NIYAL – Points after Rd 1 and Report
Fri 4 May 2012--admin
NIYAL – Points after Round 1 (top 6 qualify for final )
1. City of Lisburn AC 1139
2. City of Derry AC 915
3. Regent House 631
4. Olympian 593
5. Lagan Valley 464
6. Omagh Harriers 416
7. North Down AC 299
8. East Down AC 100
9. North Belfast Harriers 75
10. Strabane Track Club 46
City of Lisburn AC had a great turn-out of young athletes and supporters at the Antrim Forum last Saturday for the first of two qualifying rounds in this year’s NI Young Athletes League. Despite around 20 original selections being unavailable due mainly to Ulster’s big match in Dublin, the club still managed to produce a strong all round performance and as a result are well on their way to qualifying safely for the YAL final on 07 July.
Hats off to several athletes (Ben Fisher, Ruth Hewlett, Louis McGuckian) who showed impressive commitment to the cause by competing in Antrim before heading to Dublin to cheer Ulster to victory over Edinburgh in the Heineken Cup semi final. Our young stars delivered a huge number of wins across track and field in the programme, giving the vocal Lisburn fans plenty to cheer. Ultimately all except the U17 boys won their category outright. Some of the highlights were as follows:-
Under 13 Girls
These girls were exceptional, with the young team who will have all but 2 athletes available next year gaining great experience and also delivering a large number of wins. Standing out here were Grace Hillman while winning the 75m sprint and Kate Gourley with her 800 win. In the field Katie O’Reilly was the star with a superb 1.31m high jump. Olivia Savage won her long jump by 1cm and did well at hurdles. Emma Conlon had a good day on the track and in the long jump. Kayla Hall composed herself well after a fall in the hurdles to do very well at the long jump with Tyla Eley scoring well in the 800m. In the relay the team of Grace, Olivia, Kayla and Emma combined for a big win.
Under 13 Boys
This team is a talented one this year with lots of dedicated youngsters who performed extremely well on the day. Highlights included a double sprint victory for Louis McGuckian and Chris Larmour in the 100m. Bradley Mulholland and Sean Terek were both excellent when setting PB’s in the 800’s. Josh Armstrong could have a future as a hurdler after his great win there, with Christopher winning the B race. Chris also jumped a great 1.30m PB for full points in his high B high jump while Tom Jordan won the B shot with Ben Rtiche scoring well in the A-string. Finally the relay team of Sean, Josh, Bradley and Christopher cruised to a superb win in the 4×200.
Under 15 Girls
Megan Marrs may have grabbed the headlines with her sensational hurdles win plus her league record in the high jump, but she was well supported by her colleagues who delivered a huge numbers of wins. Katie Larmour and Jessica McMaster scored full points in the 100 and long jumps, while Therese Hillman won on her debut over the 75m hurdles. At 800 there was a great season’s best for Rebekah of 2:28 which placed her second with Sophie Higginson doing well for 3rd in the B race in 2:42.
Cara Burke took full points in the B high jump with 1.50m while the throws saw excellent points for Lisburn. Natalja Ritchie won the A shot and earlier won the hammer with a 26.24m PB. Jodie Savage won her hammer and discus with some great throws while Lauren Rea had a very good double win in the B javelin and discus. Sarah Woods was 3rd in the A javelin with Alix Galbraith throwing a PB of 8.27m to win the B shot. In the relay Rebekah Douglas had her usual strong start before Katie, Jessica and Megan smoothly brought the team home.
Under 15 boys
Ben Fisher had a very successful day, running PB’s at 100 and hurdles when taking full points plus 2nd at long jump. Ciaran Barnes showed his talent with a flying 300m victory in 40.20s and was also 2nd in the 100m. Cameron Kelly had 2nd places in the shot and hurdles – both in PB’s. Thomas Quinn had a long jump PB of 4.77m when winning the B string. Josh Jordsn scired great points in the throws with PB’s at hammer with 35.94m and discus with 30.08m.Ross Magee did well at hammer, shot and discus with a win in the B shot his highlight. The relay team of Ciaran, Cameron, Thomas and Josh combined for a good win in the 4x200m relay.
U17 girls
Roseanna McGuckian was a class act in the 100m, winning in a PB of 12.65s. Erin Quinn had a good win in the 300m, helped out at javelin as well as placing 2nd in her B 100m race in what was almost certainly an electric PB but which was unfortunately missing from the official results. Aoibhin McManus would have had taken the league long jump record but for a toe in the plasticine at the long jump after a huge round 1 effort but she still took full points there and was 2nd in the B 300m. Anna McIlmoyle and Caitlin Rose took full points in the hurdles, notable for a big PB for Caitlin. Anna added a win in the B long jump in a useful 4.69m while all-rounder Caitlin added a win at high jump and 2nd in the A discus.
Ruth Hewlett and Kathrn Case took full points in hammer with the versatile Kathryn also 2nd in the shot and triple jump. Ella McCathie made a good contribution at discus and javelin. At middle distance Rebecca Harvey was 2nd in the 1500m with debutant Lee-Anne Reid running well for 3rd in the 800m. In the 4x200m the relay team of Aoibhin, Roseanna, Caitlin and Erin had to give way to a strong City of Derry quartet who won by nearly two seconds.
U17 Boys
Aaron Dalzell and Stuart McEwan showed the selectors of the UK School Games team what they were missing with great wins in the 100 races. In the 100m Hurdles both Aaron and Sam Wallace ran well for 2nd place, with Sam in the same position in the 400m hurdles. The reliable Dominic Martin was 2nd in both his 400m and 800m events with Nelson Amaral learnt from the expwrience of his 400m where he was 4th. Jonathan Whan tackled the 3000m where he was 2nd in 9:42.
In the high jump Fionntan Curran was a clear winner in the high jump with 1.57m with Sam Wallace 1st in the B with a 1.53m PB. Aaron Dalzell won the triple jump in a 12.18m PB with Jonathan Hill making it a Lisburn double. Jonathan also was 2nd in a close long jump competition and threw well at discus. Stuart McEwan was 2nd in the long jump in a 5.19m PB.
In the throws Matthew McKinney did well for 2nd in the A hammer. Cameron Magee took full points in the B and also was 2nd in the A shot. Finally the 4×200 squad of Stuart, Aaron, Dominic and Nelson had a great win in the 4×200 although the 4×400 team of Fionntan, Jonny, Sam and Cameron were 2nd to City of Derry.
Round 2 will be in on the 26 May in Bangor. Good luck to all our athletes in the forthcoming Schools Districts and Ulster championships in the weeks ahead.