Blake high jumps to new national record

The National Juvenile Track and Field Championships U-12 to U-19 were held in Tullamore on Saturday and Sunday.
On day one Tony Odubote (Ennis Track) won gold in the U-14 75m hurdles and Karl Fitzmaurice (Shannon) won the boys U-19 3,000m steeplechase.

On Sunday, in the sweltering heat, Conor Blake (St John’s) set a new national record in the boys U-12 high jump with a leap of 1.48m with Kevin Mulcaire (Ennis Track) winning the boys U-17 3,000m, while Muireann O’Shea (Marian) caused a major shock by winning the girls U-18 3,000m.

Tony Odubuto (Ennis Track) came through his semi-final heat in the boys U-14 75m hurdles in fine style and in the final he was superb, when taking the title in a time of 11.58.

In the boys U-19 3,000m steeplechase on day one, Karl Fitzmaurice (Shannon) ran a great race over seven laps to take the national title in 10.44.01.

Day two was a busy day for Clare athletes and first up was Conor Blake (St John’s) in the boys U-12 high jump, a competition he won at 1.46m. The national record was 1.47m and the Doonbeg man rose to the occasion with the bar set at 1.48m. On his first attempt he went clear to the delight of the Clare crowd present, setting a new championship record

Next on the track was Ben Whelehan (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) in the final of the boys U-12 600m. With 200m to go, Ben had to produce a massive finish to come from fourth place to take the silver medal with a new Munster record and a personal best time of 1.41.52.

In the boys U-15 800m, with 16 competitors on the starting line, Eoin Looney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) went through the 400m mark in 64secs in fifth position. He finished very strongly to capture the silver medal in a new personal best time of 2.06.66.

In the girls U-15 discus Angharad Loughnane (Marian) came away with a bronze medal with a throw of 28m and she finished fifth in the shot putt with a throw of 10.25m.

Ronan Barry (Marian) had to come through the first round heats to get into this 400m final and in the final, with 200m to go, he was right in contention and finished well to take a silver medal in 52.61. He has been called into the Irish International Schools 4x400m relay team for July 20 in Santry.

The next big race on the track was the boys U-17 3,000m where Darren Dunne (Nenagh) and Kevin Mulcaire (Ennis Track) produced a great race.

Both athletes took off at a blistering pace and the lead changed hands on several occasions until Kevin Mulcaire made one final decisive move with 400m to go. He took the national title in 8.59 with Sean Collins (Ennis Track) fifth in 9.31.50.

In the girls U-18 3,000m Muireann O’Shea (Marian), who has been going very well on the track, let the leaders do all the front running for five of the seven-and-half laps.

With 600m remaining she closed up on the leaders and sprinted the final 500m in the sweltering heat take the national title in a new personal best time of 10.50.19.

Results
Girls
U-12 60m: 6. Niamh Conlon (Kilmihil, 8.79).
U-13 high jump: 5. Laura Greene (St John’s, 1.35m).
U-15 shot putt: 5. Angharad Loughnane (Marian, 10.25m); Discus: 3. Angharad Loughnane (Marian, 28m).
U-16 High jump: 9. Cliodhna Blake (St John’s, 1.45m).
U-17 Discus: 9. Elana Hayes (Shannon, 16.84m).
U-18 3,000m: 1. Muireann O’Shea (Marian, 10.50.19).

Boys
U-12 600m: 2. Ben Whelehan Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, 1.41.52 PB).
High jump: 1. Conor Blake (St John’s, 1.48m, new national record): 7. Daniel Greene (St John’s, 1.25m).
U-14 75m hurdles: 1. Tony Odubote (Ennis Track, 11.58); 80m: 5. Tony Odubote (Ennis Track, 10.29).
U-15 100m: Basit Barake (Ennis Track, 12.88); 800m: 2. Eoin Looney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, 2.06.66 PB); Long jump: 6. Cathal O’Brien (Ennis Track, 5.26m).
U-17 400m: 2. Ronan Barry (Marian, 52.61); 3,000m: 1. Kevin Mulcare (Ennis Track, 8.59.02) 5. Sean Collins (Ennis Track, 9.31.47).
U-18 hammer: 4. Seamus McMahon (Shannon, 46.40m PB); shot putt: Eoin Hanrahan (Ennis Track, 13.08m).
U-19 3,000m: 5. Karl Fitzmaurice (Shannon, 9.21.81); 3,000m steeplechase: 1. Karl Fitzmaurice (Shannon, 10.44.01); javelin: 5. Conor Foley Ellis (Kilmihil, 33.45m); shot putt: 5. Conor Foley Ellis (Kilmihil, 10.24m).