Leinster indoor juvenile Championships AIT Feb 11/12

The medal haul from the Leinster juvenile indoor championships was a wonderful 7 gold, 4 silver and 2 bronze with many more great performances just missing out on making the podium.

Fionn Drummond led the charge with a fine silver in the boys u 14 high jump - our first medal of the weekend. Jed Walsh made his competitive debut for the club with another silver in the u 15 60m dash and looks like proving to be a "great find" for the club. Matthew Buckley was the favourite for the 16 60m and he duly delivered, taking the gold in 7.48 sec with Rafa McCaffrey a close 4th in 7.69 sec.

Eoin Kane surprised many (but not his coach) with a mighty run in the u 13 600m to win a well deserved bronze in 1 min 45.63 sec. Sophie Quinn dominated the u 13 girls 600m from the gun to take gold  in a new indoor PB of 1 min 42.46 but there were other Ratoath strong performances in the same race  from Laura Kelly. Aishling Stratford and Hannah Keogh. Aimee Doherty was equally impressive when winning the u 14 800m in a new club junior and senior  indoor record of 2 min 24.52 with her clubmates Amelia Campbell and Laura Smith in close attendance. Kyle Witter continues to make steady progress and was  9th in the boys u 14 800m final while Marcus Clarke Matthew Hayes and Tom Kilgannon all gave good accounts of themselves in the boys u 15 800m. We had a wonderful and talented group in the girls u 12 600m but unfortunately, Caoimhe Fitzsimons, Cara O Sullivan, Kate Rafferty, Eline Lund and Lauren Fewer did not get among the medals on this occasion. Karen Hayes was caught right on the line and missed making the podium by the proverbial whisker in the u 17 girls 800m  while  Aobh Forde, Niamh Murphy, Lili O Connor, Lili Nannery, Emma O Connell, Elizebeth Buckley, Stephen Walsh, Sarah Forde, Sam Carey and Eline Lund were others to just miss out despite really strong performances

Matthew Buckley completed a great double when taking the u 16 200m in 24.18 sec with Rafa McCaffrey a close second. Rafa turned his silver in the 200m to gold with a winning jump in the boys u 16 long jump. Caoimhe Fitzsimons also captured the  gold in the girls u 12 long jump with a wonderful 4.27m. while  Niamh Murray was another to excel - taking bronze in the u 13 long jump as well as 4th in the shot putt, Cara O Sullivan produced a silver medal winning high jump in the u 12 's and Laura Kelly maintained her status as the queen of the high jump with a majestic new indoor PB of 1.42m to take another Leinster title in the u 13 (Siobheal will need to keep on her toes with Laura around), Naoise McKenna was another to record a new indoor PB when clocking 2 min 6.95 in a very competitive u 19 800m.