All-Ireland Schools title for Jake Byrne

Fresh from setting a new course record in Belvedere at the final night of the Mullingar Road League the previous week, Jake Byrne was back in action again over 5,000m this time at the All-Ireland Schools T&F Finals in Tullamore last Saturday, June 4, where warm sunshine and light winds made conditions perfect for competition. Competing for St. Joseph's, Rochfortbridge in the senior 5,000m Jake ran the perfect race, covering all the breaks and staying right up with the pace before unleashing a terrific 58 second last lap to pull well clear and win in 15:07.85, a clear 6 seconds ahead of second place.This senior title is a really well deserved reward for all the hard work put in by Jake at training over the last few months and reinforces his reputation as one of the best junior middle-distance athletes to emerge in recent years.Jake's was the only title won by our club athletes at the Schools Finals, but others won silver and bronze medals and others came very close with some spirited performances.Robert Yorke (St. Mel's Longford) took silver in a very competitive senior 800m, where Adam Daly (Colaiste Mhuire, Mullingar) also ran an excellent race in his first schools finals and ran close to his personal best. It was silver too for Edel Glennon (St. Finian's, Mullingar) in the junior 1,200m race walk, and for Linda Conroy (Mercy Kilbeggan) in the Under 16 mile. Shane Fitzsimons (St. Joseph's) took bronze in the intermediate 3,000m, with Thomas Lynn (St. Finian's, Mullingar) just edged into fifth in the closing stages after a particularly good race.Jack Reid (St. Joseph's) also won bronze in the junior 1,500m and in the intermediate shot putt, Ciara Fogarty (Loreto, Mullingar) threw the same distance as the girl in second place, so using their next best throws to separate them, Ciara was awarded bronze; you can't get closer than that!Thomas Fagan (Moate CC) was delighted with his personal best time in the senior 2,000m steeplechase where he finished fifth. Liam O'Reilly (St. Joseph's) led the field out in the junior 800m and despite a fine race was edged into fifth near the finish. Ryan Blundell (Colaiste Mhuire) has really taken to the steeplechase and in the intermediate 1,500m steeplechase ran a fine race, as did Padraig Moran (Colaiste Mhuire) in the Under 16 mile, and both were unlucky to finish out of the medal places.Well done to each and every one of them, and some are underage again next year.Finally, we must record the gold medal winning performance of Paul Collins from North Westmeath AC, competing for St. Finian's in the intermediate discus where he won by some distance. Another fine win by this most talented discus thrower.Leinster Senior and Master T&FWe had four athletes at the Leinster Senior and Master T&F Championships at Tullamore last Sunday (June 5), but between them they won an impressive tally of two gold and three silver medals.The weather took a while to improve from initially quite cool wind and drizzle to eventually lovely warm sunshine that had everyone throwing off the raingear and folding the umbrellas.Unfortunately for the Mullingar athletes, they had finished competing long before the sun appeared. First into action was Sean McMullin who took no notice of the less than ideal conditions for the 3,000m race-walk and was pleased to win gold in his master category, adding another title to his growing collection.The rain was making conditions very difficult for the shot putters especially, but Richard Fogarty was more than up to the challenge and was delighted to win the master shot putt with a new personal best.In the senior competition, Paddy Kelly used the opportunity to try two new events, the long jump, where he was delighted to jump a personal best and win a silver medal, adding another silver medal later in the day in the 3,000m steeplechase where he used his height to great effect negotiating the three foot barriers with ease to finish second.Aoife Hogan made a welcome return to competition in the senior 800m where she finished very strongly in second place to win a silver medal, her first senior individual medal, which certainly will not be her last. Well done to all four for representing the Club so well.Westmeath Community Games FinalsThe Westmeath Community Games Track finals will be held at the Club grounds this coming Sunday and we're appealing to Club members and supporters to assist, even if only for a few hours.We need as many stewards and officials as possible, especially early in the programme when we'll be using three sprint tracks as usual.Juveniles who are too old for Community Games are particularly asked to help on the day. The field event finals will be held on the Monday evening, and again, we're appealing for help.Women's Mini Marathon and Cork City MarathonWell done to the lady members of the Club, including the very large number of Fit 4 Life members that train at the Club, that took part in the Women's Mini Marathon last Monday and we hope to report on how they got on in next week's notes.Likewise, well done to the great number from the Club that journeyed to Cork last Monday for the Cork City Marathon and Half Marathon, where Mary Scully was making her marathon debut and we also hope to report on that event too next week.This is the final reminder to the older juveniles to return the entry slips this week for the Leinster T&F Under 13 to 19 to be held in Tullamore on June 18 and 19. The Club will not be entering anyone automatically, so it is important to return the entry slips.Leinster has introduced a new rule this year that no entries will be taken on the day and so far has been applying it without exception, so if you're not pre-entered, you will not be allowed to compete.Finally, we wish all Club members who are taking exams over the next few weeks the very best of luck. Remember that it is a very good idea to take regular breaks from studying to keep fresh and alert, so get out for a brisk walk or a quick jog or run now and then.FixturesJune 11 Dublin Open T&F Championships (Senior, Master, Junior), SantryJune 11 Bohermeen AC "Patrick Bell Memorial" 5km Road RaceJune 12 Westmeath Community Games Finals (Track Events)June 13 Westmeath Community Games Finals (Field Events)June 17 Trim AC "Braveheart" 5km Trail Run, Porchfields, TrimJune 18/19 Leinster T&F Under 13 - Under 19, Tullamore.