Writes Ciaran Dineen
There was gold galore for Coláiste Muire, Crosshaven, St Francis College, Rochestown and Carrigaline Community School athletes last weekend at the Irish Life Munster School’s Athletics Championships.
A number of students from the schools took part in the Track and Field event, held in Tullamore Offaly. Max O’Reilly stole the show on the day as the CCS student won gold in both the 100m and 200m race in the Intermediate Boys category.
Max ran an incredible time of 10.97 in the first race, breaking a national schools record. After doing so he managed to claim another gold in the 200m, running in a time of 22.75. In the latter race, Max finished ahead of fellow CCS student Aaron Gui, who ran a great race finishing on 23.81. Meanwhile, Oisín O’Connell secured the silver medal in the Intermediate Boys 400m hurdle, running to a time of 1:06.96.
Coláiste Muire pupils also had fantastic success, with their senior boys’ relay team claiming the biggest result of the day as they claimed first place in the 4 x100m race, crowning them Munster champions, after a time of 44.74. The Intermediate Boys also put in a great shift finishing 2nd in the 4 x100m, in a time of 47.86. Both of the teams have now qualified for the All Irelands in Tullamore, which takes place on June 4th.
In terms of individual achievement for the Crosshaven school, Praise Wenegieme came 1st in the intermediate 400m and 2nd in the 100m, while his older brother Glory came 2nd in the Senior 100m and 3rd in the 200m. The gold rush didn’t stop there however as Josh Fitzgerald claimed victory and broke the championship record in the Intermediate pole vault, as he went over 4.11 metres.
For St Francis of Rochestown, there were three gold medals and one silver on the day. Shane Byrne secured victory in the Junior Boys’ walk, while Darragh O’Connor ran a time of 4:30.97 in the Junior 1500m race, finishing just half a second off first place. Eoghan O’Connor claimed gold in the 1500m Intermediate race. Last but by no means least, Timmy Hawkins also came home in first place in the Senior 2000m steeplechase. All of the boys have now qualified for the All-Ireland in two-weeks’ time.
Congratulations to all athletes who took part for all schools, and particularly praise for those who managed to secure medals and qualify for the All-Ireland in Tullamore.