Impressive Lavin shows her potential

ATHLETICS/IRISH SCHOOLS CHAMPIONSHIPS:FOR A TASTE of the next generation still nothing beats the Irish Schools Championships in Tullamore, and no one demonstrated that better than Sarah Lavin.

Lavin’s record in the senior girl’s 100 metres hurdles was notable on several counts: it improved her own personal best to 13.73 seconds, and bettered the previous record of 14.1 set back in 1983 by Noelle Morrissey – who as it happens now coaches Lavin.

The student from Castletroy College was also awarded the Lar Byrne Memorial Trophy for athlete of the championships. Lavin already suggested her potential by breaking Derval O’Rourke’s indoor junior hurdles record earlier this year, and her 13.73 seconds is now good enough to take her to next month’s World Junior Championships in Barcelona.

There was also a new record in the senior girl’s 400m hurdles when Nessa Cooper Millet from Kilkenny College clocked 60.63, and she could also be on her way to Barcelona.

The boys made sure they took some of the hurdles spotlight on Saturday too when European Youth Olympic gold medallist Ben Kiely from Tramore CBS took won the senior 400m hurdles in 54.31, then added and 400m title in 49.72.

In the flat sprints Marcus Lawlor from CBS Carlow proved himself the undisputed fastest schoolboy in Ireland when he won the senior boys’ 100m in 10.72 from Greg O’Shea (Crescent Col. Limerick), who ran in 10.87; both set personal bests.

Lawlor went on to win the 200m in convincing style in 21.64. Cliona Manning from Loreto Kilkenny is the fastest schoolgirl after winning the senior 100m in 11.91, while the 200m title there went to Phil Healy from Coláiste na Toirbhirte in 24.76.

Donegal’s latest middle distance talent Karl Griffin from Abbey Vocational won his first schools title when winning the senior 800m 1.52.95, beating the defending champion Dean O’Croinin of Coláiste na Phiarsaigh – and there was something of an upset in the senior girls’ 800m when Rachel O’Shea from Beara Community School ran 2.10.19 to beat last year’s champion Amy O’Donoghue from Villiers Schools Limerick.

O’Donoghue also had to settled second place in the 1500m, which was won by Newry’s Lorna Fitzpatrick in 4.41.58.

Prodigious schools talent Siofra Cleirigh Buttner from Coláiste Iosagain was typically dominant when winning a senior 800/1,500m double – the first in a record 2.10.27, then adding the 1,500 in an excellent 4.35.09.

The headline acts in the field events included Alice Akers from Scariff CC, who again set a record in the hammer when winning the intermediate title in 48.22m, breaking her sister Rachel’s record of 47.59m.

Emma Kelso from Belfast Royal Academy won the intermediate girl’s pole vault in 2.91 to add one centimetre to the previous record.

World Youth Champion Kate Veale from St Augustine’s Dungarvan was just off her best time of last year but still dominated the women’s 3000m walk to retain her title in 13.01.05. The Senior Girls Cup was won by Crescent Limerick, while the Senior Boys President Shield was won by Belvedere College.