For this instalment of The Next Generation, we shine the spotlight on another rising South Galway AC star who is coming into the new year off the back of a very strong 2023 campaign, and her name is Orlaith Mannion!
Coached under Declan Derrane, the 16-year-old hurdler turned in an eye-catching year in 2023, earning multiple medals in Under 17 competition across several distances.
Kicking off her medal haul, Mannion scooped up an All-Ireland bronze medal in the Under 17 Indoor 60mH, with the rest of her medals for the year being claimed at longer distances.
Two of these medals were claimed at over 80mH where Mannion won silver in the Inter Girls 80mH Schools All-Ireland, while also picking up a bronze medal at the Tailteann Games.
Orlaith won silver once again in the All-Ireland Under 17 Outdoor 100mH, a prize which she also claimed over the 300mH distance in the All-Ireland Under 17 Outdoors.
The sixth and final medal of 2023 alone that we are yet to mention was a Tailteann bronze medal over 300mH.
To be this competitive over such a wide range of distances in both indoor and outdoor competition over hurdles is very impressive, and the South Galway AC talent has some quality PB's to go along with these medals.
Mannion's 60mH PB stands at 8.86, her 100mH PB is 14.27, and finally her 300mH PB is 43.59!
Talking to the people around Orlaith, her aims for 2024 start with building on the above PB's and claiming some new ones, with a goal of hers being to make a European Under 18 100mH time of 14.00.
If the Under 18's doesn't work out, Mannion has set herself the goal of qualifying for the SIAB's.
Most importantly of all, Mannion aims to overcome a hip injury and to be 100% fit and healthy for 2024.
Having spoken to the people closest to Orlaith and looked at the year she had in 2023, we at Run Republic cannot wait to follow her career in 2024 to see where she goes and how many of these goals she can tick off!