It was the biggest day of school’s athletics year as the club’s three qualifiers for Saturdays All-Ireland schools track and field championships acquitted themselves admirably.
The newly laid Mondo Track in Tullamore once more played host to the country’s finest young talent and Shane Spring, Finn Beamish and Tom Monaghan certainly rose to the occasion in blustery and surprisingly cool conditions.
Star of the show was undoubtedly Shane Spring in the senior boys 2,000m Steeplechase whose huge final straight charge to snatch a bronze medal in a massive 14 second personal best of 6.05.86 to bring the curtain down on his school’s athletic career in the most satisfying fashion.
Considering this was the Ard Scoil Ris’ man’s 1st time to race the All-Irelands, proved a very sweet final curtain.
Finn Beamish, representing his school Belvedere was hugely competitive in the junior boy’s triple jump. Beamish’s best leap of the day; 10.79m left him agonising over what might have been as second place (10.86) and third place (10.81) were only marginally better.
Tom Monaghan’s (Sutton Park) great summer season continued with yet another personal best, 2.11.81 in a fast run Minor Boys 800m.
Conor Flanagan (Belvedere) took fourth place in the senior pole vault with some very impressive jumping.