Today in Athlone it was the turn of the young stagers to shine at the National U20 and U23 Indoor Championships. It was the U20 1500 that really produced the goods today as Sean Cronin took gold in a tactic race in 4.00.42 with Lorcan Benjacar, showing no tiredness after yesterday’s schools cross country, taking bronze in 4.01.59. In the women’s U20 1500 Emily Bolton, who won the senior Girls cross country title 24 hours earlier, took silver (4.42.40) to complete the Clonliffe 1500 podium.
The sprints produced great club performances Emily Jachna in the U20 60 ran a fine PB breaking 8 seconds for first time 7.95 in her heat. Also at U20 in the 60s Evan Storey 7.54 and Bilal Kanimodo 7.28. The U23 60 saw both Craig Duffy (6.95) and Luca Logue Fonesca (6.91), make the final where Luca PB’d to take 5th with 6.87, Craig was 7th (6.92). Adam Festus ran 7.56 in his heat.
In the U20 200 heats Evan clocked 24.11, Bilal 24.11 and James Duane 24 65. Emily ran 26.62 in her 200 heat.
Christopher Lynch with a 49.89 400 made the U20 final and in the final from the unfavorable lane 1 placed 6th in 50.34.
The 800s saw the welcome return of JD Kelly in the U23 heats (2.00.43), his first outing in two years. In the U20 Joe Flynn was 1st in his heat (1.58.78) to qualify for the final. In a messy final Joe was 6th (2.04.02) .
The U20 4 x 400 relay team of Sam O’Reilly, James Duane, Joe Flynn and Christopher Lynch took a commendable 4th.
As far as indoors goes: that’s all folks!
