Latest Laois Sport: Laois athletes shine on Day 1 of South Leinsters
Knockbeg College and Colaiste Iosagáin lead the way after Day 1 of South Leinster T&F
The South Leinster Secondary Schools Track and Field returned to action in glorious sunshine to the Carlow IT Sports Complex on Thursday last.
Schools from all over Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois, and parts of Wicklow, Kildare and Offaly participated in a packed programme of activities.
Day 1 is primarily the younger ages, Minor and Junior, with a small number of Intermediate and Senior Events included.
A number of Laois-based athletes, most in Laois Secondary Schools but with some attending schools in neighbouring counties, had fine performances with a number of medal winners too.
Daniel Downey, St Marys CBS (and Portlaoise AC) was a clear winner of the Minor Boys 800m. Dan also won the silver medal in the Minor Long Jump, and the bronze medal in the Minor Shot Putt.
John Delaney, St Fergals Rathdowney (and St Abbans) was also a clear winner in the Junior Boys 800m.
Rachel Ayers St Leos (and St Abbans) finished brilliantly to win the Junior Girls 1500m.
Jack McMahon Heywood CS (and Ballyroan Abbeyleix and District AC) won the Senior Boys Steeplechase in fine style, finishing only a few seconds outside the record, in his first ever steeplechase competition. His schoolmate Cormac Dineen (St Abbans) won the silver medal in the Junior Boys Walk.
Patience and Brian Chinda, St Pauls Monasterevan (both members of St Michaels AC) were each bronze medal winners in the 75m Hurdles.
Colaiste Iosagain had their best day for a number of years – Nathan Owens won his 100m heat and was pipped for a medal in the final. Sean McAuliffe (St Michaels) ran his heart out in the 1100m. The McLoughlin siblings (Oughaval AC) each brought home a medal – Katie was 2nd in the Minor 1500m, Della won the Intermediate Girls 1500m Steeplechase, Richard was 3rd in the Intermediate Boys 1500m Steeplechase and Daniel was 3rd in the Senior 2000m steeplechase.
Knockbeg looks to be the leading Laois School after Day 1 –
The relay team of Jacob Curran, Kamal Deen Olukoya, Zak Hernan and Rian Graham came 3rd in the Minor Boys 4x100m relay;
Shane Maher and Will Craig (both St Michaels AC) were just a whisker outside the medals in their Minor 1100 and 1500, Finn Craig (St Michaels AC) was 3rd in 800m and 2nd in 1500m, McKenzie McIvor (St Laurence O’Tooles AC) was 2nd in the Intermediate Steeplechase and Daniel Wall (St Laurence O’Tooles) was 2nd in the Senior Steeplechase.
Day 2, which will be for Intermediate and Senior students, takes place at the same Carlow IT venue on Wednesday May 11th.