National Schools Combined Event Championships
 A few of our athletes travelled to IT Athlone to compete in this highly contested competition with the best 4 in each category getting selected for an international competition between England, Scotland  and Wales next month. As expected some wonderful performances and battles were on display, which makes you wonder why AAI never adopted this very successful concept for their CE. Unfortunately the international competition is only for Junior and Intermediate athletes, and the effect of this is shown by the drop in standard and numbers at senior students level.    
 
Aisling Cassidy and Ciara McKeon competed in the Junior Girls event, During the Munsters Ciara beat Aisling in 4 of the 5 events, but this time Aisling beat Ciara in 4 events. Aisling increased her points tally by a massive 238 points which gave her 3083 points which is an all-time best juvenile girl’s pentathlon result in our club. She had PB’s in the 60m hurdles in 9.42s., long jump (new Club Record with 4.78m), high jump (new Club Record with 1.55m) and 800m in 2.34.83. Ciara had PB’s in shot putt with 9.87m and the 800m in 2.41.96. Aisling came 6th overall and Ciara 7th, slightly disappointing having performed so well, but it just shows the calibre of this year’s Junior Girls team, who might get the better of the English girls.
 
Brian Lynch who trains with us had a dream pentathlon (in the intermediate boys category) scoring PB’s in all his events and, similar to Aisling, increased his points tally, from 3 weeks ago, by 227 points. However, the consequences were very different as after his 3rd place in the Munsters he now won the Nationals and qualification for Glasgow.
 
So congratulations to all with your great performances, and Brian good luck in your first international!
 
Report by Frank Stam