St Laurence O'Toole athletes shine at Leinsters

The St. Laurence O’Toole athletic club was well represented at the recent Leinster Indoor Championships. There was fantastic performances from all athletes over both days, with a big haul of medals brought home to Carlow. 

On day 3 of the Championships, and following up from her recent success having won bronze at the National Seniors in the 60m, was Sive O’Toole. Sive has had a fantastic indoor season and was back on the podium in first place after running an outstanding 7.54 to take the win, while also breaking the Championship Record. 

In the senior men’s 1500m Paralympian Aaron Shorten had a great run of 4.05.28 to finish second. Pole vaulter Matthew Callinan Keenan had to settle for second place on count back after clearing a height of 4.41m. After a long break from the track Blessed Asaolu made a return in the senior men’s 60m finishing seventh in his heat in 7.94. 

In the U20’s Reuben McCarthy was in flying form, running a personal best of 8.43 to earn himself a well deserved gold. Jamie Hyland also had a first place finish on the podium, with a super clearance of 4.30m in the men’s U20 Pole Vault. 

In the women’s U20 Pole Vault Kara Morrissey cleared the bar at 3.00m to take the title. Marc Mulhall who is relatively new to athletics finished in 3rd place in the 200m in 23.09. Eoin Byrne after all his hard work was delighted to have had a personal best in both his 60m running 7.73 finishing 5th in his heat and ran 24.27 in his heat of his 200m to place 3rd. Also in the U20 men’s 60m was Éanna Dunican with a first place finish in his heat of 7.14. 

The master athletes were out in force and brought back a total of 20 gold medals between them, with all athletes having made the podium. Keith Pollard set a new Championship Record in the M45 200m after a fantastic run of 23.97 and earned himself another gold in his 400m with a time of 59.75. 

Earlier in the week Keith was part of the Irish relay M45 4x400m that ran a fantastic 3.37.44 just missing out on Sweden’s world record of 3.36.17. David Hayde M55 also had a double win with a brilliant 7.73 in the 60m and 25.98 in the 200m. Both our ladies also earned themselves well deserved gold with Teresa Doyle W35 winning both her 400m in 1.04.77 and her 800m in 2.34.89, while Maria Dunne W45 took the title in her 400m in 1.09.10. 

In the throws Willie O’Toole M70 had some great throws in his Shot Put 8.69m and WFD 7.90m to earn himself gold in both events.

In his first Pole vault competition Andrew Keppel M40 took the win with a jump of 2.20m. Returning to the long jump pit and to the podium after 25 years was Derek O’Brien M40 winning with jump of 4.81m. It is also worth noting that some of Derek’s records still remain from his days as a juvenile athlete. Vincent McCormack M50 had a great day with gold in both his 800m 2.16.24 and 1.01.01 in his 400m. Paul Broderick M35 had a fine performance in his 800m running a great time of 2.06.29 for a first place finish. Niall Murphy M35 claimed the gold in his 60m in 7.68 and was back on the podium soon after having won his 200m with a time of 25.66. 

After a long day the last event of the day was the 4x200m O35M with David Hayde, Keith Pollard, Paul Broderick and Niall Murphy finishing off the Championships in style. The team ran an impressive 1.38.19 to take the title and earning a Championship Record in the process.

Day 4 saw the juvenile’s and relay teams in action. There were seven relay teams competing, with one additional team (u14 boys) unfortunately unable to participate due to illness within the team.

In the morning session there were two u13 girls relay teams competing. First out in heat 1 were Anna Dillon, Cara Waddock, Isobel Julian and Ma-Aab Mohammed Ibrahim running an excellent race finishing in 3rd place. Unfortunately, they did not progress to the final.

Next in heat 5 were Indie Mai Byrne, Isabella Butler, Pippa O’Brien and Sarah Kate Kidd, finishing first in their heat and qualifying for the final. They drew lane 1 in the final, ran an excellent race, but had to settle for fifth place. Great running and performances from both teams!

The afternoon session saw the u12 girls, u12 boys, 2 x u14 girls and a u16 girls team all competing.

U12 girls Sienna Ryan, Matab Mohammed Ibrahim, Ma-Aab Mohammed Ibrahim, Holly Broderick & Charlotte Wall were first out in heat 2, winning their heat and qualifying for the final. Unfortunately, luck was not on their side in the final and they finished outside of the medals.

U12 boys were out next, finished second in their heat and also qualified for the final. A brilliant run in the final, saw the boys home in third place and onto the podium. Well done boys, fantastic achievement!

In the U14 girls, the first team of Indie Mai Byrne, Elena McDonald, Mia O’Regan and Eabha Wall out in heat 1. All girls gave it their all and finished in fifth place.

Second team of Libby Harris Byrne, Emily Kidd, Fatima Mohammed Ibrahim and Sarah May Gernon ran in heat 5, finishing first and qualifying for the final. The girls ran a fantastic final, unfortunately finished fourth, just missing out on a medal. Their day will come very soon.

Finally, the u16 girls team of Alisha Dalton, Holly Byrne, Fiadh Ramsey, Grainne Wheston and Anna Byrne were out in heat 1 of the U16’s.

They all ran fantastic, finishing in foutth place, but missing out on the final.

In the field events Chloe Ryan threw a PB of 11.00m to finish in second place. 

The Pole vaulters had amazing success on the day. In the U13 girls it was a first place finish and a Championship Record for Isabelle Butler having cleared the bar at 1.80m. Her clubmate Pippa O’Brien also made the podium in second place with 1.50m. It was also silver in the U14 girls for Eabha Wall with a best of 1.70m.

 In the U18 boys it was gold for Jamie Hyland as he set yet another championship record of 4.20m. Jack Wickham had a best of 3.30m to take the win in the U16 boys. While in the U19 girls it was 1st place Kara Morrissey clearing the bar at 2.80m.