Harriers young guns impress in Community Games national finals

Tullamore Harriers athletes were out in force at the Community Games National Track & Field Finals, held in SETU Carlow last weekend.

It was a lovely weekend of athletics, with the club’s young athletes proudly representing their areas and counties against some of the best young competitors from around the country.

Standout performances included Elsie Kilmartin (representing Tullamore & Offaly), who was 4th in the National Final of the U12 Long Jump

The U16 Girls Relay Team (representing Killeigh) - Fayth Byrne, Maebh Carey and Maddie Deverell, with subs Ellen Dempsey and Anna Carroll - finished 4th in the National Final.

Several other athletes also produced excellent performances in highly competitive fields, with some narrowly missing out on medals.

Representing Killeigh - Fayth Byrne: U16 200m, 5th in the final; Eli Stokes: U12 100m, 5th in heat; Mollie Coughlan: U12 100m, 6th in final; U12 Girls Relay Team (Mollie Coughlan, Roz Byrne, Jessica Mitchell and Lara Deverell, with sub Maeve O’Halloran): 8th in final; U12 Boys Relay Team (Rian McAndrew, Jack Foy, Joe Gallagher and Eli Stokes, with Ben Matthews): semi-finalists; Ben Matthews - Long Jump, 9th in group.

Representing Shinrone-Coolderry - Samia Akbar: U16 200m, having taken 3rd place at the North Leinster Finals, finished 6th in her heat at the National Finals.

Representing Mucklagh/Rahan/The Island - Chloe McGowan: U16 100m, 6th in semi-final.

Representing Tullamore - Eli Gill: U12 Ball Throw, 48.38m, 9th overall; Laoise Kelly: U12 Ball Throw, 49.11m, 6th overall; Annabel Donegan: U14 800m, 11th in heat;

Representing Kilcormac Killoughey - Rian Leamy: 100m, semi-finalist.

Representing Moate, Westmeath - Maebh Geoghegan: U12 Long Jump, 3.37m; Iona Geoghegan: U12 Long Jump, 3.69m.

Well done to all of the club’s competitors on representing their areas and counties with pride. It was fantastic to see so many Tullamore Harriers athletes wearing their county vests and competing on the national stage. A huge thank you also to all the coaches who have helped these young athletes along the way, and to Tullamore Harriers for their continued support of Community Games with the use of club facilities. This brings the outdoor Track & Field season to a close.