HIGHLIGHTS world indoor Tour, Dublin Juveniles, US report , Clonacool 5k

World athletics indoor tour
It was great to see Jack Raftery lining up with the likes of the current world championJereem Richards at the World Athletics Indoor Tour in the Birmingham indoor Arena. He got a great cheer as he was announced in the 400m race, after a fine first lap he negotiated the all important break well and then into the last lap where he kept up the momentum and a very strong last 100m where he just edged the 3rd place 46.66 ahead of the British runner Ben Higgins by thousandths of a second! A great race to really mix it on the world stage – although he was understandably disappointed under the complicated quota system not to secure a berth to the European Indoor Championships in Istanbul despite running faster than some of the entrants from other countries. But lots more to come from Jack in the outdoor season – watch this space

Dublin Juveniles indoors championships
Another hectic weekend for coaches , parents and athletes at the final two days of the Dublin Juvenile indoor championships!
Day 4 was long jumps high jumps and 300-800m races. A big well done to Annabel Omozee gold in the U13 long jump, Ruby Blake silver in the U14 long jump and Olyver Blake bronze in the U13 high jump, Farrah Blake silver in the U9 300m.. With huge numbers competing these were super achievements. In the 300-800m sometimes only the heat winner made the final so well done to all those made finals, many came close too, well done all who competed , some for the first time
U9 300M
Sam Quinn
U10 boys 400m
Jamie Keegan Patrick King Ruairi QuinnEli Henly Willis
U11 BOYS 500m
Joseph Spollen Michael McCarthy Bobby Farrell
U12 600m Conor O’Hara
U13 600m Cian Hussey Mark Nunan Olyver Whelan Max Henley Willis
U12 High Jump Daniel Maddox Alan Maddox Caomhan Cummins Weiss
U12 Long Jump Alan MaddoxMark Keegan
U12 High Jump Olyver Whelan (bronze) Elliot Reilly Max Henley Willis Sean Culhane
U14 long jump Dylan O’Connor Sean Culhane Tom Nolan
U10 Girls 400m Rachel McCarthy
U11 girls 500m Sally McGowan Mae O’Gorman Abbie Kehoe Eilinior Hanley
U12 girls 600m Anna Whelan Lola Blake Cliodhna McMahon
U13 girls 600m Annabelle Omozee (reached the final) Anna Spollen Bella Rose Waldron Lacey Cleary Suin Costello
U12 girls Long Jump Anna Blake Ciara Jackson
U13 girls long jump Annabella Omozee (gold) Ali Woods Lacey Cleary
U14 girls long jump Ruby Blake (silver) Freya ryan Petra Cunningham Emily Dwyer Emma Jane Keegan
U14 girls 800m Ciaran O’Neill Petra Cunningham Rosie May Morris
Day 5 brought the curtain down on the championship with a day of relays over 4 x 200m
A big well done to the U17 boys who won silver, and the U14 boys who won bronze.
We had several teams who made the finals too on a very competitive day and there were 23 teams in all.
A huge amount of work and preparation went into this from the coaches, administrators and other volunteers, thanks and well done to all. Roll on the outdoors!

STATESIDE REPORT
(Thanks Gerry Naughton)
The Donore Harriers duo of Louis O’Loughlin and Abdel were back in action over the weekend in their regional indoor championships in the USA.
O’Loughlin represented the Auburn Tigers competing on both Friday and Saturday in the South-East Conference Indoor Track & Field championships at Fayetteville, Arkansas. On Friday he raced the 4th and final leg in the Distance Medley Relay, running the 1,600m leg in 4.01.94 and in the process gained 4 places to bring his team home in 4th place with an overall time of 9.41.93. Tennessee State won in 9.32.75.
On Saturday, the Donore Harriers star was back in action in Race 1 of the Men’s 3,000m. O’Loughlin was never in contention for a leading place and ran mid-pack until the final 3 circuits when he gained from 11th place to finally cross the line in 6th in a marginal personal best time of 8.16.08.
Abdel Laadjel, running in the colours of the Providence Friars, came 4th in the Men’s 5,000m race at the Big East Conference Indoor Track & Field championships at Chicago, Illinois on Friday. Laadjel was certainly over-ambitious in the race as the tracked pace-setter Barry Keane of Butler University in the middle section of the race. Keane, a senior Irish international from Waterford, went on to win in 13.45.37, whilst Laadjel lost ground and two places to settle for 4th stop in 14.04.59.
RESULTS:
SOUTH-EAST CONFERENCE INDOOR T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS at Fayetteville, AR (24.02.2023)
Men’s Distance Medley Relay: 4th Auburn Tigers ft. Louis O’Loughlin on Leg 4 (1,600m), gained 8th to 4th w/ a 4.01.94 effort.
SOUTH-EAST CONFERENCE INDOOR T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS at Fayetteville, AR (25.02.2023)
Men’s 3,000m Section 1: 6th Louis O’Loughlin (8.16.08 PB)
BIG EAST CONFERENCE INDOOR T&F CHAMPIONSHIPS at Chicago, IL (24.02.2023)
Men’s 5,000m Section 1: 4th Abdel Laadjel (14.04.59)
Track and Field Live national indoor arena Abbotstown 22 February
We had two young athletes in the U16 800m races. In race 1 Aryell Sheedy ran 2.34.80 and in race 2, Reuben McCormick came 3rd in a time of 2.13.71.

Road
In Sligo, John Travers won the Clonacool GAA 5k road race in a new course record of 15.07
Wicklow Hospice half marathon
Starting and finishing at the scenic surrounds of Avondale House, Ken Nugent came 3rd in 78.05

Parkrun
Brickfields 62nd Ciaran McCarthy 30.52
Bushy 31st and 7th female Amber Lynch 22.39
Corkagh 1st Gavin Curtin 16.24, 2nd Liam Morris 17.14
Marley 9th Patrick Moriarty 18.47
Porterstown 5th and 1st female Caroline McCarthy 21.49
Waterstown 2nd Dylan McKenna 19.27 7th John Curran 23.41