County’s pupils claim their place in the Munster sun

THE Munster Schools Track and Field Championships were held in blistering sunshine at Cork IT and many Clare schools were represented. There were some outstanding individual performances with athletes capturing nine gold, 13 silver and six bronze medals.

Alice Akres, Scariff won gold in the junior girls hammer with outstanding throwing over six rounds. She had a winning throw of 45.64m, with Stacy Wright, Scariff a very good second with 40.4m. Rachel Clancy (Kilkee) set another personal best in the junior girls’ high jump with a leap of 1.52m to win the silver medal.
Amy O’Donoghue (Meelick and Villiars School) won gold in the intermediate girls 800m. The 1,500m was dominated by three Clare girls with Amy O’Donoghue taking the gold medal in 4.42:05. There was a 20-second gap to Aishling Darcy with Niamh Markham in third spot and both represented St Flannan’s.
In the senior girls, there was a double gold for Harriett Flynn (St Patrick’s Shannon) when taking the 800m in 2.19:23 and the 1,500m in 4.57:56.
Eoin Hanrahan (St Flannan’s) came away with the gold medals in the minor boys’ shot putt.
The senior boys’ 800m was won by Cathal O’Connor (St Caimin’s) after a mighty battle with Liam Markham (St Flannan’s). Later on that afternoon, Markham went on to capture the 1,500m title in 4.13:49 and Darragh Chesser (CBS Limerick) took gold in the 2,000m steeplechase.
In the intermediate boys, Darragh Lynch (St Flannan’s) came away with a silver medal in the 800m and a bronze medal in the 1,500m.
Sixmilebridge man Tim Crowe (Limerick Tutorial College) was in flying form when finishing second in the 400m and the 400m hurdles.

Results
Junior girls
Hammer: 1. Alice Akres (Scariff) (45.64m); 2. Stacy Wright (Scariff) (40.4m).
Discus: 3. Alice Akres (Scariff) (26.6m).
High jump: 1. Rachel Clancy (Kilkee) (1.52m).
Intermediate girls
800m: 1. Amy O’Donoghue (Villiers) (2.13:18); 3. Niamh Markham (St Flannan’s) (2.18:74).
1,500m: 1. Amy O’Donoghue (Villiers) (4.42:05); 2. Aishling Darcy (St Flannan’s) (5.02:14); 3. Niamh Markham (St Flannan’s) (5.18:60).
2,000m walk: 2. Claudia Ní Lachnaian (Gaelcholáiste an Chláir) (10.49: 95).
Shot putt: 2. Katie McInerney (Tulla) (10.79m).
Senior girls
800m: 1. Harriett Flynn (St Patrick’s Shannon) (2.19:23).
1,500m: 1. Harriett Flynn (St Patrick’s Shannon) (4.57:56).
Long jump: 3. Suzanne Kelly (St Flannan’s) (4.97m).
Minor boys
Shot putt: 1. Eoin Hanrahan (St Flannan’s) (11.94m).
Junior boys
1,200m walk: 2. Fergal Conlon (St Joseph’s Tulla) (6.36:73); 3. Seamus McMahon (St Caimin’s) (6.47:24).
Intermediate boys
200m: 1. Mark Boland (St Flannan’s) (23:51).
800m: 2. Darragh Lynch (St Flannan’s) (2.00:31).
1,500m: 3. Darragh Lynch (St Flannan’s) (4.22:30).
Senior boys
800m: 1. Cathal O’Connor (St Caimin’s) (1.59:05): 2. Liam Markham (St Flannan’s) (1.59:08).
1,500m: 1. Liam Markham (St Flannan’s) (4.13:49).
5,000m: 1. Adrian Kearney (St Flannan’s) (15.58:55).
400m: 2. Tim Crowe (Limerick Tutorial College) (49:48).
400m hurdles: 2. Tim Crowe (Limerick Tutorial College) (55:25).
2,000m steeplechase: 1. Darragh Chesser (CBS Sexton Street) (6.24:01).