The first weekend in February was a busy one for 34 Raheny Shamrock teenagers.
The national indoor arena in Abbotstown was the venue for the Dublin indoor juvenile championship. A very familiar setting to most of the teens, having been our training ground of late as we await the re-opening of Morton Stadium this spring.
Track action started with the 200m. We had four athletes take part in the u16 girls.
It was the first time competing at this distance for these girls who ran with determination. The U16 boys saw three shamrocks compete; Davyd Konovolov and Conal Kenny both qualified to the final. Konovolov brought home the silver medal in a time of 24.56 seconds.
The girls U17 200m saw Isabel Twomey winning gold in a time of 26.72 seconds. In the U18 race Abena Afari followed her training partners footsteps to win gold in 26.43 seconds.
In the 800m Siomha Magee raced home to a silver medal in a time of two minutes 22 seconds.
Willow Agnew U15 and George Sevastopulo U16 both made the finals of the 800m, putting in great runs finishing eighth and fifth respectively.
In the U15 boys, Willow Agnew and George Sevastopulo both made the 800m finals, putting in great runs finishing eighth and fifth respectively.
Rebecca O’Rourke (U15) and Emily Keogh (U16) both made the finals of the 60m hurdles.
In the field, boys U16; Jack Dowley leapt his way to long jump gold jumping five metres 66cm.
Erin Daly made the shot put U15 final and Rebecca O’Rourke jumped into the final six of the U15 long jump.
Day two got off to a flyer with Jamie Whelan taking gold in the U18 1500m followed by Siomha Magee adding to her medal haul with silver in the U18 1500m. Ella Beck completed the full house with U19 1500m bronze.
Conrad Latham U16 was unlucky not to make the final of his 1500m after leading his heat from start to finish. Esther Ntoko finished ninth in her u16 1500m final.
In the 60m sprints there was success across the ages. Rachel Afari claimed the U15 silver medal. In the U16 we had three boys toe the line in the final. Conall Kenny, Jack Dowley and Davyd Konovolov, Konovolov winning bronze.
In the U17, Isabel Twomey won silver over the short sprint and Abena Afari (U18) and Lara Seebere (U19) picking up the bronze.
The last race of the day and up stepped the walkers. Frejya Carroll claimed gold in the 1500m.
In the field; Jack Dowley hop skipped and jumped into a silver medal in the u16 triple jump.
15 medals in total. A special thank you to all the parents who have tirelessly driven their athletes out to the NIA twice a week for training for most of the winter.
Also to all the coaches who have made this trek numerous times a week. These medals are well deserved rewards for everyone involved. #TEAMWORK
