The first batch of NI & Ulster Age Group championships took place over the past two weekends.
First up was the NI & Ulster Children’s Track and Field Games for U9 – U13s. NDAC’s only representative was Zac Moraghancompeting in the boys U13 category, however, he didn’t disappoint and came home with a clean sweep of three gold medals winning the 60mH in 10.30, the 80m in 11.28 & the javelin with 28.46m. A potential multi-eventer in the making.
Last Sunday the U14 & U15 championships were held at the Mary Peters track. In the field events Faye Nixon won gold in the U14 girls shot putt with 10.11m & Amy Kimber won gold in the U15 girls discus with 16.90m. Amy also came 4th in the javelin with 21.32m & was 5th in her heat of the 80mH. On the track Murphy Miller literally ran away with the U14 girls 800m time trial taking the gold medal in 2.21.22. Rachel Gillespie was 13th in 2.41.04. Rachel McCann was 8th in the final of the U15 girls 100m with 14.34 (13.97 heat) and 7th in the 200m with 30.21. Chloe Walker had a disappointing final in the U15 girls 80m hurdles, finishing 8th in 16.97 having qualified from her heat in 14.36.
On the boys side, Jakob Swann took silver in the U14 boys 800m with a time of 2.22.25. Jonny Moore finished 6th in the U14 boys long jump with 4.24m and was 2nd in his heat of the 100m with 11.02 but had to withdraw from the final due to an injured hip flexor. Finn Ritchie finished 8th in the U14 boys long jump with 4.12m but took silver in the U14 boys high jump with 1.35m.
The first four in each event qualify for the Irish Age Group championships held in Tullamore in July.