by Perri Williams
Eleven Championship records were set during day 2 of the All-Ireland Juvenile Indoors at Athlone today. Making this 18 new records in total from the two days of competition. Most notable as the increased performances over the 200m, 400m and 800m distances. Pole Vaulting and Racewalking also continue to improve. Having secured the 1500m record in addition to that of the 800m yesterday it certainly was a unique birthday gift for Freya Renton. Renton, along with her twin sister Holly celebrated their fifteenth birthday racing in Athlone.
Three 400m records were set in the finals. The first of these came from Daniel Downey (Portlaoise) in the boys u17. Having been surprised by his defeat in yesterday’s 800m, Downey left no stone unturned in the 400m final. He hit the front from the start and with 150m to go the pundits were forecasting his defeat at the hands of Luis Blinco (MSB). Shifting up a gear going down the back straight Downey surged on and continue to do so, finishing strongly to take both the gold and the new championship performance of 50.07. The previous record of 50.68 was set by Leigh O’Brien (Celbridge) just two years ago.
Erin Friel (Letterkenny) has been having a phenomenal indoor season. Each race seems to present new records or new personal bests. Yesterday in the 200m she set two new personal bests. Today in the 400m final she broke the Irish u18 400m record with a time of 54.42 placing her 7th on the Irish Senior Indoor best performances in 2025. This is faster than the u20 national record she set last month of 54.75. If Friel continues to make the improvements she has been over the past few months she might come within striking distance of making senior relay teams sooner than expected. And the Letterkenny lady seems to be taking it all in her stride, unphased by her recent success. Coached by Kathryn McDevitt, she is in good hands for future success.
Moments later Jason Murray (Ratoath) broke the 20-year-old record of 49.59 set by Kildare’s John Fitzsimons. A record-breaking performance was on the cards for Murray who has already dipped under 50 seconds for his new event. Murray crossed the line in 49.54 seconds. Having moved up to the 400m this year, we can expect to see more improved performances from Murray.
It was Freya and Holly Renton’s birthday today and the Westport twins could not be anywhere better than on the track. It was certainly a great birthday for Freya Renton (Westport) who secured another championship record – this time in the 1500m. Similar to her strategy in the 800m yesterday, Renton moved through the race at the steady pace, all the time stretching her lead. At no time did she waver from the obviously thought-out record pace rhythm and finishing on que taking down the 2018 record of 4:28.76 set by Aimee Hayde (Newport). Renton’s time of 4:26.87 was over 2 seconds faster.
Gemma Galvin (Ennis Track) rounded off her superb juvenile career with an u19 1500m record of 4:30.39. Also within the record was Lucan’s Saoirse Fitzgerald, who clocked 4.31.74. Galvin shaved almost five seconds off the time set by Aimee Wallace (Mullingar) last year. She now comes away from her final juvenile indoor season with a double gold (800m and 1500m) and a national record.
In the final stage of today’s long programme, two racewalking records were set by Matthew Newell (Tuam AC) and Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley AC). The u18 and 19 walks were run together with both athletes battling it out for most of the race. Clarke managed to make a break in the final 300m to record a time of 5.40.06 taking over 6 seconds off Olympian Colin Griffin’s 25-year-old record. The 2024 European u18 silver medallist has already achieved the B standard twice in advance of this years European u20 Championships. Newell led for six laps of the seven and a half lap race and crossed the line in 5:44.91 taking 26 seconds off the 2017 record set by Gearoid McMahon (Shannon AC). Newell has already qualified for this year’s European Youths Olympic Festival (EYOF).
Michael Kent (DMP) and Jamie Hyland (St Laurence O’Toole AC) both have a habit of setting national records and this year being no different took down the u19 and u18 respective pole vault ones. Kent switched his focus from Long Jump to Pole Vault this winter and already has shown the benefits of this focus. While the European u20 standards are still a little adrift of his grasp, the talented Wexford athlete has in the past surprised many and perhaps this year will be no different. Hyland, the third-generation pole vaulter in the Hyland family line continues to improve and will have his sights set on donning another Irish vest this summer. He took 29cm from the record set by Leevale’s Alex Neff last year.
The u16 60m title went to Joseph Magbagbeola (Navan) who was totally shocked to learn he also had bragging rights to a new national record. Clocking 7:04 he took down the 13-year-old record held jointly by David Murphy (Gowran) and Joseph Ojemumi (Tallaght). Magbagbeola (Navan) was a clear winner of the event running .13 seconds faster than his heat.
Just one field event record was set on day 2 of the National Juveniles. This honour fell on Milana Sharhayeu (Ratoath) who set a new Triple Jump limit of 10:87 in the girls u16 competition. Sharhayeu jumped 10.87 on both her first and fourth attempts. She also equalled the one-year-old record of 10.71 on her second jump.
The shot putt is one event that seems to remain somewhat stagnant in terms of record-breaking performances. John Kelly (Finn Valley) ensured his legacy remained in the record books for some time to come. The Long Jump records of Sophie Meredith (Limerick) also seem to pose a problem for the girls with Meredith’s marks from over a decade ago seeming somewhat unattainable.
While the tally of eleven records may dominate the narrative of todays performances, the increased numbers participating in the u17, 18 and 19 age groups deserves its own narrative. The direct entry system to these older ages has definitely contributed to the increased influx of participants but so too has the rise in popularity of the sport stemming from the recent success of our senior Irish athletes at major events. The sprinting events in particular have seen a marked increase.
List of records set on day 2 of the Juvenile Indoors
CR Pole Vault u19 Michael Kent 4.40
CR Pole Vault u19 Jamie Hyland 4.30
U18 Walk Matthew Newell 5.44.91
U19 Walk Seamus Clarke 5.40.06
U17 400m Daniel Downey 50.07
U18 400m Jason Murray 49.54
U18 400m Erin Friel (Letterkenny) 54.42
U16 60m Joseph Magbagbeola (Navan) 7.04
U16 1500m Freya Renton 4.26.87
U19 1500m Gemma Galvin (Ennis Track) 4.30.39 Saoirse Fitzgerald Lucan also breaking it. 4.31.74
U16 TJ Milana Sharhayeu (Ratoath) 10.87