Irish Schools Multi-Events – Gold for Adam

Tue 2 October 2012--admin

The track season finally concluded on Saturday with the Aviva Irish Schools multi-events championships at Santry, Dublin. The meet featured many City of Lisburn athletes who qualified via the recent regional qualifier at Bangor.

It was a memorable day for three Lisburn athletes in particular. Adam Hill won his first Irish Schools title, in the Senior Boys’ competition, while Christian Robinson and Matthew Dalton both gained places on the Irish team for the Schools’ International match in Glasgow in December.

Junior Girls

Ulster Schools champion Caitlin Rose was best placed of the Ulster athletes in 6th place overall. She recorded two PB’s – an 8.39m shot plus a great 1.53m high jump, along with solid performances in the rest of her events.

As at Bangor, Jessica McMaster pushed Caitlin all the way, finishing just behind her in 7th. She equalled her PB at high jump with 1.40m, had a PB of 7.71m in the shot plus a 2:36 PB at 800m.

Cara Burke made her debut at an Irish Schools event, placing 6th in a solid all -round performance. while not quite producing any PB’s she was close to her best in all five disciplines with a 1.50m high jump her top-scoring event.

Inter Girls

Anna McIlmoyle started with a solid 4.67m long jump but an unfortunate DNF as she pulled up at the final barrier in her hurdles meant a premature end to her day.

Junior Boys

Ulster Schools champion Matthew Dalton earned his first international vest thanks to an excellent finish to his day.

He left himself with much to do after a slow start on his hurdles meant he was well below his best with 12.5s and his long jump was also below par at 4.95m. However, things improved with a 1.65m high jump for his 2nd best ever jump and he then had 3 PB’s – 26.3s at 200m, 12.25m at shot and 2:23 800m. This saw him just miss a medal but secure his place on the four man Junior team for the international.

Robbie Marrs, who was 2nd in the Ulster Schools at Bangor unfortunately had to retire early due to a foot injury. He started with a 1.55m high jump and a 13.6s hurdles in which he hit two of the last three hurdles very heavily before then pulling up in the last 50m of his 200m.

Inter Boys

Christian Robinson represented Ireland at the SIAB international in July and has now earned his 2nd Irish vest here with a splendid bronze-medal performance.

He produced many PB’s of his own including 15.2s at 100m hurdles, 23.6s at 200m, 1.75m high jump and an excellent 2:15 800m. He was 1cm away from his best in the long jump with 6.32m and deservedly takes his place on the team for Glasgow.

Jonathan Hill also had a number of PB’s on his way to a 7th-place finish overall. He had a PB of 9.55m in the shot plus lifetime bests at high jump with 1.65m, 24.7s at 200m and 2:23 in the 800m.

Senior Boys

Adam Hill had probably the best day of his career, stringing together six strong performances to ultimately win the Senior Boys’ title by a comfortable margin.

He raced into a huge lead with a 15.8s hurdles, and followed that with wins at high jump with 1.90m, 200m in 24.6s and long jump with 5.89m. His 2:32 800m saw him clinch the gold with a superb all-round display.