HIGHLIGHTS: Aoife Lynch, Jack Raftery and Louis O’Loughlin had mixed fortunes in the European Under 23 championships in Estonia. Raftery suffered injury in the 400m heats, whilst O’Loughlin came a creditable 4th in the 800m semi-final. Lynch came 5th in her 100m heat – and then helped Ireland to reach the final of the 4 x 100m as the team set a new national U23 record.
Lara O’Byrne set two new PBs in the 3rd Open Graded Meet, with Barbara Cleary and Daragh Keegan winning the Women’s A and Men’s B races respectively. Another gold for Zion Osawe in the 8th session of the Dublin Juvenile Championships, with 3 other club athletes making the podium.
REPORT: Jack Raftery, Aoife Lynch and Louis O’Loughlin gained invaluable experience of competing at a higher level in the EUROPEAN UNDER 23 TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS (8-11.07.2021) at the Kadriogh Stadium in Tallinn, Estonia.
It was perhaps an experience that Raftery will quickly want to forget. Certainly, in athletics terms. The Donore Harriers star lined up in the 2nd of 5 heats in the Men’s 400m on Thursday morning. Against strong athletes from France, Italy, Slovakia and elsewhere he required to run faster than ever to have a chance of qualification to the semi-finals. However, his challenge was short lived as a hamstring injury caused Raftery to pull up after just 30 metres. It was desperately disappointing, particularly as he was confirmed to compete in the Irish 4 x 400m team on Sunday. The heat was won by Ricky Pettrucciani of Switzerland in 45.95, who went on to win the gold medal in a championship record (45.02).
Also competing in the first morning of the championships was Aoife Lynch. Aoife had to wait a nervous extra hour to run in Heat 2 of the women’s 100 metres as heavy rain delayed the competition. Lynch was ranked 6th of 7 in the line-up. She sprinted strongly over the first 50 metres and put herself in contention for a top 4 finish and qualification to the semi-final. However, she was edged out by Marina Baboi of Romania and had to settle for 5th position in the time of 11.88. The sprint was won by Rani Rosius in 11.41. Rosius from Belgium won silver in the final in 11.43.
Louis O’Loughlin lined up in second of three 800m semi-finals on Friday morning (09.07.2021). Ranked 7th of the 8 starters and with just two athletes qualifying to the final he required a lifetime best to progress. He passed the 400m mark in equal 7th place in 54.58. An eventful 2nd lap saw the French and German athletes tangle and fall with 170 metres remaining, causing the Donore Harriers man to jump and swerve past them before he gained to place 4th with a strong finish. O’Loughlin’s time of 1.49.43 ranked him 12th of the 26 entrants as he failed to make the final as a fastest-loser. The heat was won by Simone Barontini of Italy in 1.47.52, who went on to win gold in 1.46.20.
Aoife Lynch was back in action on the 4th and final day of the championships on Sunday (11.07.2021). This time in the 4 x 100m relay. The Irish quartet comprised of Molly Scott (St. Laurence O’Toole AC) on Leg 1, Lynch on Leg 2, Lauren Roy (City of Lisburn AC) on Leg 3, and Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock, Co. Louth AC) on the home-strait leg. Pitted in the first of two semi-finals against big nation teams from GB, Italy, France, Ukraine and Belgium it would be a marked achievement to make the final with the first three and two fastest losers qualifying from the 16 competing teams. But brilliant running from all four achieved just that with 4th place and a fast-loser pass to the final. In the process they set a new national Under 23 record with a time of 44.64. Lynch on Leg 2 was focused with her sprint – and slick and efficient with her baton changes. She sprinted to her limits to keep the team in contention after a strong opening leg from Scott. Roy and Akpe-Moses kept it going!
The 4 x 100m final proved a dramatic race. First the contest was delayed by 30 minutes due to a power shortage in the stadium. Molly Scott gave the Irish team a good start by handing on to Aoife Lynch in 6th place. Lynch was again flawless and gained to 5th before handing off to Lauren Roy. Roy was strong in her sprint across the top bend, but the handover with anchor Akpe-Moses failed – and the team were out. Such a pity! Germany won in a championship record of 43.05 ahead of Spain and France, but only 4 teams closed. Sweden and GB also failed to finish, whilst Italy was DQed for a lane infringement.
Remember the name Zion Osawe. Leonie Newman, Juvenile Secretary, said of the new girl: “I think we may have a superstar on our hands”. Osawe picked up her 3rd medal on Day 8 of the DUBLIN JUVENILE TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS at Lucan on Saturday (10.07.2021). Having previously won gold in the 60m Hurdles and bronze in the 80m sprint, the Under 13 athlete coached by Ray O’Keeffe, jumped an impressive 1.50m to take the High Jump title.
Mario Omozee (1.54m) won silver in the Under 14 Boys High Jump, with bronze medals going to Melody Omozee in the Under 13 Girls Shot Putt and Dylan O’Connor (9.07) in the Under 12 Boys 60 metres. Luuk Jackson was narrowly edged out of a podium place in the Under 13 Boys 80m finishing 4th, with a photo image required to separate 2nd from 4th placings. Elliot Whelan came 5th in the same race having progressed from the heats.
Others to make finals were Aoife Jackson in the Under 14 Girls High Jump and Ruby Blake and Anna Peake in the Under 12 Girls 60m. Debutante Saoirse Jackson failed to qualify for the final in the same category. Another newcomer Kyle Martin and Conor Garvey did not progress from the heats of the Under 12 Boys 60m.
In the 3rd Meeting of the DUBLIN OPEN GRADED SERIES at Tallaght on Wednesday (07.07.2021) Lara O’Byrne achieved lifetime bests in both the Long Jump and Javelin. The multi-eventer, now coached by Gerry Ronan, placed 2nd in both events. A jump of 5.24m and a throw of 30.44m meant that the delighted 20-year-old could chalk up two new marks on her progress chart.
Outstanding masters athlete Barbara Cleary (16.58.77) had 20 seconds to spare over her nearest rival Niamh Allen (17.19.53) of Crusaders AC when she won the women’s 5,000m race. The race had a big representation of Donore athletes with Audrey Gahan (21.14.93) in 9th place, followed by Margaret O’Brien (21.47.11) in 10th, then Treasa Boylan (22.45.84) in 11th, Louis Kelly (23.00.81) 12th and Suzie Henley-Willis (23.48.38) 13th.
Kane Collins, normally more at home over 5km and 10km, ran close to target in the Men’s 1,500m ‘A’ race. Looking for a 4.10, he had to settle for 4.13.76 and 8th position behind winner David Scanlon (3.55.62) of Rathfarnham WSAF.
An improving Daragh Keegan (16.41.38) won the 5,000m ‘B’ race, whilst Matthew McCullagh (16.59.95) placed 4th in the ‘A’ race over the same distance.
Another emerging athlete Adelle Heskin (4.58.95) got a sub-5-minute time for her 1,500m when placing 7th in the ‘A’ race. Craig Scott (4.44.53) put in a fine effort to place 7th in the Men’s ‘B’ 1.500m.
In the NEVER-GIVE-UP 10KM ROAD RACE at Gorey on Sunday morning (11.07.2021) Under 18 athlete Claudia Redmond placed 39th overall and was the 5th woman to finish. Despite a hilly course and wet, windy conditions Redmond achieved a new personal best of 46.30.
Well done to Sorcha Loughnane, who has been selected to represent Ireland in the ANGLO-CELTIC 100km HOME INTERNATIONAL to take place in Mondello Park, Co. Kildare on Saturday 21st August 2021. The race will also include the Irish championship.
Best of luck to Abdel Laadjel who will be competing in the final of the Men’s 5,000m in the EUROPEAN UNDER 20 CHAMPIONSHIPS at Tallinn, Estonia on Friday afternoon (16.55 Irish time) – link https://european-athletics.com/competitions/european-athletics-u20-championships
Competing in his 2nd event at the WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS at Doksy in the Czech Republic Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (51.06) came 33rd in the Middle Course qualifying group ‘A’ on Tuesday morning (06.07.2021). He failed to progress to the final.
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RESULTS IN BRIEF:
DUBLIN OPEN GRADED MEET 3 at Tallaght (07.07.2021)
Women’s Long Jump: 2nd Lara O’Byrne (5.24m)
Women’s Javelin: 2nd Lara O’Byrne (30.44m)
Women’s 1,500m A Race: 7th Adelle Heskin (4.58.95)
Men’s 1,500m A Race: 8th Kane Collins (4.13.76)
Men’s 1,500m B Race: 7th Craig Scott (4.44.53)
Women’s 5,000m A Race: 1st Barbara Cleary W45 (16.58.77), 9th Audrey Gahan W40 (21.14.93), 10th Margaret O’Brien (21.47.11), 11th Treasa Boylan (22.45.84), 12th Louise Kelly (23.00.81), 13th Suzie Henley-Willis (23.48.38)
Men’s 5,000m A Race: 4th Matthew McCullagh (16.59.95)
Men’s 5,000m B Race: 1st Daragh Keegan (16.41.38)
EUROPEAN UNDER 23 CHAMPIONSHIPS at Kadriogh Stadium, Tallinn
(DAY 1 – 08.07.2021)
Men’s 400m Qualifying Round Heat 2 of 5: DNF Jack Raftery
Women’s 100m Qualifying Round Heat 2 of 5: 5th Aoife Lynch (11.88)
(DAY 2 – 09.07.2021)
Men’s 800m Semi-Final Heat 2 of 3: 4th Louis O’Loughlin (1.49.43)
(DAY 4 – 11.07.2021)
Women’s 4 x 100m Semi-Final 1 of 2: 4th Ireland (Aoife Lynch on Leg 2) 44.64 national U23 record
Women’s 4 x 100m Final: DNF Ireland (Aoife Lynch on Leg 2)
DUBLIN JUVENILE TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS Day 8 at Lucan (10.07.2021)
Under 13 Girls High Jump: 1st Zion Osawe (1.50m)
Under 13 Girls Shot Putt: 3rd Melody Omozee
Under 14 Girls High Jump: finalist – Aoife Jackson
Under 14 Boys High Jump: 2nd Mario Omozee (1.54m)
Under 12 Girls 60m: finalists – Ruby Blake (9.43) & Anna Peake; Heat – Saoirse Jackson (debut)
Under 12 Boys 60m: 3rd Dylan O’Connor (9.07), Kyle Martin (debut 3rd in heat) & Conor Garvey did not progress to the final.
Under 13 Boys 80m: 4th Luuk Jackson, 5th Elliot Whelan
NEVER-GIVE-UP 10km ROAD RACE at Inch, Gorey, Co. Wexford (11.07.2021)
39th & 5th woman Claudia Redmond U18 (46.30 PB). 94 finishers inc. 38 women.
WORLD ORIENTEERING CHAMPIONSHIPS at Doksy, Czech Rep. (06.07.2021)
Middle Course Qualifying Group A: 33rd Josh O’Sullivan-Hourihan (51.06)
