Veale the star turn at Tullamore

THERE was a larger than usual attendance for the early morning start of the AVIVA Irish Schools Track and Field Championships at Tullamore on Saturday when star racewalker, Kate Veale (St. Augustine’s, Dungarvan), made her first appearance on home soil since winning the bronze medal in the junior walk at the European Cup in the Algarve.

The West Waterford starlet did not disappoint, as she powered her way to a new Irish schools record with a 13:40.09 win on her debut in the Senior Girls 3,000m. — clipping a massive minute and 11 seconds off the old mark set by the World Youths silver medallist Ann Loughnane, younger sister of world silver medallist Olive.

And she had two world-class walkers battling it out for the minor placings. Maeve Curley (Presentation, Thurles) claimed the silver medal for the second year but her time, 14:04.34, was almost 40 seconds inside last year’s time while Emma De Prindibheal (Pobal Scoil Chorca Dhuibhne), the defending champion, had to settle for third in 14:12.62.