepping up from Children’s Games to juvenile age groups, was certainly not over awed by the occasion, as she got the medal haul rolling with some excellent throwing in the u12 girls shot putt , throwing nearly a full 1m ahead of her nearest rival to be crowned Ulster and NI Champion.

In his first attempt competitively at the triple jump, Martin Corbett showed he has great promise in the event, winning the title of U16 boys Champion. Not to be content with one medal, Martin also claimed two bronze medals in the 60m and 200m to take home a trio of medals. Kellie Carty also took a podium place in the U16 girls triple jump taking the bronze medal.

Dynamic throws duo, Ciara Mc Daid and Maeve Mc Geehin, performed brilliantly in the U15 girls Shot Putt, with both girls performing an almost repeat of last year picking up the silver and bronze medals.

Whilst the girls were fighting for the podium places in the shot circle, Ashton Forrester took to the track in the U15 boys 800m and finished 4th to gain himself an All Ireland qualification. Later he went one better in the shot putt event and picked up the bronze medal. He certainly showed his versatility to top off his day with an Ulster & NI Championship title in the U15 boys triple jump.

Dylan Curley finished 4th place in the U15 boys 60m to gain himself an All Ireland qualification for this event. He later excelled in the jumps events, as he secured a sensational silver medal in the long jump, saving his best jump to last in a tightly contested event. He later finish off his day making the podium again, claiming another silver medal, just behind teammate and training partner Ashton in the U15 boys triple jump. This meant both boys qualified through to National level for all 3 of their events.

In her first indoor regional Championships, Briana Doherty finished an excellent second in the U15 girls 60m final with a close dip finish and impressive time of 8.16secs to claim a well deserved silver medal. Bonnie Gillard in her final year of juvenile athletics had a fantastic performance in the U19 girls 60m securing a brilliant bronze medal.

Aoife Mc Geehin finished off the Mc Geehin girls triple medal haul in the shot putt event taking a well deserved silver medal in the U17 girls just missing out on the elusive 10m mark with a throw of 9.96m.

In the U17 boys 1500m Mouhcine Fathoun was in flying form as he emphatically took the title in a swift time of 4mins05.43secs, which was the 2nd fastest time overall over the weekend in all age groups including up to U19s, and was a highly impressive 25secs ahead of second place rival.

The final Ulster & NI title of the weekend went to Charlie Mc Hugh in the U19 boys shot which was all the more memorable as it is his last year at these juvenile championships.

U17 girls Aine Strain and Meghan Jackson had strong performances in the 60m finishing 5th and 6th overall as well 5th and 7th overall in the 200m. Eoghan O’ Donnell in his final year of juvenile athletics had an impressive run in the U19 boys 60m Final to come home in 6th position, with brothers Joseph and Emmanuel Adeogun performing well in the U18 boys 60m Final to finish 7th and 8th respectively. In the U17 boys 200m, Patrick Mc Hugh had a strong run to finish 4th in his heat, just missing out on a final spot but was a creditable 8th fastest overall.

Hannah Carty who has also progressed into the juvenile age groups enjoyed her first championships at this level in the U12 girls 60m Hurdles finishing 5th in her heat. Charley Barr had a fantastic performance in the 60m sprint progressing to the finals to finish 6th overall with a swift time of 8.73 secs. She was also 7th overall in the 200m with a time of 29.37secs.

To finish off a fantastic weekend our U17 girls 4x200m relay of Meghan Jackson, Charley Barr, Aine Strain and Kellie Carty finished with a silver medal performance to complete a brilliant weekend of athletics by all involved.

Well done to all athletes who competed with great Olympian heart over both days and thank you to all parents/guardians and coaches who travelled to the event to support all our fantastic young athletes.

Well done to Sophie Parlour, who was Olympians sole competitor in the recent All Ireland Indoor Senior Championships, held in the national indoor arena in Dublin. Sophie competed brilliantly to reach the semi finals of the woman’s 60m but unfortunately she just missed out on the final. Although her swift time of 7.87secs augers well for the up coming junior and u23 indoor championships.

We are insured to cater for any and all abilities from 7 years of age right up to senior and master’s level who wish to train, keep fit, have fun, and/or compete at a local to national/ international standard.

Training continues on Tuesday and Thursday evenings from 7pm at Templemore Sports Complex Track. For further details please message Michelle/ Karen O’Donnell on Facebook on Olympian AC

Overall Club Results

U12 - *Orla Mc Geehin -Shot - 1st – Gold Medal and Ulster & NI Champion - 7.11m

U14 - *Hanna Carty -60m Hurdles Heat 2-5th

U15 - *Ciara Mc Daid -Shot -2nd – Silver Medal - 9.42m; *Maeve Mc Geehin -Shot -3rd – Bronze Medal -8.82m; *Dylan Curley -60m -4th-8.43secs, Long Jump -2nd – Silver medal - 4.27m & Triple Jump -2nd – Silver medal -8.62m; *Ashton Forrester -800m -4th-2mins24.26secs , Shot - 3rd – Bronze medal -9.36m & Triple Jump -1st – Gold medal - Ulster & NI Champion -9.22m; *Briana Doherty - 60m-2nd- Silver medal -8.16secs

U16 - *Kellie Carty -Triple Jump -3rd – Bronze Medal -9.23m & 60m Heat 1 -6th-9.14secs; *Charley Barr -60m Final -6th-8.73secs & 200m Heat 1 -3rd-29.37secs; *Martin Corbett -60m Final -3rd – Bronze Medal 7.72secs, 200m Final - 3rd – Bronze Medal – 25.04secs & Triple Jump -1st – Gold Medal and Ulster & NI Champion - 9.92m

U17 - *Aoife Mc Geehin -Shot -2nd – Silver medal -9.96m; *Aine Strain -60m Final -5th-8.56secs & 200m Heat 2- 3rd-27.80 secs (5th Overall); *Meghan Jackson -60m Final -6th-8.98secs & 200m Heat 1 -4th-30.80secs(7th Overall); *Mochine Fathoun -1500m -1st – Gold Medal - Ulster & NI Champion - 4.05.43; *Patrick Mc Hugh -200m Heat 1- 4th-25.52secs (8th Overall)

U18 - *Joseph Adeogun -60m -8th-8.50secs & 400m Heat 2 -3rd-65.48secs (8th overall); *Emanuel Adeogun -60m - 7th-8.27secs

U19 - *Bonnie Gillard-60m -3rd – Bronze medal -8.49secs & 200m Heat 1 -3rd-28.57secs (7th Overall); *Eoghan O’ Donnell -60m Final- 6th; *Charlie Mc Hugh -Shot -1st – Gold medal - Ulster & NI Champion

PICTURED BELOW: Charlie McHugh, in action in the u19 boys Shot Putt.