This week we cast our attention to the West of Ireland as we look at a rising star emerging from the Galway City Harriers, Angela Cielecka. Angela competes in sprints, long jump, and relays.
She was recognised as Galway's most successful athlete in 2022 when she won the Athletics Ireland Galway Star Award last year, while also picking up the 2022 Connacht Juvenile Athlete of the Year.
Angela continued her rise in 2023, earning a number of incredible milestones along the way. I spoke to one of her trainers to learn more about the budding star and her achievements in 2023. Seamus is part of her coaching team that is led by Linda Nally who herself is an International Masters Athlete.
‘For me, this has been her greatest achievement: winning the 100m at the Tailteann Games. She was almost two years younger than some of her rivals, and both Katie Doherty & Leila Colfer in 2nd and 3rd are hugely successful internationals.’
This win in the Tailteann Games 100m in June meant that Angela booked her place in the Schools International in Glasgow the following month. This event provided more success for Cielecka as she earned her first ever international medal when she scooped bronze. This was an excellent achievement considering the fact that Angela ran the anchor leg against under 18s athletes while only being 14 years of age at the time.
The summer was littered with success for Cielecka as she finished 7th overall in the under 17 English Championships in Birmingham for long jump, posting two identical best jumps to clinch that seventh place. To finish this high, considering the fact that she has two more years at this category and as a result was competing against athletes a couple of years older than her, is a truly remarkable achievement.
Huge credit must go to her coaches Linda Nally (Sprints) and the aforementioned Seamus Lynch for their hard work and dedication to the Galway City Harriers starlet.
I asked Seamus what Angela’s goals are for 2024. ‘Qualification for European Juniors for 100m, Long Jump, and possibly Relay by achieving the recently published qualification standards. Defending titles in Irish Schools and Club Nationals for 100m & Long Jump’ is another goal for the young athlete.
Angela is doing her club, Galway City Harriers, and her school, Taylor’s Hill, extremely proud and we here at Run Republic are sure that she will continue to shine in 2024.