NI Multi Events Day 1 inc ANI Open Meet
Thu 25 August 2011--admin
NI Multi Events Champs Day 1 20 August 2011 (inc Athletics NI Open Meet)
Saturday at a sunny Antrim was day 1 of the N. Ireland multi-event championships which saw a good squad from City of Lisburn AC there to support the event and compete for medals and titles. The turn-out was low overall but the winning scores in the two younger boys age-groups which concluded on day 1 would have stood up well at UK level.
The Under 15 boys’ pentathlon was a 3- way battle between Lisburn’s Andrew Hutchinson, Sam Wallace and Ben Fisher. Andrew started as hot favourite and laid down a marker straight away with a 12.09s hurdles which gave him a big lead. He never looked back and in fact won all five events including PBs at Shot (9.74m) and 800m (2:23) to finish with a great total of 2596 which ranks him a fantastic 13th in the UK.
Behind him there was a great battle for the silver between Ben and Sam. Sam edged in front after a PB in the hurdles of 13.93s to Ben’s 14.31s. Ben moved back in front with a 4.70m long jump and thanks to equalling his high jump PB with 1.40m and a 6.18m shot PB he started the 800m with a lead which equated to a gap of about 6 seconds over Sam. Sam had a vey successful day, achieving the remarkable feat of managing PBs in all 5 events, but despite a brave run in the 800m to beat Ben by a second it wasn’t enough to claim 2nd place so silver went to Ben with Sam getting the brionze.
In the U17 boys Octathlon Cameron Powell had a decent debut over the hurdles, before managing an 8.29m shot PB, a 1.55m high jump and a solid 57.57s 400m to leave him in 2nd place overnight.
Aoibhhin McManus and Anna McIlmoyle went in the U17 Heptathlon first day. An off-colour Anna was a little below her own high standard in the hurdles although she managed a good 1.55m high jump before unfortunately withdrawing due to illness. This left Aoibhhin to put together a useful first day including PBs in the 80 hurdles at 15.05, shot with 7.17m and 1.35m in the high jump.
Karyn Dumigan bravely took the start line in the U20 heptathlon carrying a couple of injury niggles. Despite this she also put together a decent first day including season’s bests in the high jump at 1.50 and shot for an overnight lead.
A couple of Lisburn athletes also turned out in the Open Meet which ran alongside the Combined Events champs. Heather McLarnon put in her first appearance on the track in 12 months taking in the middle-distance double in which she placed 1st female in 2:32 / 5:17. It was also great to see Aoife Kelly-McCann turn out for a sentimental farewell appearance in a Lisburn vest on the track before heading off to study in London, running 2:58 behind Heather in the 800m. She goes with the intention of finding a training group in England, although hopefully with sessions a little easier than Eric’s!