Kerryman Article 18/1/10

THE athletics scene finally got going for 2010 last weekend and it got off to a fantastic start at the National Junior Indoors in Nenagh, the Munster Cross-country in Cork and the AAI Games in Nenagh.

PJ Galvin of St Brendans AC produced a most unexpected performance when improving his indoor high jump personal best by 20cm to take the National Junior title on Saturday with a clearance of 1.80m. Silver medals on the day came from Eilish Fitzpatrick (Gneeveguilla) in the 60m sprint in a time of 7.79 only 0.03 behind winner Joan Healy of Bandon.

Emma Prendiville (Farranfore Maine Valley) was again technically perfect when taking silver in the Junior womens 3km walk in a time of 15.24. Kerry's final medal of the day came from Sinead O'Connor ( Tralee Harriers) when she finished third in the Junior womens triple jump with a leap of 10.48. Cian Foley also of Tralee Harriers also did well to make the final of both the 60m and 400m.

The Kerry Juvenile cross country relay teams probably had their most successful outing ever in Carrignabhfear on Sunday taking three gold and two silver out of six events. The girls U-10 team were first to take gold with fantastic runs from Orla O'Reilly ( TH), Sophie Lynch (LT), Aoife Doyle (SOL) and Kate Maher (GG).

The boys team followed suit in a commanding display taking gold with Dara Lowth (STB), Fiachra Ennis (STB), Cian McCarthy (GG) and Brian Murphy (GG). The extremely talented girls U12 team had to settle for silver after some fantastic runs from all four athletes the team here were: Katelyn McCarthy (SFB), Christine Cooper (SM), Ciara Donegan (LT) and Beatrice Casey (GG).

The boys U-12 also were a comfortable second with a young team of Adam O'Donoghue (RI), Patrick (GG), Dean Crowley (GG) and Niall O'Shea (IV). The last remaining team was the boys U-14 team and they took gold easily with top class runs from Jack Daly (IV), Cillian O'Donovan (IV), Adam King (IV) and Mitchell Holland (SFB). In the Senior events Cian Murphy (Iveragh) had a solid run to finish 6th in the senior 10km with Catherine Kiely Gneeveguilla finishing 10th in the womens 4km.

The AAI Senior Games were held in Nenagh on Sunday with low numbers in some events, but some top class performances especially in the sprint events.

Top three performances came from Patrick Phelan ( Tralee Harriers) in the 60m when he won in a time of 7.02, Daniel Clifford (Farranfore/Maine Valley) third in the shot with 13.20m,PJ Galvin (St Brendans) second in the high jump going out at 1.85m, Emily Brick ( St Brendans) third in the 400m in 65.62, Ailbhe Courtney (St Brendans) third in the 200m with a solid performance after her lay off due to an appendix removal and Clarence Kennedy also St Brendans second and third in the 60m hurdles in 9.20 and High Jump respectively.

Others to perform well included Tomas Griffin (An Riocht) in the 60m and 200m, Niall Prendiville (Farranfore Mainevalley) 3km Walk and Caoimhe Casey (St Brendans) 3km Walk.