Finn Valley AC: Highlights from the National Indoor Senior Championships & School Athletes' Success

Finn Valley AC Notes 23 February 2025

The National Indoor Senior Championships annually, in the context of Irish athletics, is the highlight of that particular aspect of the season and last weekend the championships were held over 2 days at the National Athletic Centre Dublin.

Finn Valley had a very encouraging number of athletes entered which is always a litmus test of any club in the pursuit of impact both at underage and senior level, particularly in domestic athletics. On day 1, we had a very exciting women's high jump event with Sommer Lecky involved. Sommer had a season’s best of 1.75 going into this competition and had won this indoor title on three previous occasions but came away disappointed in 2024 having finished 2nd. She was in a thrilling competition with an athlete from Dundalk for the title, both going to 1.81 which Sommer cleared and was declared the winner on countback. The Castlederg girl, now only 24, has won the National Senior title on 4 occasions and now similarly 4 occasions indoor. The highlight of her career being a silver medal at the World Championships in Finland some years ago.

Arlene Crossan returned a new Donegal 400m indoor record of 54.94, having come through both the heats and the semi finals for the final the following day in which she finished 5th. Obviously three races within 24 hours proved a challenge and should she build on this encouraging performance, can target being included in the Irish 4 x 4 relay team.

Also on Saturday, Bridget McDyre, competing in the weight for distance finished 4th.

Then it was on to Sunday and in the space of 1 hour the club garnered 2 gold medal performances and 1 Silver in addition to other strong performances. Beginning with Lauren Callaghan from Killygordon, a girl who came into athletics through the primary schools with Dromore National School had finished 2nd last year and was bringing a confident display in Loughborough just a fortnight ago where she got out to 6.16. This gave her hope in the possibility of picking up the national title. Lauren, who has encountered injury along with the normal vagrancies of life as a student, made it a special day in winning the title, which was delightful not only for her personally, but for her family who have supported her strongly and her coach Paul Wilkinson. She jumped 5.94 and will now compete in Glasgow in 2 week’s time, before wrapping up the indoor season.

Some 20 minutes later, Roisin Flanagan was on the startling in the 3k and was always in the leading bunch but with 3 laps to go, moved away from the field. She continued to build a strong margin to win that particular title, her first ever National Senior individual title, in a time of 9.14. Roisin now hopes to bring that form forward to the outdoor season, having encountered a period of injury since 2024 and we wish her well.

Oisin Thompson had a lifetime best in the long jump of 6.77 finishing 4th, and when you align this performance with his silver medal in the Irish Universities you have to notice progress made as he works towards 7m.

John Kelly flew in from Sweden on Saturday night with a view to getting back into national competition having been absent for a period due to injury. With 2 competitions in Sweden this indoor season, his ultimate aim on the weekend was to medal which he did, getting out to 17.85m to take the silver behind a winning throw of 19.40m. John is particularly encouraged and delighted to be back in the ring and we as a club look forward to seeing him build on this performance in the months ahead, hopefully joined by his brother James.

Janine Boyle, with a best of 7.68, was impressive in both the opening round and in the semi-final, earning herself a spot amongst the elite in the 60m final in which she finished 6th in her best time over the weekend 7.66 which is getting close to her lifetime best from some years ago of 7.54 indoors. Janine, again like Sommer Lecky, John Kelly and Lauren Callaghan, began their athletics at the local primary school sports, underlining the impact and the opportunity these sports provide annually for youngsters in our locality.

The other strong performance of the weekend came from Amy Greene who, like Roisin, was on the start line for the 3k and had a right good go with a time of 9.51 finishing 7th on this occasion. What’s interesting about Amy, and which will stand to her, is that she is game to be competitive in a range of events at a good level to gain experience and to improve.

That wraps the indoor senior season with the exception obviously of Mark English who passed up the opportunity of competing over the weekend but will be on the start line over 800m at the European Championships in 2 week’s time.

On Wednesday last our school athletes were in action in the Ulster Schools Finals at Mallusk. The standout performance came from Odhrán McBrearty in the intermediate boys for St Columba’s College with a really really sharp performance, winning quite easily which will no doubt drive him on to the Irish Schools Finals in a few weeks’ time. This was Odhráns best performance of the winter season and it’s coming just at the right time. His team, St Columba’s, finished 2nd qualifying for the National finals, while the St Columbas junior girls, led by Saorla Gilligan, also qualified for the national finals finishing 3rd. There were another number of performances by Finn Valley athletes qualifying through their schools Loreto Letterkenny, Omagh Loreto and Lumen Christi Derry. We wish them well in the school’s finals and we are grateful to the various local schools who ensure the youngsters get this opportunity.

This weekend the Ulster Indoor Championships will be held over 2 days in Athlone where it’s all about qualification for the Nationals in a few weeks’ time. Finn Valley will have strong representation over the 2 days and are once again reliant on parents and our dedicated coaching group to ensure everything is in order.

The hugely popular Little Athletics 6-week programme is now full and a waiting list is open for the next block. Enquiries to Ann Slevin 086 8679169