Donegal delight at National U20 & U23 Track and Field Championships

There was considerable Donegal success at the 123.ie National U20 & U23 Track and Field Championships in Tullamore today.

Fintan Dewhirst ran a blistering 51.54 seconds when winning the U-20 Men's 400m Hurdles and in doing so the Glenties native smashed a championship record, dating back to 1997 - David Keoghan of Dublin City Harriers' 53.39 - ahead of his participation in the World Athletics U-20 Championships to be held later this month in Lima, Peri. 

Gold medal winners on the day were Finn Valley AC’s Amy Greene in the U-20 Women’s 3000m Steeplechase, with a club double in the U-23 long jumps coming courtesy of Lauren Callaghan and Oisin Thompson.

Elsa Moore of Lifford-Strabane AC won the U-20 women’s 5000m and her clubmate Adrienne Gallen triumphed in the U-23 Women’s Hammer Throw, as did Ellie McCurdy in the U-20 Women’s Javelin Throw.

Finn Valley AC’s Greene was the winner of the U-20 Women’s 3000m Steeplechase. Greene clocked 10:39.40 to finish ahead of Abbie Sheridan from St Peter’s on 10:40.56, with Emerald AC’s Sarah Butler third some way back on 12:09.14 .

Moore of Lifford-Strabane AC won the U-20 women’s 5000m in a time of 17:58.04, ahead of Rathfarnham’s Edel McCreery on 18:33.86, with Sinead Farrell of LSA third in 19:13.63.

Another Lifford-Strabane member, Adrienne Gallen won the U-23 Women’s Hammer Throw (4Kg) with a best of 53.56 metres, and Ellie McCurdy, another clubmate, took the gold in the U-20 Women’s Javelin Throw (600g) with 38.89 metres, to finish ahead of Ailbhe Gorgan of Greystones and District on 37.95 and Leevale’s Katie Kingston, with 35.86.

Callaghan of Finn Valley managed 5.87 metres to win the U-23 Women’s Long Jump, with 10cm to spare over second-placed Laura Frawley from Nenagh AC and Enniscorthy’s Saidhbhe Byrne in third with 4.78.

Callaghan’s clubmate Oisin Thompson made it a Finn Valley double in the U-23 Men’s Long Jump, with 6.66 metres enough to win gold. Jordan Knight of St Joseph’s AC was second 17cm behind and third went to Cillian Griffin from Tralee Harrier, with 6.40.

Dewhirt's performance was incredible, winning the U-20 Men's 400m hurdles in a time of 51.53, which was over three seconds better than Alex Cullen from Kilkenny City Harriers in second (54.82) and Eoghan MacMuiris of Dundrum South Dublin (54.94).

In the U-23 Women Weight for Distance (28lbs), Aoife Giles from Cranford AC ended up second with 5.41, behind Laura Frawley from Nenagh winning on 6.91.

Amy Timoney from Finn Valley AC won bronze in the final of the 100m hurdles, coming home in a time of 15.38 seconds, behind winner Okwu Backari from Leevale in 14.89 and Enya Silkena on 15:02.

In the 1500m men, Oisin Toye, also of Finn Valley, won bronze in a time of 4:06:08, with Cathal O’Reilly from Kilkenny City taking the gold in 4:03.22 followed by Matteo Maty of Waterford in 4:05.22.

In the U20 Men Weight for Distance (35lbs), Tír Chonaill AC’s Alex John Anderson was third with 7.73 metres, with the title going to Andrew Cooper of Gowran in 8.90 and second to Mogan Deasy of Borrisokane, 8.47m.

Third place in the U20 Men Javelin Throw (800g) went to Finn Valley’s Blane Lynch with a throw of 51.70 metres, which meant he finished behind the impressive winner Oisin Joyce from Lake District Athletics (70.56) and Leevale’s Andrew Scanlon (56.93).

There were two Donegal medals in the U20 Women Shot Put (4kg), with Tír Chonaill getting silver thanks to a best of 10.94 metres and Caoimhe Gallen from Lifford-Stranorlar got herself a bronze with 10.87. The event was won by Kotryna Pacerinskaite of Fanahan McSweeney, with 11.69