Louth athletes shine at All-Ireland Schools and Leinster Championships as Boyne AC stars medal
Things kicked off on Friday last when Hila Raji represented Ballymakenny College at the All-Ireland Schools Track & Field Championships in Tullamore.
Hila put in a calm, focused performance in the high jump, clearing an impressive 1.50m to take third place and claim a well-earned All-Ireland bronze medal - a proud moment for her school, her family and everyone at Boyne AC.
The following day her sister Hannele Raji stepped into the same arena, this time wearing the colours of St Oliver's CC.
Hannele competed in both the shot putt and long jump, placing sixth in each event, and while the results weren't quite what she was aiming for, her effort and commitment stood out.
Also on Saturday, over the roads of Monasterboice, Seamus Keenan was in flying form for the club as he stormed home to finish as the first Junior in the U18 category at the Monasterboice 4-Mile Race.
Clocking a time of 24:39 under the guidance of coach Andrew White, Seamus once again proved that he's one of the brightest young endurance runners in the region.
But perhaps the most electric energy of the weekend came from the youngest members of the club, who took to the track and field for the Leinster Championships at Tullamore Harriers Stadium. For many of them, it was their first time competing at this level and they rose to the occasion brilliantly.
In the U10 Girls 600m pairs, Stella Gow and Folasade Chloe Bello Osagie delivered a superb performance, earning themselves a bronze medal after a gutsy and well-paced race. They returned to the track for the sprint pairs later in the day and finished fifth overall, proving themselves as a dynamic and consistent duo.
Jessica McMahon impressed in the U12 Girls high jump, clearing a big personal best of 1.20m to place fourth. She was just outside the medals, but her performance spoke volumes about her potential.
Over in the turbo javelin, the U11 boys were in top form. Rasmus Fangeru led the way with a 14.68m throw, followed by Mal Brodigan with 11.27m and Conor Hughes with 9.84m. All three hit personal bests, showing steady improvement and promise for the seasons ahead.
In the U13 Boys 600m, Will Gow put in a strong run, clocking a new personal best of 1:54. Though just shy of a medal, his was a gritty and determined effort.
Caithlin Hughes took on the U12 Girls 600m with a great mix of drive and composure. She earned herself a personal best and finished with the kind of smile that shows just how much she loves the sport.
The U11 Boys 600m featured two determined Boyne AC runners. Malachy Brodigan ran a strong heat, placing second, and then pushed hard in the final, narrowly missing out on a medal. Conor Hughes also ran well and showed good form across the board.
In the U10 Boys 600m, Cormac Brodigan gave it everything, finishing 12th overall. At just nine years old and already competing at this level, he's clearly one to keep an eye on in the coming years.
And just when it seemed the day was done, there was one more highlight to come!
Right at the end of the Leinster Championships, Folasade Chloe Bello Osagie was back in action, this time as part of the Louth relay team. Running in the final event of the day, Folasade helped secure a silver medal for the team with a flawless run and a smooth handover that brought the team home in style. It was the perfect way to cap off an already fantastic day of competition.
Meanwhile, the countdown is continuing to this Friday's latest running of the ever-popular SKF Boyne 5K. The action starts at 8pm from St Oliver's NS on the Ballymakenny Road in Drogheda and runs out towards the countryside area of Townrath, before turning and proceeding back towards St Oliver's NS for a fast downward stretch to the finish. There are prizes of €150, €75 and €50 for the first three finishers overall in both the men's and women's categories, plus a further €150 if the course record is broken. There are also category prizes in the various age groups for both men and women, plus prizes for the top two teams and the top three wheelchair finishers. There is a medal for all finishers, refreshments available in the school, chipped timing and bag-drop facilities, and the event is AAI-approved. Further information and entry details can be found on the Boyne AC Facebook page.
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