Loughnane the shining light

ANNE LOUGHNANE (St. Raphael’s, Loughrea), set a new national junior and senior schools record in the 3,000m walk at the Kit Kat Irish Schools Championships at Tullamore on Saturday when the girls set three records.

Sister of Olympian Olive Loughnane, she underscored the strength of Irish race walking with a sparkling performance that carried her to a 13:45.89 record on a day when Lucia Reynolds (Marian, Mohill) set a new junior schools record at 5:32.8 in the 1200 metres walk.

Rachel Akers (Scariff CC) had three throws in excess of the old record before settling for a record breaking throw of 51.32m in the senior girls’ hammer and went on to complete a notable double by winning the discus with a throw of 34.39m.