by Perri Williams
This week has been dominated by the provincial schools’ championships, paving a clear path for the All-Ireland Schools in two weeks’ time. Amid our period of what seems eternal sunshine, there were surprises, expectations and some excellent performances across a number of events.
In Munster four championship records were set as the temperatures soared to a scorching 25 degrees at the MTU track. Emer Purtill (Mungret CC) first set a new Intermediate Shot Putt record of 14.82m from her fourth-round throw. Purtill knocked 6cm off the 2019 mark set by National Senior Champion Ciara Sheehy. An hour later she went on to wipe out the 43-year-old Intermediate Javelin record held by Brenda Walsh. Her second-round throw of 44.38 was almost a meter ahead of what Walsh threw back in 1982.
Caoimhe Flannery (Skibbereen CC) had an easy victory in the senior 1500m steeplechase, setting a new record of 4.57 73, knocking 10 seconds off the 2014 mark set by Jessica Coyne. Flannery was not even extended to her limits as she looked comfortable throughout.
Sophie Beresford (St Augustines) reduced the Junior 1200m walk record to 5.29.22. In doing so she took the title from fellow Augustines 2008 champion Kate Veale. Veale of course was a prolific record breaker at the Irish Schools, having set records at Junior, Inter and Senior levels. Gemma Galvin has had two hard races over the past two weeks, gaining European u20 standards in both the 800m and 1500m. Galvin took out the senior ladies 1500m at a meagre pedestrian pace, giving her legs a chance to recover. A quick wind-up saw the Ennis lady secure victory over Jennifer O’Leary (Nenagh). Ryan Onoh (Aston) secured a jump double. Ohno won the Long and High Jumps at the Intermediate level. Joe Burke (Templemore) had an easy victory in the 200m. The European u18 medallist looking strong for the season ahead.
There were records broken in sunny Santry mid-week at the Leinster schools. Daniel Downey (St Mary’s CBS Portlaoise) blazed a trail in the 400m Hurdles recording a time of 54.59 seconds. Like Purtill in Munster, he rewrote the records books, wiping out a long-standing 44-year-old record. The 54.8 was previously set by Fergal Sixsmith (King’s Hospital) back in 1981. Downey wasn’t quite finished his day at that. He later ran the 400m where he finished 3rd in 51.67. JP Archbold (Patrician SS, Newbridge) has surprised himself with a series of excellent long jump performances over the past few weeks. Archbold was 3rd in the 400m hurdles with a new personal best of 57.50. He then went on to jump 6.93m in the final jump to equal the record set by Michael Kent (Good Counsel, New Ross). Kent, who has mainly focused on the pole vaults this year, won both the senior pole vault and the long jump.
Emily Bolton has had two races back-to-back and wanted to engage in something a little quieter but assuring. The pace of the 1,500m was at times pedestrian. This of course played into Bolton’s hands as she has a tremendous burst of speed over the final 200m. With 200m to go, she unleashed that speed and ran for home. Eimear Cooney (Sacred Heart Drogheda) finished 2nd. There were other notable performances on the day including a middle-distance double from Emma Hickey (St Mary’s New Ross) who secured wins the intermediate 1,500m and 3,000m. Pia Langton (Loreto, Kilkenny) had an easy victory in the 800m. Theo Hanlon (Kildare Town CC) put almost two meters between himself and Andrew Cooper (Kilkenny College). Hanlon putted 17.04 in the fourth round of the senior shot putt. Cillian Gleeson had a decisive victory in the senior 5,000m.
There are still some very old records standing in both Munster and Leinster, such as the 1980 200m record of Patricia Almond and the 1978 100m record set by Michelle Walsh. Then there is the 1976 Triple Jump performance Neil McCarthy (St Munchins) who set the barrier at 13.14. The 1,500m record set by Frank O’Meara is from 1977. O’Meara set the mark of 4.00.01 in the Inter boys. Frank O’Brien has held the Senior Discus record of 50.24m since 1979. O’Brien is an uncle of Michael Kent. Brendan Quinn’s senior steeplechase record of 5.53.6 set in 1978 is still standing as is the 1974 Triple Jump record of 14.31m set by Colm Cronin. These are just some of the older records still remaining.
Like Munster, Connacht held their schools amid soaring temperatures. The standard of racewalking in Connacht surpasses that of the other provinces, with Cuisle O’Callaghan leading the way with a Minor girls mark of 5.43 for the minor girls walk. This is faster than any of the Junior times from all the other provinces. Connor Penney cleared 2 meters in the Inter High Jump. While Luke Walsh did a middle distance double winning both the 1,500m and 3,000m. There was a double for Orlaith Mannion in the 300m and 300m hurdles. While the Renton twins, Freya and Holly secured first and second places in the 1,500m and 3,000m. Freya’s time for the 3,000m was faster than any other 3,000m time of any age in all the other provinces. Emma Hickey (Leinster winner) was the only other person who ran faster than Holly.
The Ulster results have yet to be published. We will update this report when they are.