Ulster Schools multi-events report
Wed 19 September 2012--admin
The sun appeared for the last couple of 800m races but on the whole conditions were very cool at the Bangor Sportsplex last Thursday for the Ulster Schools Combined Events championships. City of Lisburn Athletes featured in five of the six age-groups, with many medals and Irish Schools qualifying places (top 4) being won.
Junior Girls
Caitlin Rose maintained the family tradition by securing an Ulster Schools multi-events title. She got off to a great start with a 12.3s hurdles, jumped well and then threw an 8.15m shot PB. This left her in 2nd place after 4 events but a strong run of 2:46 in the 800m secured the gold medal.
Jessica McMaster took silver with a good all-round display which included PB’s at shot with 7.54m, a high jump within 1cm of her PB at 1.39m, a 4.74m long jump plus a 2:39 PB run in the 800m. Cara Burke made sure of her place at the Irish Schools at Santry with a good 4th place. This included a 4:47m long jump PB, a 13.4s hurdles to equal her best and a great effort of 2:47 in the 800 for another PB.
Alix Galbraith will compete again in this age-group next year. As at the Irish age-group pentathlon earlier this season, she was in the lead after 4 events. She did well at hurdles (13.1s), had a long jump PB of 4.38m, a 1.48m high jump and a great shot (9.02m) but a 3:09 800m saw her slip to 5th.
Inter Girls
Anna McIlmoyle was a key member of the YAL squad this year thanks to her all-round talents. Although she didn’t contest the NI multi-event champs in August she showed she is still a good pentathlete as she finished 2nd overall here to qualify safely for the Irish Schools. Highlights from Anna were a good 1.57m high jump for the conditions, a 7.34m shot, a 4.53m long jump and a 2:46 800m.
Junior Boys
Matthew Dalton was favourite for this title and duly delivered a gold-medal performance in his first ever multi-events competition. He won five of the six events and will be in the mix for a place on the Schools International team if he can re-produce a similar performance in Santry. He had no PB’s but he managed a solid 12.4s hurdles, 5.21m long jump, 1.65m high jump and an 11.75m shot.
Robbie Marrs has finished the season very strongly and secured a well-deserved silver for his good day which included a number of PB’s such as a 9.58m shot, long jump with 5.09m and high jump with 1.59m. Ben Fisher was in 2nd place overall after two events after a good 12.4s in his speciality 80m hurdles and a 5.16m long jump. However despite some solid performances later on the effects of a heavy cold saw him slip to 5th place.
Inter Boys
The medallists here were the three Lisburn athletes who also took a clean sweep – in the same order – at the NI Multi-event Championships in August. Christian Robinson added another title to his collection this year. He had a 6.01m long jump plus PB’s at hurdles (15.3s) high jump with 1.70m plus a 2:23 800m to finish.
Jonathan Hill was 2nd overall. He did well in the jumps with 1.67m / 5.73m, recorded a 25.2s 200m and a 15.8s hurdles and finished with a 2:32 800m. Stuart McEwen was 3rd. He predictably scored good points in the 200m with 23.8s and was pleased with his 1.52m high jump and shot of 7.26m.
Senior Boys
Adam Hill won this title thanks to some outstanding events such as a 1.90m high jump and a 15.6s 110m hurdles. A solid 8.21m shot and 5.64m long jump plus a 2:31 long jump saw him secure the gold.
Well done to all the Lisburn athletes and good luck to everyone heading to Santry for the Irish Schools on Saturday week.