The recent athletics season proved to be a thrilling series of events, marked by impressive performances, personal bests, and record-breaking moments. The County Juvenile Athletics Championships took place in Castleisland on May 5th and 6th, showcasing a very high standard of competition. Medals were hard to come by, yet several athletes secured podium finishes. Notably, Elliot Lyne claimed 2nd in the Long Jump, while Fiadh White earned 3rd in the U-9 Javelin. Cathal O’Connor delivered a standout performance, winning the 600 meters by an impressive five-second margin. Lauren Fleming finished 3rd in the 60 meters, and Timothy Madden achieved 3rd in the Shot Put. Among other notable results, Ryan and Isaac Vickers both took 1st in the 800 meters, Conor McCarthy won the 1500 and finished 2nd in the 800, and Roisin Daly topped the 200 meters and finished 2nd in the 100. Niamh and Kevin O’Shea also shone, each winning their respective discus events. The club’s relay teams competed admirably, with strong performances across various age groups.
On May 12th, the Senior County Championships were also held in Castleisland. Natasha Myers emerged as a key competitor, winning the 200 meters and setting a new personal best to place 2nd in the Long Jump. She additionally secured 4th place in the 400 meters. Niamh O'Shea demonstrated versatility by winning the discus and taking 2nd in the Shot Put, while her father, Sean, placed 2nd in the Shot and 3rd in the discus.
The Munster Schools Championships in Templemore saw five club athletes representing their respective schools with impressive results. Ryan and Isaac Vickers, representing St. Brendan's Killarney, both won their 800-meter races, with Ryan adding a win in the 100 meters and leading the 4x100 relay to victory. Kevin O'Shea broke a 25-year-old record in the javelin by adding four meters to the previous mark and also claimed victory in the discus. Conor McCarthy, running for Tralee CBS, placed 3rd in the U-16 mile, while Niamh O'Shea, competing for Mercy Mounthawk, narrowly missed the podium in the discus.
At the National Community Games in Meath, the club saw two athletes representing Kerry. Cathal O’Connor won silver with his team in the U-14 Cross-Country Relay, adding to his gold in the county championships. Conor McCarthy achieved 4th in the U-16 marathon and led Kerry to team gold. He also earned his first individual gold, finishing the 7 km race in just over 25 minutes. Natasha Myers represented the club in the Munster Championships in Templemore, earning 2nd in the 200 meters, 3rd in the 400, and 4th in the Long Jump.
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