Lucan juveniles return to the national stage with a bang

LUCAN Harriers Athletic Club returned to National Indoor Juvenile Championship action with a bang.

After a three-year hiatus due to Covid, the competition saw the club chalk up no less than ten medals in Athlone, making for their most successful nationals ever.

Kate O’Connell continued her rich vein of form, winning the Under 19 400m on Saturday with an assured performance in which she clocked a time of 56.43 before following that feat up with silver in the 200m in a new PB of 24.74 the next day.

Saoirse Fitzgerald was pipped for gold in the Under 16 1500m, finishing runner-up by .02 of a second after which she landed the 800m title with a devastating kick off a tactical opening 600m.

Eve Noctor stepped on to the podium for the first time at national level after winning bronze in the Under 18 400m before serving up a blistering closing 200m to win silver in the 800m in 2.14.

Following that super performance, Noctor was invited to join the Irish Under 20 4x400m squad preparing for the World Under 20 Championships in August.

Kate O’Connell of Lucan Harriers

The call-up sees her join fellow Lucan athlete, Kate O Connell who is already an established member of the squad.

Maggie Jez was another to secure her first ever National track medal when she ran a brilliant Under 17 1500m, winning silver in 4.54.

Benjamin Caullier demonstrated his class in the 1500m contest in which he was pipped for gold by .02 of second, while Rachel Jez, competing at her first National Indoors, battled her way to bronze in the Under 14 Girls 800m.

And capping a great medal haul for the club, Davis Quinn won Lucan’s first ever walks medal when he secured bronze in the Under 15 1km event.