Packed programme of events on first day of Galway Track & Field

DAY one of the 2018 Galway Track and Field Juvenile Championships was held on Sunday last in Dangan, with the U13 to U19 age groups taking part in a packed programme of events.

Among the highlights of an entertaining day’s action were multiple medal wins for Emma Moore of Galway City Harriers who won triple gold and set several new records in the 100m, 200m and 800m, and also won relay gold at U15 level; Conor Trehy of Craughwell with an amazing four individual golds in hurdles, long and triple jumps; and his clubmate Chloe Casey of Craughwell who took three golds across both field and sprints events at U16/17 level.

There were also triple golds for GCH athletes Seren O’Toole, Ava McKeon, Robert McDonnell and Luke Dahler. David Mannion of South Galway also won a hat-trick of titles as did Caitlin Griffin of Loughrea AC. The Jennings brothers, Eoghan and Darragh of GCH, claimed two wins apiece and many Craughwell AC athletes such as Laura Cunningham and Aoibhe Donnellan were among others taking multiple title wins.

The track action started with the hurdles programme, where the U13 titles were won by Chloe Hallinan of Crauwghell and Evan Moran, also of Craughwell AC. David Mannion of South Galway AC and Ava McKeon of GCH took the U14 titles. At U15 level, Saoirse Moore of Craughwell AC and Conor Hoade of GCH claimed two golds each as both won the sprint hurdles and 250m hurdles.

In U16/17, Seren O’Toole also did the double in the 100m and 250m hurdles, while Conor Trehy and James Furey, both of Craughwell AC, took the sprint and long hurdles in the U16/17 boys. Rita Lahue of GCH won the U18/19 girls 100 hurdles, with Lorraine Delaney of Craughwell winning the 400m hurdles event. Ryan McNelis of Athenry AC set a new championship best of 57.33 in winning the U18/19 boys hurdles.

In the sprints, Aoibhe Donnellan of Craughwell AC won the U13 girls 80m, while Roan Heslin of Tuam took the U13 boys title by a narrow margin. At U14 level, Ava McKeon won for Galway City Harriers, while Cillian Griffin of GCH took the boys event. In U15, Luke Dahler was triumhant, while at U16/17 level, Robert McDonnell of GCH and Chloe Casey captured the titles. Rita Lahue and Darren Costello, both of GCH, took the golds in the U18/19 age group.

Over 200m, there were wins for Ava McKeon of GCH, and David Mannion of South Galway at U14 level, with GCH athletes then sweeping the boards via Luke Dahler (U15), Eimear Rowe and Robert McDonnell (U16/17) and Laura Nally and Darren Costello (U18/19)

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.