L.A.C MEDALS AT ULSTER CHAMPIONSHIPS

June 2010

Darren Mc Bearty, Mark English, Ruari Finnegan, Letterkenny athletes who have frequently attained great success and move forward together to write more acclaim to fame with A.A.I will surely pleased that other promising juveniles are taking up the baton as the club continue to produce Ulster medallists and hopefully more National medallists.

Qualifications for A.A.I finals in Tullamore in July was the purpose of the Ulster finals in Antrim on Saturday (U14-U15) and Sunday (U16-U17) and the Letterkenny squad on both days can be well pleased with their efforts.

MC ARDLE DOUBLE GOLD
Four gold medals on Saturday was a great return, with Natasha Mc Ardle proving to be the star attraction. This young girl took the honours winning both the 800 and the 1500 metres in impressive style. Natasha U14 is a very dedicated young girl and well focused on her middle distance ability. Over the next two weeks her training regimen will prove no problems and hopefully she will be in the frame for the National medals in Tullamore. On Saturday morning Natasha led from gun to the tape in the 800 metres and 2.26.0 saw her take the gold medal. In the afternoon when the glorious weather and extreme heat wasn’t helpful to 1500 metres runners Natasha again left the large field in her wake winning impressively in 4.58.7. a great double Ulster champion.

Peter Gibbons U14 could be the clubs next big prospect as he too led from gun to tape in his 1500 metres final with 4.48. Peter had a very impressive cross-country season and now heads to Tullamore as Ulster 1500 metres champion with the hope of also bringing home a National medal.

Lisa Gibson U15 has settled into her dedicated training session in the difficult discipline of shot putting and it has all come in good time for her as she added the Ulster gold to her previous success in indoors at the Oddssey in Belfast last February. Lisa now also has three weeks to add more to her winning shot on Saturday (9.38). She knows another metre would be well within National standards so she will be focused on the target. A host of young sprinters made their competitive debuts in Antrim on Saturday and Hollie Duddy proved to be the best, reaching her first Ulster final of the 100 metres. This will prove to be a good learning experience for this relative newcomer and seventh place was well merited. Eimear Walsh, Laura Aboud, Ciara Hamm, Tara Carr and another newcomer Raymond Rodgers U14 are competing well with better days to come in their 100/200 metres. Emma Mc Cann U15 gained a valuable experience on her club debut (Javelin and Shot).

SUNDAY MEDALS
Ciaran Lnych (U17) took the honours here, the 300m hurdles is a tough discipline but proved no problems to this tough young man. Winning gold he goes to Tullamore as Ulster Champion (45.40) where he also took in this event and was well on the way to a national until a heavy fall at the second last hurdle ruined his chances. Hopefully he can keep it together for this years event. Ciaran also finished 4th in the 200m final.

Rose Boyle (U16) is also a very competitive young sportswomen, also taking on the 250 hurdles her fourth place also qualifed for Tullamore while she proudly took her place on the medal podium (2.37.66) in the 800m final.

Luke Bonner (U16) has been only been discovered this season and certainly can prove to be the clubs best young male sprinter for some time. Reaching the 100 and 200 metres finals in Antrim on Ulster finals day is a good achievement and fourth in both (12.24 and 25.56) sees this young man also debut. Luke had to endure a wait until losing out on Bronze 100 metres when a photo finish decision just went against him. Lauren Oconnell U16 can be pleased when reaching the 100 metres final in a tough competition while Odhran Doherty U16 took on the 800/1500 events giving a good account in both.

Now the next action sees the National childerns games finals Saturday next in Templemore Co. Tipperary.

Making the long journey having qualified through ulster sees Oisin Bradley, Ronan Frain, Niall Diver, Cain Harkin and Cormac Doherty (U/10), Jennifer Kilcoyne, Laura Crossan, Umar Deyoola, Conor O`Donnell and Peter McEniff (U/11) attempt national success. Perhaps the next big name in athletics success for letterkenny AC is amongest those names. Who knows!. Good luck to all.