News

18th May 2010SPARTAN ATHLETES AT DISTRICT SCHOOLS

Last Wednesday saw the first round of the District “C” Schools’ Athletic Championships at Antrim Forum. The top 3 Athletes qualifying for Ulster Schools Finals which will be held on Saturday 22nd May at Antrim Forum.

Top local winner in the Minor section was Thornhill student Aoife Laverty, who lead the 800m from start to finish and looked to be in a class of her own. This was followed up by Shane Mc Gowan (800m) in the Junior Boys running in the colours of St. Columb’s College, he won with a new PB of 2.12sec and is also eligible for this age group next year. Other great performances in the Junior Boys came from Lumen Christi College, with Michael Cartin a clear winner in the 80m Hurdles, Jack Mc Closkey making both the 100m + 200m Finals (eligible for Jnr Boys next yr) and qualifying for the 200m Finals in a time of 25.6sec. In the Junior Girls section Claire Dougherty (Lumen Christi) dominated both her High Jump & Triple Jump events, winning both comfortably. Another Lumen Christi athlete Katie Cunningham won the Junior Shot(9.53m) by almost a metre and finished 3rd in the Discus. Ciara Armstrong (St Cecilia’s College) won the 75m Hurdles and second in the finals of the 200m. Roisin Laverty (Thornhill College) added to her great Long Jump victory at the YAL and continued on her winning ways with a good series of jumps.

In the Inter Boys and Girls we saw some great performance from the Spartan Athletes. Most of our athletes in this U17 Age-Group are still eligible again next year but this did not deter them. Top performances of the day came from Ryan Mc Parland (St Columb’s College) winning the 100m Hurdles by 100th of a second from Mark Mc Garvey ( St. Joseph’s College) in time of 14.1sec. Ryan went on to win the 200m(23.6sec) while Mark went on to win the Long Jump. Another outstanding athlete from St Columb’s College was Andrew Bolster who competed in heats in the 400m flat and 400m Hurdles all within a short space of time and qualified for both Finals. Andrew went on to win the 400m Hurdles in a new PB of 59.2 sec and finish second in the 400m with 53.7sec (PB). In the Inter Girls section, Anna Barr (TJ) and Emma Gee (80m Hurdles) both competing for Thornhill College were very impressive winners. Anna won the TJ with a 10.88m PB jump and finished 2nd in the 300m Finals only to be beaten by 100th of a second to Heather Carson Ballymena Academy. Emma Gee sprinting to a new PB of 13.7sec and also on the victorious Inter Girls Relay team.
In the Senior Section, Conall Doherty (Lumen Christi) showed that his winter training paid off by throwing the Javelin 2m ahead of his opponents with a good early season opener of 42.18m. Also throwing good was Kelly Simpson ( St Cecilia’s College) winning the Girls Javelin by a few metres throwing 29.58m. Another winner in the Senior 400m Hurdles was Daniel Reid (Limavady Grammer).

Other Qualifiers for the Ulster Schools’ Finals are:
Calum Imrie, Terry Melaugh, Stephen Faller, Matt Doherty, Conor Doherty, Sean Harkin, Ruairi Heaney, Tamara Boyle, Amy Jackson, Hannah Mc Gowan, Amy Mc Daid, Clare Shaw, Emma Mc Cay, Lisa Dobbins, Jamie Herron, Sarah Gee, JP Williamson.

Congratulations and best of luck to all the City of Derry Athletes who qualified for the Ulster Schools’ Finals.

Danea Herron