It was another very busy weekend for Ace AC at Tullamore Harriers Stadium in County Offaly on both Saturday and Sunday. The Irish schools national finals took place on Saturday followed by the Leinster Clubs for all athletes from under 13 and below on Sunday.
On Saturday at the National Schools Finals Ace AC had three athletes competing in the finals and incredibly all 3 came away with coveted national medals.
Eimear Cooney secured a brilliant silver medal in the 1500m, while Shea O’Donnell won a great bronze in the 800m, just missing out on silver, and the in-form Lorcan Forde Dunne won a brilliant 1500m gold, securing his second national title of the year having already won the national clubs u17 indoor 1500m.
Lorcan and Shea, who both represented Saint Mary’s Diocesan School Drogheda, will have a very busy week ahead as they both travel to Spain with the Irish squad for an event in Barcelona next weekend. Both boys will be in search of good times in an attempt to nail down places in the Irish squad for the upcoming European u18 championships in Slovakia in July.
Eimear Cooney was representing Sacred Heart Drogheda and was fresh from winning senior Sacred Heart athlete of the year last week. Her team mate and cousin Chloe Cooney won Junior Sacred Heart athlete of the year on the same day.
The good performances continued on Sunday in the club’s younger age groups Leinster championships, where u13 athletes Coaimhe Carolan, Tayo Lawernce and Seamie Sheridan all successfully navigated difficult 600m heats and secured places in the finals, sadly all three missed out on medals.
The ever improving Hannah Black also competed well in her 600m heat. Earlier in the day, Sophie Black and Niamh Lynch formed a strong partnership in the Leinster u10 pairs performing well in the 600m amnd longjumps.
