With the 2022 Track and Field season drawing to a close, it was back to Tullamore recently for the final days of the Athletics Ireland National Outdoor Championships.
Having qualified through their provincial competition, where all competitors had to finish in the top 3 in their chosen event, the young athletes from Boyne AC in action across the 3 days certainly gave it their all, and represented their club with pride.
Day one started with the pairs competition, where the athletes compete as a pair in their respective event and their combined result gives an overall finishing place.
In the u11 girls long jump, Isabelle Winters and Hila Raji were unlucky to finish just outside the medals in fifth place overall, while in the u10 girls sprint, there was great running for Aoife McCabe and Florrie Levins.
Aoife McCabe, Hila Raji, Florrie levins and Isabelle Winters at the All Irelands.
The relays were next to the track, always an exciting event. The u12 girls’ team of Ava Hand, Isabelle Winters, Hila Raji and Robyn Reilly ran well in their heat, as did the u13 girls team of Dara Winters, Bonnie Hegarty, Ava Hand and Sadhbh O’Donoghue, a great experience for these young ladies to compete against the best in the country.
The older athletes were next in action, and in the track events, rising sprint star TJ Duramanxi was unlucky to just miss out on a place in the final of the u16 boys 100m, while in the u19 boys 100m, Leon King Abor ran a super 11.20 to win his heat, but unfortunately had to withdraw from the final due to injury, a disappointing end to his season, but he will no doubt be back for more in 2023.
The field eventers were next in action, with Hannele Raji just outside the medals in 4th place in the u14 girls shot put, throwing an impressive 10.59m. In the u15 boys shot put, Oliver Carolan threw a super 13.16m to finish in third place and take home the bronze medal, while in the u15 Javelin, he finished just off the podium in 4th, throwing 37.68m in a very tough field.
No stranger to the winners podium, Euan Canniffe took silver in the junior mens discus, throwing a super 37.04m, just a mere 12cm behind first place, while in the javelin, he threw 41.08m to secure the bronze.
To reach any national final is in itself a super achievement, and these talented young athletes are a great inspiration and role models to all the younger members of Boyne AC.
