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Irish Independent
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Louth athletes shine at All-Ireland Schools and Leinster Championships as Boyne AC stars medal
From the national stage in Tullamore to local roads and the high energy of the Leinster Championships, their athletes showed exactly what they're made of. 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.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
Hila Raji hits the ‘high' notes to make podium at All-Ireland Schools Championships
From the national stage in Tullamore to local roads and the high energy of the Leinster Championships, their athletes showed exactly what they're made of. 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.
Irish Independent
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Irish Independent
Boyne AC athletes star for their schools at North Leinster Championships
In the opening Minor field session, Hila Raji floated over every high jump bar that dared stand in her way, sealing gold before hustling across the infield to sling a discus far enough for silver. Minutes later, Hila's older sister Hannele sent the shot put thundering beyond the sector tape for an Intermediate title and then swapped throwing shoes for spikes and dashed to a 200m silver that proved power and pace can share a surname. On the track, Junior miler Jack Willis shadowed the leaders for three laps before unleashing a personal-best sprint that carried him to a brave fifth, while Cillian Everitt followed with an 800m so fearless it left the timekeepers shaking their heads. The crowd scarcely caught its breath before the Minor sprints crackled to life. Eoin McEntee's start drew a gasp, and when the medals were decided Riley Byrne dipped for bronze and Aaron McMahon blitzed the anchor leg of a relay that glittered gold. One age group up, the baton quartet of Ryan McMahon, Evan Gamble, Harry Devitt and Emmet McShane stitched together four immaculate exchanges, adding another victory stamp to the programme after Ryan's individual sprint triumph and Harry's silver in the javelin. Distance royalty followed in the elegant stride of Dara Ellie Winters, who glided through the Intermediate mile with a bell-lap kick that secured gold, before returning 20 minutes later for bronze in the 1500m. Shauna Rice ground out a relentless Junior 3,000m to finish fourth, then cheered Georgia Rice as she propelled a javelin into Minor bronze territory. In the sand pit Zara Lee carved a long-jump personal best with each landing, while rising star Grace Nolan ripped another PB from the stopwatch in the 800m. Late afternoon belonged to the eldest age group. Romeo Fomenky uncorked a start fit for a Diamond League final to seize the Senior 100m crown, then dragged his relay quartet to silver with an anchor leg that forced the stadium announcer to hunt for fresh superlatives. Ailish Keenan logged six gritty 3,000m laps before storming her own relay stage for matching silver, moments after brother Seamus danced the steeplechase water like a dragonfly on glass to claim fourth. In the throws circle, Oliver Carolan balanced a javelin silver and shot put bronze on opposite shoulders, while Louis Devitt matched the family's podium touch with a bronze-winning spear in the Juniors. Minor shot put débutant Sean Alhaddad pocketed bronze with a cool opening series, and Caoimhín McShane fought through back-to-back Senior 400 and 200m finals, planting a pair of fifth-place finishes in the club ledger. Sprinter Molly Fay, handed the unforgiving third leg of the Junior relay, clawed back metres and hearts in equal measure, proof that courage sometimes travels faster than medals. By twilight the medal count glittered, personal bests lay scattered like confetti and every second-level campus in Drogheda - St Mary's DS, Ballymakenny College, Our Lady's College Greenhills, Sacred Heart Secondary School, St Joseph's CBS and St Oliver's CC - had watched its students carry classroom honour and club pride hand in hand.
