Jun 20, 2010 [Noel Guiden] The 2010 Dublin Juvenile Championships drew to a close this afternoon in sun drenched Morton Stadium. These championships have been blessed with the best weather seen for sometime and the athletes have responded with very encouraging performances accross the whole spectrum of athletic endeavour. Even more encouraging from the club`s perspective has been the commitment of our athletes from the youngest age groups just starting out right up to those taking part in their very last Dublin Juveniles. Throwing into that mix of sunshine and commitment a pretty impressive haul of medals made the whole weekend a most enjoyable expierence as a total of some 35 medals were won by Clonliffe athletes.
Today`s highlights included in the field events a golden double from Andrea Liadov in the boys U/13 shot putt and javelin. Gold also in the javelin U/16 from Ryan Whelan. In the girls U/15 long jump Megan Coomber didn`t disappoint winning with an excellent jump of 4.87. Eimer Higgins was a very popular bronze medalist in the girls U/15 shot putt.
In the sprint events, Patrick O`Connor and Stuart Roche picked up where they left off yesterday with a repeat performance in the U/18 200m, Patrick 1st, Stuart 2nd. Keith Kavanagh also enjoyed a repeat of yeaterday with silver in the U/19 200. Jasmine Hayles who had enojed a superb day yesterday was once again in good form progressing comfortable into the U/13 200m final where she placed 5th. Excellent running also from Elain Begley in the U/17s 2nd in the 300 flat and 30 minutes later 1st in the 300 hurdles. Ronan Doyle made his 400m debut today placing 3rd in the U/18 400m.
The distance race on the card today was the 1500m. In the boys U/16 Liam Ashton was clearly feeling the effects of a long hard year but still managed to add another silver to the one he took in Friday`s 800 running a time of 4.36. In 5th place in that race was the always improving John Buckley running another PB taking a massive 7 seconds off his best to record a time of 4.45.
Roisin Leahy took bronze in the U/17 girls 1500 with Laura Brennan 4th. Irene Falvey place 5th in the U/18s, while Denise Callaghan took her second medal of these championships this time gold in the girls U/19. In the boys U/19 race the tactical battle couldn`t have worked out any better for Graham Mahon as the field sauntered around for two and three quarter laps leaving Graham to step on the gas with 150 to go winning in 4.30, 3rd was Andrew Jenkinson with Mark McKenzie still someway short of full fitness 4th.
So overall a pretty good championships all round. The future looks brighter after days like these. Well done: athletes, coaches and parents