National and International medal successes
There were great successes for Longford athletes last weekend beginning in Wales on Saturday at the Schools International. Mercy Ballymahon pupil Robin Óg Murphy had earned selection onto the Irish team following recent excellent showings including winning gold at the All-Ireland Schools Championships.
Robin Óg lined up in the 3km Walk going onto to produce another strong performance, improving her personal best by 22 seconds in the process, to take the win by over a minute with Cork’s Aoife Martin in second place for an Irish one-two.
Following a delayed trip home, and barely four hours sleep, Robin Óg was back in action on Sunday morning at the National Juvenile Championships in Tullamore. Again, it was 3km Walk and again another dominant display to claim a second gold medal of the weekend. Showing no signs of fatigue, Robin Óg led the race from the gun and held the position throughout maintaining good technique to ensure a second National title of what has been a fantastic season of progress in the event.
The club’s medal successes in Tullamore had begun on Saturday when the Under-13 4 x 100m relay team of Paul Aigbogun, El’Nathan Okoh, Adam Mulleady and Andrew Fitzpatrick won gold with a brilliant performance. Having set a personal best 53.71 seconds to win their heat, the boys lined up an hour later for the final.
Despite the wet conditions, the baton changeovers were slick, and the running was fast with Andrew running the anchor leg crossing the finish line in the gold medal spot. A great achievement to win successive National outdoor relay titles having won gold at the U12s last year.
Following Robin’s Óg victory on Sunday, a further gold medal in the Walks was achieved by Conor Brennan who took first place in the U14 2km. An assured display from Conor who led from start to finish.
There was further success when Emily Oge Nnachi won Silver in the U12 Long Jump held as part of Saturday’s National B Championships. A brilliant opening jump of 3.80m secured Emily the medal which was the second longest effort of the 26 entrants and only one centimetre off the gold medal.
Longford athletes took part in different track events over the weekend, and with some personal bests set and finals reached, there were further strong performances by Julie Taitt (600m), Seán Grealy (100m), Holly Rogers (100m), Emma Brennan (3000m) and El’Nathan Okoh (80m). Well done all.
