Turbo-charged O’Neill smashes 17 year-old record
O’Neill is one of those and, after inclement conditions foiled his record attempt at the schools championships two weeks earlier, he raced to a solo 3,000m victory in 8:37.7, smashing the old mark of 8:43.0, which stood since 1988.
His success put the finishing touches to what was another spectacular afternoon at the Tullamore Harriers track where Mairead Murphy (Mercy, Waterford) and Kalyn Sheahan (Ursuline, Waterford) fought out another exciting finish to the girls 300m hurdles.
This time Murphy had to break the record with a 43.8 sec run to claim victory over her Ferrybank club-mate, who equalled the old record shared by Mandy Bloomer (1992) and Michelle Carey (1997) at 44.3 secs.
Both are also on the team for the EYOF along with another Ferrybank athlete, long jumper Kelly Proper. Murphy competes in the 100m hurdles, Sheahan in the 400m hurdles.
The three club-mates are also on the squad for the 4 x 100m relay along with Amy Foster (Glenlona Collegiate College) who won the 100m in 12.4 secs and the 200m in 24.9 secs.
Laura Reynolds (Marian, Mohill) took her career to a new level when she won the 3,000m walk in 14:07.0, breaking the old record set by Anne Loughnane, at 14:22.1 three years earlier. Sorcha Prenderville (Tarbert CS) finished second in 15:20.0.
Following the exciting finish to the intermediate boys’ 1,500m at the Irish schools, a lot of attention focused on the event here but this time it was different a different hair colour for John Coghlan (Castleknock) and a different result as he was foiled by Ryan Faulkner (St. Malachy’s).
The victory was fashioned around the front running of the other Ulster Schools athlete, Enda Doherty (St. Eunan’s) who was tracked by Coghlan and Kevin Cooper (Waterpark) with Faulkner back in fourth place.
When the pressure came and Cooper pressed the button, Coghlan dropped back to fourth, allowing Faulkner to take the lead and he was able to hold on to win by three tenths of a second as Coghlan edged past Cooper in the sprint for the line.
Gary O’Reilly (Baileboro CS), put the finishing touches to his EYOF preparations with a sprint double, winning the 100m in 11.2 and the 200m in 22.4 secs.
Eoin Hannon (Our Lady’s, Templemore) thrilled the home fans he is a member of Tullamore Harriers when he ran well inside his previous best to win the 100m hurdles in 13.8 secs while Josh Williamson (Newry High School) was a surprise but very impressive winner of the boys’ 400m in 52.6 secs.
The boys’ long jump produced another very good performance from the junior champion, Timmy Harrington (Kinsale Community School) who stepped up to under-17 level to finish second with a best of 6.30m.
Sarah Treacy (King’s Hospital) won the girls’ 1,500m in a flying finish with Suzanne Huet (Loreto, Foxrock) in 4:42.0, while one of the most impressive performances was in the girls’s 3,000m where Patricia Barry (Ursuline, Thurles) romped home 25 seconds ahead of the field in 10:11.3.
Katie O’Shea (Presentation, Milltown) and Linda Cronin (Colaiste Choilm, Ballincollig) had another exciting battle in the hammer, O’Shea winning with a 42.14m throw.
Imelda Morrison (Colaiste Eoin, Youghal) won the girl’s long jump with a best of 5.67m.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
