Personal Bests for Bobby Crowley and Adam Murphy
Robert Crowley aces two personal bests in England. Photos: Perri Williams
Domestically, schools athletics once again dominated proceedings. The final day of the South Leinster Schools Track and Field Championships took place at SETU Carlow, where a host of standout performances were recorded. After three days of intense competition, 66 Carlow secondary school athletes have progressed to this week’s Leinster Schools Championships.
Further afield, Bobby Crowley (St Laurence O’Toole AC) made an impressive return to competition, recording personal bests over both 800m and 1500m. Meanwhile, Adam Murphy (Tinryland AC) was in action in London, where he also posted a wind-assisted personal best.
Bobby Crowley made a welcome return to national competition last year, finishing sixth in the senior men’s 800m at the National Championships. Once one of Ireland’s top junior 800m athletes, it had been over six years since his previous competitive appearance at that level.
Now based in the UK, where he competes with Woodford Green under the guidance of 1992 European Indoor 1500m champion and Commonwealth bronze medallist Matthew Yates, Crowley has made a strong start to his 2026 season.
He opened his campaign last Wednesday at the Birmingham Gold Standard Meeting, competing in the men’s 800m A race. The event was won by British international Archie Davies in 1:48.11, with Crowley finishing second in a personal best of 1:50.29, edging out Railhan Lenoire in a tight finish.
Crowley was back in action on Saturday at the Trafford British Milers meet, lining up in the 1500m B race. Garscube’s James Alexander took victory in 3:44, with Crowley again finishing second. His time of 3:46.33 represented another personal best, shaving three seconds off his previous mark set last August at the British Milers Club Series in Tooting Bec.
At the BFTTA Series 2 meeting in London’s Lee Valley Stadium, Adam Murphy competed in a highly competitive 200m field, with over 115 athletes entered across 24 heats. Running in heat 21, Murphy produced an excellent bend to emerge as a strong challenger in the closing stages. He went on to win his heat in a personal best of 21.25, although the time was wind-assisted (+2.7 m/s) and therefore not eligible for record purposes.
The final day of the South Leinster Schools Championships delivered another strong showing from Carlow athletes, who collected eight gold, three silver and two bronze medals.
Competition on the final day featured Inter and Senior boys and girls, all aiming to secure qualification for Leinster. One of the standout races came in the Senior Girls 400m, which featured Irish U20 4x400m relay squad members Cassie O’Byrne and Sofia Granjo.
Both athletes typically represent St Laurence O’Toole AC, but competed for different schools on this occasion—O’Byrne for Coláiste Bhríde, Carnew, and Granjo for Presentation Carlow. While Granjo had enjoyed the stronger form leading into the event, it was O’Byrne who came out on top. Earlier in the day, she had also claimed victory in the Senior Girls 200m, securing a double title.
Another athlete to achieve a double was Chloe Ryan. The 2025 National U19 champion claimed both the shot put and discus titles, laying down a strong marker ahead of the Leinster Championships. She comfortably won the shot put by over a metre from Wexford’s Leah Bolger and Laura Bailey, while also dominating the discus ahead of Joanne Cranny (Presentation Carlow) and Ellen Burges (Kilkenny College).
Éanna Dunican (St Laurence O’Toole), representing Presentation College Carlow, continued his impressive sprinting form by winning the Senior Boys 100m, finishing ahead of Taylor Ryan (Kildare Town Community School). The National Indoor 60m silver medallist will now look ahead to a strong Leinster showing, where he is set to face Dublin rival Ange Makembe.
Daragh Corcoran was another of Carlow’s gold medallists, taking the Senior Boys discus title. The long throws season often starts later due to weather constraints, but Corcoran has built momentum following his return to competition at the Athletics Ireland Spring Throws. Competing for Tullow Community School, he secured gold and will progress to Leinster alongside fellow schoolmate Emma Lawlor.
Tullow Community School also saw success through Mia Cullen (St Laurence O’Toole), who won the Intermediate Girls 100m ahead of Jasmine McNeany Timmons (Kilkenny). Cullen also claimed bronze in the 200m, which was won by Niamh O’Shea (Presentation Carlow/Crookstown-Millview AC), with Timmons finishing second.
Isabelle McCormack (St Laurence O’Toole), competing for Presentation Carlow, took bronze in the Senior Girls javelin behind St Mary’s Naas athletes Isobel Kearns and Abbie Lewis. Kearns, who has already secured a scholarship to the USA, will be one of the favourites at Leinster level. McCormack will be aiming to contend for a podium finish.
Jack Wickham (St Laurence O’Toole), also representing Presentation Carlow, claimed gold in the Intermediate Boys pole vault, continuing Carlow’s strong tradition in the event.
Elsewhere, Conor McDonald (Barrow Valley AC), competing for Presentation De La Salle Bagnelstown, secured silver in the discus. His best effort came in the second round, and he will advance to Leinster alongside his clubmate Billy Óg Forde.
The Athletics Ireland May Open took place in windy conditions in Tullamore on Sunday. Designed to provide athletes with an opportunity to achieve qualification standards for major championships, the event continues to be a key fixture in the domestic calendar.
Leila Colfer, who opened her season in Belfast last week, continued her progress with a strong showing. She finished second in her 100m heat behind Gloria Oigbochie (Tallaght AC). With the wind strengthening into a headwind for the final, both athletes clocked slower times, with Colfer again finishing second.
Pole vaulter Matthew Callinan Keenan made his Irish seasonal debut, clearing 4.40m despite challenging conditions—40cm ahead of second-placed Fionn Naughton (Leevale AC).
Ruben McCarthy was the third Carlow athlete in action, competing in the 110m hurdles. He recorded times of 15.72 in the first round and 15.76 in the second, continuing his steady early-season form.
