Great performances in Munster Schools Combined Events – Report by Frank Stam

At this time of year most athletes have their focus on cross country running, but a few others tried to be at their best to qualify for the National Indoor Schools Combined Events in Athlone on 7 November.

In the Junior girls event we had 3 competing and after 5 events Ciara McKeon just got the better of Aisling Cassidy the girls scoring an overall 2nd and 3rd place respectively. Ciara ran the shared fastest time in the 60m hurdles with a big PB of 9.59 sec with Aisling close behind, also with a PB, in 9.64 sec. Both girls also PBed in the shot putt, Ciara with 9.60m and Aisling with 8.79m. Ciara also got new PB’s in her long jump with 4.77m and high jump with 1.54m, while Aisling jumped 4.60m long and then equalled Laura Nicholson’s U15 High Jump club record with 1.51m, and Ella Stack joined that party also clearing 1.51m. While Ciara was slightly ahead in each of the first 4 events, she almost lost that advantage in the 800m when Aisling ran almost 7 sec faster than her. Ella had big PB’s in her hurdles and long jump, but her overall 5th place was just short of the 4th qualifying spot.

Laura Nicholson competed in the Intermediate girls event and surprised many, inc. herself, coming away with a 4th qualifying place. She jumped a big PB in her long jump with 4.59m and her other events were close to her bests, except for her 800m where she showed her metier in running the fastest time of all the girls in a big PB of 2.29.8 min.

Two new training members also had a great day with Brian Lynch finishing in 3rd in a very competitive Junior Boys event, and Daniel Hurley winning the 1st year boys event with quite some margin.

Everybody had “total points” PBs, but because of different (from AAI) hurdle and shot specifications no new club records.

In the past we had at most 1 athlete per year qualified for the national schools CE, so this year we stepped it up. Wishing them best of luck in Athlone in 3 weeks time!