Jun 20, 2009 [Noel Guiden] The Dublin Juvenile Track and Field Championships got underway today in IrishTown. This year sees a change with the U/10`s championships held in conjunction with last week`s Team event meaning that the Clonliffe team heading south accross the Liffey was smaller than usual. As always there were medals golore won by the club`s juvenile athletes, highlights of which included U/17 100m gold from Patrick O`Connor in a very fast 10.7 with Stuart Roche a fraction behind in 3rd in 11.04, and a first championship medal from Clonliffe new boy Aaron Tynan winning U/15 800m in an impressive 2.13.4.
Proceedings got underway bright and early at 10.00am with the club`s first medal coming soon from Rachel Murray 2nd in the girls U/14 800 in 2.26.9. In the U/15 800 Aaron Tynan as usual blasted away from the gun, tearing down the back straight he hit troubled waters at 400 but rallied well holding off the field to record a very impressive win (2.13.4). A great run also from Ryan Cashel in the U/16 800 finishing second (2.29.6) to win his first individual Dublin medal.
In the boys U/16 high jump Mark Moloney was 3rd with a best jump of 1.50m with Aaron Wade 4th. Also in the field events Ian Brennan won silver in the U/16 shot (update on discus to follow) and Megan Columber was 3rd in the U/14 long jump and 4th in the 80m.
In the sprints Jasmin Hales was a last gasp winner of the U/13 80m. Patrick O`Connor and Stuart Roche had a great battle in the U/17 100m with Patrick coming out on top with an excellent 10.7.
Finally onto the distance boys in the 3,000m. Shortage of numbers meant that the U/16s and 17s ran together, in the confusion the lap counters decided that seven and a half laps wasn`t enough sending the lads on an extra lap, anyway 1st U/16 was Ian Guiden (running a 3,400m PB!) and Herbert Innocent was 3rd U/17 (also running a 3,400 PB). The older age group was also mixed, a great race was provided by Emmet Jennings (DSD) and our Jamie Rossister.Emmet pulled away with 2 to go, but with Jamie getting the bit between his teeth he close the gap taking some 3 seconds out of Emmet`s lead over the final lap, however the gap was too big to be bridged and Jamie had to make do with silver. Eric McCann ran a very gritty race in 3rd and a strong run also from Jordan Logue in 5th.
Tomorrow brings 1500m, 200m, 400h and more with the action starting in Irishtown at 10.00am.