'Really special': Lauren Callaghan wins Irish long jump title; hammer bronze for Gallen

Finn Valley AC’s Lauren Callaghan jumped to a superb gold medal at the National Senior Track and Field Championships on Sunday.

Callaghan touched the sand at an excellent 6.24m to win the women’s long jump title, while Lifford-Strabane AC’s Caoimhe Gallen bagged a second medal of the weekend, adding hammer bronze to her shot put silver.

Killygordon woman Callaghan had five jumps in excess of 6m with Saragh Buggy, her nearest challenger, leaping out to 5.96m.

Callaghan was the indoor gold medallist earlier in the year and completed a memorable double in style, going to just one centimetre off her 6.25m personal best, the Donegal record. 

“It’s really special,” Callaghan told Donegal Live. 

“With me winning the indoors, it’s lovely to win again here. 

“I had a really good 6.20m and was a wee bit back off the board. It’s consistent at least. That’s something that I have struggled with this season, getting over 6m consistently. I’m happy with that today.”

Callaghan set the tone with a 6.04m opening jump, throwing the gauntlet down to any challengers. 

Callaghan joined the sport while at Dromore National School and she won an U9 gold alongside Daniella Jansen in 2010 and followed up with an U11 gold with Jessica Quigley in 2012.

She won four long jump titles at underage level - but this year has been her best yet. Last year, she missed out on the gold, setting for silver when she was beaten by a centimetre by Elizabeth Ndudi. 

Callaghan said: “It makes the hard work worthwhile. A lot of hours have gone into this so I’m delighted with the outcome. It’s an individual sport, very much so, but days like this make it worthwhile.

“I had a bit of a niggle three weeks ago, but I had a really good session last week.”

Her Finn Valley AC colleague Riona Doherty placed fifth in the long jump with a best of 5.63m. Doherty stepped into the national seniors for the first time after an excellent summer that yielded national long jump gold medals at U20, U19 and schools levels, stretching her PB to 5.74m in the process. 

Gallen earned a first senior medal on Saturday when taking the shot put silver thanks to a 12.40m throw.

She followed up with hammer bronze on Sunday when she finished third in the hammer.

A new PB of 54.27m, landed on her second visit to the cage, secured a brilliant bronze.

“That’s insane,” Gallen said. “I didn’t think I’d come away with a medal in the hammer, but here I am. I felt better today and I knew there was a PB coming - I just didn’t think it would be today.”

Gallen had to stave off competition from her older sister, Adrienne (the bronze medal winner last year), who was fourth and just seven centimetres away with a 54.20m effort. 

Coached by Neil Williams in Cavan, the weekly - and sometimes lately twice-weekly - jaunts from Lifford have become very worthwhile now.

She said: “The competition was really tight. It’s an incredible weekend, I’ve never had better. It’s great to get the reward. I didn’t expect this at all.”

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Lucy McGlynn of Tir Chonaill AC was sixth in the women’s 400m hurdles final. McGlynn finished in 62.22 seconds in a race won by Dundrum South Dublin’s Cara Murphy in 59.85 seconds. 

Tir Chonaill AC’s Jack Murphy was fifth in the pole vault. Murphy got over at 3.30m, but was unable to clear the bar at 3.50m.

Amy Timoney of Finn Valley AC finished her 100m hurdles heat sixth in 14.97 seconds.

In the women’s 100m, Sophie Parlour of Olympian YAC finished sixth in her heat in 12.67 and Janine Boyle from Finn Valley AC was fifth in her heat, crossing the line in 12.34.