The sun shone brightly in the Morton Stadium today and so did the Clonliffe Harriers athletes in the final day of the Dublin Juvenile championships.The performances today were simply excellent with 11 gold medals, a total of 18 medals and 4 new top drawer PBs. Pride of place on the PB charts must go to Megan Coomber who nearly jumped out of the pit in the U/17 long jump, in winning gold Megan jumped an exceptonal 5.58m, bettering her existing PB by a massive 18cm. In fact there was great success for the club in the long jump today. Sally Aherne won the U/16s with a best of 4.68m with Kate Hession 3rd (3.66m), Stephanie McCaul was 4th (3.47). In the boys U/15 there was a Clonliffe one two as Paddy O`Hanlon jumped 5.18cm, another PB, with Sean Carrigg 2nd (4.33m).
The club`s sprinters also excelled today. Shauna Reilly was 1st in the U/17 400 in a fast 62.5 and later in the afternoon ran a big 200m PB of 26.2 in finishing 2nd. Leah Bergin in the U/19 did a 400m (61.5) and 200m (27.5) double. Paddy O`Hanlon was 6th in the U/15 200m with Kate Hession 6th in the U/16. Samuel Oyedirin was 4th in the U/18 200 with David Deignan inches behind in 5th.
The middle distance runners also got in on the act in the series of 1500m finals. First up young Joseph Hession in the U/14s running a great race always at the front and then easying away on the final lap to add the 1500 title to his 800 won on Friday night. David O`Hanlon lead home the Clonliffe division in the U/15 race in 2nd place taking a well deserved silver, a good run also today from Sean Carrigg in 5th, Gerg Hossenny was 7th, the extra laps not being to his liking and Peter Taylor 12th. Alannah Cooley ran another good race today in the U/15 race placing 5th after a very good final lap. In the U/16 girls race the Clonliffe girls looked pretty tired today with Laura Tuite 5th, Sally Aherne 7th and Stephanie McCaul 8th.
Cathal Doyle ran his third race in three days. On Friday he chopped five seconds off his 800 PB to take silver, yesterday he made a winning 3,000m debut and today put in a fantastic effort. With two laps to go he was tripped and fell head first on the track, picked himself up and in a flash went from last to first and drove on the whole way to take an unbelieveable win. A good run also from Brian Flanagan in 6th place.
In the U/18 race Liam Ashton took his first Dublin title running a PB of 4.18.2. A great return to form by Liam. A win also for Ian Guiden in the U/19 race running solo to win comfortably in 4.13.1. Laura Brennan also won the U/19 girls 1500 title while Rachel Murray was 3rd in the U/17 race.
Finally: the javelin. Another championship win for Ryan Whelan in the U/18 and 2nd for Stephen Baily in the U/17. Sarah Murray was 2nd in the U/16 and Elliott Lawless 3rd in the U/13.
A great end to a great Dublin Championships. Well done to each and every Clonliffe athlete over the course of a long weekend, you`ve done yourselves proud.
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