The National U/20 and U/23 track and field Championships wound up the season for many of those young athletes. Between indoor and outdoor the season spans out over eight months. Tipperary athletes fared well over the season winning many National titles both indoor and out.
Joe Bourke, Templemore AC, burst on to the scene in '24. The sixteen year old qualified for The U/18 European Championships in Slovakia and smashed olympian Marcus Lawler's Irish nine year old 200m record in the process when finishing third finishing in a time of 21.31s and claiming the bronze medal. Last weekend in Tullamore Joe won gold in the U/20 200m in 21.6s and still has a few more years at this level. A bright future for sure for this young man.
Katie Bergin, Moyne AC, in her last year U/23 claimed all four gold medals at National in the 60m and 200m indoor and 100m and 200m outdoor. Over the last three years at U/23 level she has won nine of the twelve National gold medals on offer. '24 was no different doing the double double in both indoor and out. Running nine pb's during indoors, winning Intervarsitie's 200m before picking up an injury that kept her out of National Seniors. Katie completed the double in 100m 11.93s and 200m 24.54s.
Laura Frawley Nenagh Oly. another twenty year old has had a very impressive season at multi events, winning National senior title and going on to win gold, silver and bronze in WFD, Shot and Javelin at U/23 Championships.
Bobbie Gleeson Templemore AC U/20 won bronze in the Hammer 49.94m., another Templemore AC athlete Kaley Cozens while not been amongst the medals on this occasion performed exceptionally well at league final previous week.
Coach John Dwyer has a very strong group of throwers in this group in Templemore. Jade Barry Carrick on Suir AC put in another strong performance finishing fourth in the Javelin 32.56m.
Ava Rochford Nenagh Oly collected silver in both High Jump 1.65m and Pole Vault 2.60m. Borrisokane AC's Morgan Deasy won silver in the U/20 WFD (Weight for Distance) 8.47m and fifth in the Discus with a throw of 37.66m. Sarah Lane, Nenagh Oly put in another great performance winning silver in the U/23 800m 2m13.8s, Sarah is gradually getting back to her best after struggling with a long term injury. Nenagh's James Tanner clocked 9m 51.5s for the 3k Steeplechase and collected a silver medal for his efforts Other notable performances over the weekend were Niamh Madden Nenagh Oly in WFD 5.88m 5th., Liam Bergin Templemore AC U/23 Hammer 31.58m bronze medal, Sean Hayes Nenagh Oly 800m U/23 in 1m.58.4s.
Overall a very successful weekend for Tipperary athletes most of whom were part of Tipperary teams in National League finals a couple of weeks ago.
Featured Image: Left by Perri Williams Photography. Right courtesy of Martin Flynn, PRO Tipperary AI.