National Schools Track & Field

123.ie Irish Schools Track and Field Championships
A small contingent of Kilkenny athletes finished up their school year on Friday, and headed off to the National Schools T&F in Tullamore on Friday evening and Saturday. The schools track and field events are looked upon as the opening competitions for the upcoming outdoor season. The schools are notably harder to qualify out of Provincials, and to make it to the Nationals is a remarkable achievement in itself. 12 athletes from Kilkenny represented their schools over the two days, amassing a total of 4 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze and 6 top 10 placing from Junior right through to Senior events. First up in the Junior Boys Tadhg O’Callaghan (St. Senan’s) representing Waterpark College had a great performance in the 1200m Walks finishing in 5:50.97 for first place. Evan Walsh (St. Joseph’s) CBC Kilkenny finished 3^rd in his Senior 3000m Walk in a time of 13:57.31.
Tom Murphy (KCH) Borris College was also in action on the track Friday evening winning his 2000m Steeplechase in a time of 6:09.35 for the gold. Tom has won many medals for Borris College throughout his 6 years in the school, competing and winning in both track and cross country races each year. Daniel Greene (KCH) was also representing Borris College in the Junior Boys 800m, where he topped the podium once again in a time of 2:07.12 to take the win. Ella Sorohan (KCH) Loreto Kilkenny was competing in the Junior Girls 200m and stormed to the finish in an incredible time of 25.61 seconds to claim top spot and gold medal. Victor Lamph (KCH) represented Clongowes College in two events the Inter Boys 400mH first on Saturday winning silver in 58.00 seconds, while later in the day he took bronze in the 400m sprint in 50.20. James Kelsey (Gowran) CBC Kilkenny won the second silver of the day in the Senior Boys Pole Vault. James was joint 2^nd behind Michael Kent who set a new Championship record. James also competed in the highly competitive Senior High Jump on Saturday morning finishing in 9^th place on count back. Clodagh O’Callaghan (KCH) Presentation Kilkenny was unlucky to just miss out on the medal places in the Senior Girls 1500m as she finished 4^th in a superb time of 4:41.69. Amelia O’Brien (KCH) Loreto Kilkenny finished in a credible 5^th place in the U16 Girls Mile in a smashing time of 5:17.95. Kyrell Mtinsi (KCH) St. Kieran’s College ran in the Boys Inter 800m on Saturday finishing in 5^th place overall in a time of 1:59.36. Brow Rangers throws Robert Patterson Castlecomer Community College and Sophie O’Neill PDLS, were both in action in the Hammer events. Sophie in the Girls Inter Hammer finishing 7^th with a throw of 33.84m, and Robert finishing 8^th in his Inter Boys Hammer with a throw of 43.10m. Congratulations to all who competed across the weekend, and best of luck to all those who are sitting their Junior and Leaving Certificate Exams in the next few weeks.