6 days ago
Sligo's Lucie Cawley breaks Irish Schools Intermediate record at just fifteen years of age
Tullamore on the June bank holiday weekend is the place to be for athletics enthusiasts as the cream of the crop take centre stage for the most prestigious event of the juvenile athletics calendar. Coming through the provisional competitions, Connacht's athletes go on to Nationals where it's all straight finals with the best from each region are on show.
For Sligo, over 20 athletes graced that start line and did not disappoint.
The Championships kicked off on Friday night where Mercy College student Lucie Cawley once more made jaws drop as she lead from pillar to post in the Intermediate girls 1500m steeplechase. Streamstown's Lucie, at only 15 years of age, was running as a new year intermediate so will be in this category again next year. This didn't stop Lucie slicing 8 seconds off the schools record. What a 2025 so far for the Streamstown athlete!
Alice Belo again from the Mercy College jumped a massive personal best in the Junior girls triple jump landing herself a top 6 finish. It was the same for Francis Donghue of Summerhill College when he finished 5th place in the senior boys 5000m.
The night was capped off by a brilliant run from Ross Campbell in the Inter boys 1500m steeple, with the Sumnerhill student will eligible for this age and event next year.
Onto super Saturday with Briain Cullinan getting the day kicked off in style in the Inter boys 400m hurdles. Briain a Summerhill stalwart and serial medallist, took over half a second off the Irish schools record only to find one better on the day and finish with a brilliant silver, what are the chances of 2 breaking one record on the same day!
Mila Clancy ran her guts out for 6th place in the inter girls 300m hurdles while Nicole Flanagan was jumping her way to a brilliant 4th place. Clancy also took part in the inter girls long jump finishing in 7th and just missing the final by 9cm.
Ruby Cunnane was moving up an age where she ran an exceptional race to finish in 3rd place in the Junior girls 75m hurdles.
Crissie Doohan hit PBs in both discus (6th) & shot putt (7th)—amazing progress!
Conor McDonagh was third place for St Attracta's over the 400m in the Senior boys category, Conor will be back next year hungrier than ever.
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St Attracta's pair Erin Walsh and Arlin Barrett had a great tustle over at the senior girls long jump with Walsh coming out on top for 7th place and Barrett in 9th. Back on the track, Sinead Evans of Mercy College produced her best ever moment in the u16 mile where she ran a massive personal best of 5min 37seconds and leave her in a great position going into the Summer season.
With only a couple of events to go, Mercy College teacher Eimear O'Brien was closely watching the intermediate girls section as the Sligo school were looking to seal the top accolade here. Riona Luse and Nicole Flanagan worked wonders for this to happen as they finished 2 & 3 in the triple jump with Flanagan getting the better of her school team mate for that silver. Luse quickly ran to the high jump and pulled in a further 4 points landing 5th place here and the Mercy girls sealed victory with a point in the 4x100m relay and the return of Emily Hession adding to the talented team of Ruby Cunnane, Nicole Flanagan & Lucie Cawley.
There was brilliant runs by Summerhill relays with the inter boys in the mix all the way but getting disqualified for running out of their zone on the final leg. The senior boys got a well deserved bronze when Darragh Burke sprouted wings down the homestraight to edge the medal on the line. And the St Attracta's senior girls filled 8th place.
Out on the throwing fields, Ruairí McLoughlin in the inter boys hammer threw out over 35m for 6th pace while Kelley McHugh(discus) sealed 8th place and got a valuable point for the Mercy intermediate girls.
The week prior to Irish schools, Sligo athletes made the trip to Brussels to compete at the star struck IFAM meet.
On the Saturday, PBS a plenty with Conor McDonagh posting a swift 49.3 in his now favoured distance the 400m, while his sister Caoimhe McDonagh swapping her jump spikes for sprints posting a brilliant personal best over 100m in 12.57.
Lucie Cawley dropped down the distances getting a swift 800m in, winning her section in a personal best time of 2min 17 seconds and plenty in the tank crossing the line too. Mila Clancy ran a cracker on the Sunday over 200m posting a seasons best and a great return to form.
