SUPER 3RD PLACE FINISHES FOR BURKE AND MCGONIGLE AT ALL IRELAND JUVENILES IN TULLAMORE LAST WEEKEND

Sligo AC sent a small but very talented group of youngsters to the National finals in Tullamore last weekend and they didnt disappoint. The day got off to a flyer with David Burke running a stormer in the final of the u-17 boys 400m hurdles, drawn in lane 6 he used the athletes outside him to draw away from the inside runners, rounding the final bend he was lying in joint 2nd just fading off the final hurdle to finish in an impressive 41.2 and bronze medal position.Next on the track was Caelinn McGonigle in the u-12 600m. Caelinn being a silver medallist from the National indoors earlier in the season had high hopes of repeating this feat and medalling once more. Getting off to a fast start she was always in the front ranks as she used her big long lobbing stride to put her competitors under pressure, with 200m to go she moved into 2nd place and was chasing down the leader but unfortunately the gap didnt close and Caelinn got caught on the line and finshed an 3rd place in a remarkable time for a 10 year old of 1 minute 47 seconds dead. Watch out for this girl over the next few years as she moves up in distance. Next on the track Was Darren Kilcawley in his his All Ireland debut, this lad only running 2 months ran a brilliant race to finish 8th in his heat of the u-14 boys 800m just missing the final by a couple of seconds and again keep an eye for this talented lad over the next few years. Nicola McGoldrick stepped up next in the girls u-15 800m final with a large field there was a fair bit of bumping early on for good positions and Nicola found herself at the back of the pack, gradually picking off runners she worked hard to get up into 8th place with 300m to go and not far off the main bunch, with all athletes now hitting lactic acid Nicola worked hard all the way to the line and finished 11th in her 1st All Ireland track final and again this won't be her last.While these exciting races were taking place on the track, Colm Bourke was competing in the u-16 long jump. He had an impressive jump of 5.01 which had him in 9th place and unfortunately the top 8 went through to jump in the final. Again watch out for this lad at this event next year as he has only took up the event in May.The day ended with Jack Roberts in the u-17 boys 800m, drawn in a very tough heat this unfazed Jack as after a tactically slow opening lap Jack kicked to the front at the bell and stretched the field to the 600m where they bunched and Jacks heels were clipped and he nearly hit the deck but he dragged himself up and kicked again and scrapped all the way to the line but narrowly missed out on a place in the final. A great run from a lad so new to the sport.Well done to all athletes who took part this weekend and good luck to all participating this weekend with Sligo AC's medal hopes lying with Anna Redding in the u-18 girls 1,500m and Dylan Carty in the u-14 boys walk.