Gold for Markham in national championships

ENNIS Track’s Niamh Markham won the girls’ U-18 1,500m race in very impressive style and set a new personal best time of 4.43:03 at the National Juvenile Track and Field Championships (Day 3), U-14 to U-19, which were held in Tullamore on Saturday.
It was also a successful championship for the Loughnane family, who are members of Marian AC. Claudia won the girls’ U-19 3,000m walk and her sister, Angharad, won a silver medal in the girls’ U-14 2,000m walk.
Two South-East Clare athletes also won gold at these championships. Róisín Harrison, Emerald AC, won the girls’ U-17 200m, with Derbhile Ryan, Nenagh also taking gold in the girls’ U-16 shot putt.
St John’s Aisling Kelly won a silver medal in the U-14 1,500m race and Eoin Hanrahan, Ennis Track, won a silver medal in the discus with Cormac Lynch, Marian, taking a bronze medal in the boys’ U-19 200m.
The first race on the track was the girls U-14 1,500m. Aisling Kelly settled in well and with one lap completed, she was controlling this race. Stephanie Cotter, West Muskerry, made a very decisive move with 300 metres to go to claim the title in 4.53:43. Kelly produced a very big last lap to claim the silver medal in 4.58:52. In the boys’ U-14 1,500m, Eoin Looney, Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare, ran a fine race to finish fifth in 4.43:03.
In the girls’ U-14 2,000m walk the Munster champion Angharad Loughnane, Marian, settled in well at the front and came away with a silver medal with a time of 11.21:64.
Claudia Loughnane, Marian, who finished fourth in the walk last year at U-18 grade, competed this year in the girls’ U-19 3,000m and worked hard over seven and half laps. With 400 metres to go, she put in a powerful last lap to take the gold medal with a time of 16.11:20.
Derbhile Ryan from Clonlara and Nenagh AC competed in the girls’ U-16 shot putt over six outstanding rounds and captured the gold medal with a throw of 11.81m.
Róisín Harrison, O’Briensbridge and running with Emerald AC Limerick, was a member of the Irish schools team in Ashford, Kent when she finished second in 24:78. She added another national title to her collection when she won the girls’ U-17 100m two weeks ago in Tullamore and this time she claimed the 200m title in a time of 24:88.
The big race of the day was the girls’ U-18 1,500m with the Munster champion, Niamh Markham, Ennis Track and the Munster silver medal winner, Jessica Coyne, Dooneen taking the race along at a very good pace. Over three and half laps they were shoulder to shoulder until 300 metres from the end, when Jessica Coyne made a decisive break.
Rounding the home straight, Niamh Markham made a big move towards the leader and 50 metres from the line, the Ennis Track Club girl went by the leader to claim the national title, setting a personal time of 4.43:41.
Markham will now look forward to representing Ireland in the Celtic Games Track and Field Championships in Aberdeen, Scotland this weekend.
There were two Clare athletes in the boys’ U-17 discus, Eoin Hanrahan, Ennis Track and Seamus McMahon, Shannon. McMahon arrived late for his competition and was slow to get into his throwing. He finished ninth with a throw of 25.98m. Eoin Hanrahan produced six fine rounds and a throw of 38.76m to win a bronze medal.
Cormac Lynch, Marian, competed in the boys’ U-19 200m and came through his semi-final, winning his heat. In the final he came home in third place in 22:84, with victory going to Eamon Wallace in 22:51.

Results
Girls
U-14 1,500m: 2. Aisling Kelly (St John’s) (4.53:43).
2,000m walk: 2. Angharad Loughnane (Marian) (11.21:64).
Shot putt: 5. Angharad Loughnane (10.94m).
U-16 shot putt: 1. Deirbhile Ryan (Nenagh) (11.81m).
U-17 200m: 1. Róisín Harrison (Emerald) (24:88s).
U-18 1,500m: 1. Niamh Markham (Ennis Track) (4.43:41).
U-19 3,000m walk: 1. Claudia Loughnane (Marian) (16.11:20).
1,500m: 5. Aishling Darcy (Ennis Track) (5.24:48).

Boys
U-14 1,500m: 5. Eoin Looney (Kilmurry Ibrickane/North Clare) (4.43:03).
U-17 discus: 3. Eoin Hanrahan (Ennis Track) (38.76m); 9. Seamus McMahon (Shannon) (25.89m).
Javelin: 7. Jacob Loughnane (Marian) (34.62m); 8. Seamus McMahon (Shannon) (27.57m).
U-18 5,000m walk: 6. Fergal Conlon (Tulla) (17.40).
U-19 200m: 3. Cormac Lynch (Marian) (22.84s).