Galway athletes dominate at indoor championships

The Connacht indoor championships were held last weekend in Athlone IT over two days, where Galway athletes came away with a substantial medal haul across all events on the busy programme, which saw close on 900 athletes compete over the weekend.

On the Saturday, Emma Moore of GCH won gold in the U-12 Girls high jump with a new personal best of 1.40m; a second gold in the sprint hurdles; and silver in the 600m. Sean Doyle of GCH took the honours in the U-12 Boys’ hurdles; while in the U-12s 600m, Ava McKeon of Ballinasloe and District AC impressed in taking victory

Evan Hallinan of Craughwell won the U-12 Boys High Jump and Long Jump double; and in another double, clubmate Conor Hoade took victory in the Boys U-13 Long Jump and the 60m hurdles.

On Sunday, the older ages at Juvenile level from U-14 to U-19 and the Senior events were held.

In the sprint hurdles, there were wins for Aoibhin Farrell (Loughrea) at U-14 Girls; Serena O’Toole (GCH) in U-15 girls; Brandon Lee (Athenry) in U-16 Boys; Lydia Doyle (GCH) in U-17 Girls; and Mary Barrett at Senior Women.

The 60m sprints saw Galway wins coming from Sarah Agboola (GCH) in U-14 Girls; Sean Connaghton (Craughwell) in the U-15 Boys; Diarmuid Kilcommins (GCH) in U-16s Boys; Darren Costello (GCH) won U-17 Boys; Michelle Duggan (Craughwell) won the U-18 Girls; and Jack Dempsey (GCH) powered home in the U-18 Boys, for the first of two golds for him individually on the day. Gavin Cooney of Craughwell won the Senior Men’s 800m title.

At Juvenile level, Oisin Lyons also Craughwell took the U-17 800m, while GCH’s Eadaoin Langan won the U-16 800m girls event.

In the distance events, Aaron Brennan of GCH impressed in taking victory at the U-16 Boys section over 1,500m; and Maebh Ford of Corrib AC took a fine victory in the U-14 Girls 1K Walk.

In the 200m events, Jack Dempsey and Roisin Flynn of GCH made it a double at U-18 level for the city club; Daniel Callanan Forde of Craughwell won the U-17 title; while Cillin Greene of GCH took the U-19 honours

Luke O’Shaughnessy of GCH won the U-18 Boys 400m; Dearbhaile Walshe of Craughwell won U-18 girls 400m; and David Brown of Loughrea won the U-19 Boys’ 400m.

In the Shot, Michael Breathnach of GCH claimed the Senior Men’s title and later won the Pole Vault. Mary Barrett won the Senior ladies gold; Chloe Casey of Loughrea won the U-15 girls Shot; and Elaine Nee of Conamara AC won` the U-16 event.

For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.