Louis delivers at the Schools International Track & Field
DONORE Harriers Louis O’Loughlin was one of the Irish Schools leading athletes at the Schools International Athletics Board (SIAB) annual track and field competition at Grangemouth in Scotland last Saturday.
O’Loughlin from Moyle Park College contested both the 800m and 4 x 400m relay wearing the green singlet with distinction.
Louis O'Loughlin on his way to securing a silver medal
O’Loughlin (1.53.42) was always in the mix in a competitive Under 18s boys race but was finally edged out of top-spot on the podium by England’s Daniel Joyce, who ran a personal best time of 1.52.86. Kane Elliott (1.54.46) of Scotland came third.
Later in the day the Donore Harriers athlete ran the 2nd fastest leg by an Irish athlete in the 4 x 400m relay – and in the process helped the team to place 2nd behind England.
The English quartet were timed at 3.22.08, with Ireland at 3.23. 91 – followed by Scotland (3.24.27) and Wales (3.25.76).
Ireland placed 2nd in the overall competition behind a strong English team.
At the final day of the National Juvenile track & field championships at Tullamore on Sunday) the young athletes of Donore Harriers won 3 medals.
Lucy Hurley, who missed a full-year of training due to a severe injury, won a silver medal in the Under 19 Girls High Jump.
Hurley jumped a best of 1.55m, the same as that achieved by the winner Hannah Murphy of Leevale AC, but a failed jump with the bar at 1.45m meant that she lost out on countback.
Hurley also contested the 200m event, narrowly failing to make the final when placing 4th in her semi-final in a time of 28.64.
Bronze medals
There were two bronze medals, with Daragh McAuley rounding off a great first season over the barriers by placing 3rd in the Under 18 Boys 400m Hurdles final. McAuley (58.74) was always in contention for a medal, but was eventually pipped by Brian Lynch (57.98) of Old Abbey AC and Conor Hanrahan (58.26) of Brothers Pearse AC.
Rebecca Power saved the best ‘til last to take a bronze medal in the Under 19 Girls 600g Javelin.
Her 6th and final round throw of 31.34m was her best on the day. The event was won by Maebh Daly (36.59m) of Carraig na bhFear AC.
Ryan O’Keeffe (31.81m) had to settle for 8th position in the Under 18 Boys Discus.
The recent excellent results by junior sprinter Aoife Lynch merited her a place on the start line of the senior international 100 metres race at last Thursday’s Morton Games in Santry Stadium.
The rising young Donore star ran an excellent race from the outside lane to place 8th in a time of 12.08, narrowly failing to beat her personal best time.
The race was won by Crystal Emmanuel (11.44) of Canada, with Ghana’s Flings Owosu-Agyapong (11.70) in 2nd. Lynch was disappointed not to get a new PB when racing against international top-class opposition but was delighted to gain the experience of competing at such a high-level.
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