A raw day for North Leinster athletes

A cold raw day in Santry can only mean one thing: the start of the track season! Today`s North Leinster Schools made for a bitterly cold experience for the athletes and spectators. The Clonliffe crew were out in force and made light of the conditions all putting in 100% in their school colours.

Highlights included in the sprints a fine win for Rebecca Fitzsimons in the inter girls 300. Whilst in the shorter sprints Rapha Diamond-Ebbs was 3rd in the inter 100 with Jessica Dedeku 6th. Also running was Cara Curran-Beggs in the junior 300.

In the junior 100 final Holly Roche was in that unlucky 4th place with Kirsten O`Grady Hogan chasing her hard in 6th.

Cian Bolger came down in distance to run the 400 inter, he cantered around the semis in 56 seconds aprox. Cian ran 54.4 in the final to take bronze.

In the middle distance races Max Kelly was 2nd in the inter boys 1,100, while Aaron Cullen was in excellent form taking gold in the U/16 mile. Daragh Carter endured a tough race in the junior 1500 with the race leader setting a scorching 65 second opening lap, Daragh needless to say tired over the closing lap but held on to take 3rd place. Dermot Buckley was 7th in this race (a starting field of aprox 25 no less!) Dermo also took in the High Jump, placing 6th and had a 100m sprint from his final jump to the 1500 start line!. Craig Giles ran circa 4.24 for 2nd place in the inter 1500 after a 75 second opener, but a flying final 400!

Performance of the day came from Greg Hossenny in the senior 1500, without a doubt his best ever track race, beating team mate Sean O`Leary into 3rd on the final 50m, Greg taking 2nd and both recording pb`s 4.08.2 and 4.09.3. Later for good measure Greg won the race walk.

Another athlete to shine today was Sarah Bateson in the junior 1500 a very gutsy run to 2nd saw her also pb with a 5.09.7 run. Alana Fitzsimons also ran strongly in this race placing 5th. Aimee Warren found it tough going in the inter race placing well down in 8th place.

Over the jumps in the inter 1500 steeple both Daniel Lacy and Jordan Byrne lined up and both ran very well indeed Daniel 1st (4.41) with Jordan 2nd (4.46).

Finally in the minor girls relay, with 50% of the team being Clonliffe athletes, Ella Cooley and Emma McDonnell battled through semis and then excelled in the final to bag team gold.

Day 2 of the Norths is next Wednesday with the East Leinsters on Tuesday and Thursday.