To win gold at All-Ireland Juvenile Track & Field Championships in any athletics event is never an easy task and to retain the title can be harder still. When Laura McSweeney won the Gold in the Shot Putt in the u12 All-Ireland Track & Field in the CIT in 2006 (in a then Championships record) she started an amazing winning streak.
\nShe retained the title at u13 level in 2007 setting a Championship record which still stands. U14, u15, u16, u17, u18 (also in a Championship record) all followed and this weekend she completed the clean sweep as she added the u19 title to her collection to make it 8 in the row in the outdoor juvenile championships.
\nShe also has 7 golds in the indoor juvenile championships, the only “blip” coming in the 2008 when she won Silver.
\nShe is also All-Ireland juvenile champion in the Hammer at u17, u18 and u19 and also won All-Ireland Juvenile medals in the Discus on 5 ocassions.
\nThese achievements resulted in international selection on 5 occasions at u16, u17 and u18 level.
\nWell done to Laura on this remarkable 8 in a row, while she’s now finished at Juvenile level I’m sure there will be plenty more successes ahead for Laura at U20 and Senior level as she has already won a number of medals at national u20 level.<\/p>\n