PETER GIBBONS AND U13 BOYS RELAY NATIONAL MEDALS

Juvenile Athletics

July 2010

Saturday and Sunday last brought the curtain down on another athletic season, as the juvenile championships at Tullamore saw the club and county relays windup another successful season for the Letterkenny ac young squad.

With all the age groups 1500 metres on Saturday, Natasha McArdle (U14) was LAC first finalist of the day, Natasha bravely stayed in the leading bunch of Irelands best young middle distance runners over the first three laps, but from the bell it became obvious medals were not coming Natashas way as she took sixth place (5.08.3) just outside her P.B Natasha shows enough promise to have a good cross country season and return to the track next year for another assualt at National level.

Peter Gibbons (U/14) ended his best ever season with bronze medal in his 1500m (4.40.0) a new P.B, never out of the first three in a real cat and mouse type race, Peter was certainly in top form as he hit the front at the bell but a real team effort saw two North Sligo ac athletes gradually wear Peter down but the young Letterkenny athlete can be well proud of this latest hounor, and he too will be a major force in the winters cross country.

Luke Bonner (U16) just failed to make the final of the 200m but this promising young sprinter will definately benefit from his first competitive season. Lisa Gibson (U15) found the wet morning not to her liking in the shot putt, but the Ulster Champion can look forward to the indoors next season and hope to better her p.b then. Lisa Shiels (U19) ended her juvenile career on a dissapointing note by failing to make the 200m final but her record over the sprints this past ten years will take some beating.

SUNDAY RELAYS
Letterkennys U13 boys were always the main medal hope in Tullamore and they didnt dissapoint. However taking the 4x100 title in the indoors in Nenagh last April they were confronted by teams of very talented young athletes from all over Ireland. This time the letterkenny lads had to play second fiddle to Abbey Striders A.C who gained revenge for the Nenagh defeat. However Shane Irwin, Darragh Toal, Lochlan Purdy and Oisin Toal can be proud to add the silver medal to their collection as they put up a great battle in a hotly contested final with the decision going against the boys in the last few metres. This letterkenny team is determined to continue in the forefront of the club relays for many years to come, hopefully so.

The U12 boys just failed to make the final but Eoghan Bradley, Mark Irwin, Oisin Purdy and Michael Mc Grory will develope after this good experience.

COUNTY RELAYS
They day finished with county relays and again the letterkenny boys team representing their county, were on the medal rostrum collecting bronze medals following their U13 race. So the Toal twins, Purdy and Irwin continue in good form.

At U19 level the letterkenny girls were determined to gain Lisa Shiels a final medal at juvenile level and it all ended happily as Catherine Boyle, Monica O Connor, Lauren O Connell and Shiels battled bravely to gain bronze medals with Rose Boyle (sub) joining the girls for a fitting fianle to a big season on the medal rosturm.

So a well deserves rest now for the athletes and coaches who will hope to recharge their batteries for October cross-country season. Have a good rest.