Three of our junior athletes formed part of the Ulster School’s Interprovincial team that contested the 54th Tailteann Games at the Morton Stadium, Santry on Saturday 25th July. This competition is for U17 athletes only and also acts as a trial for the Irish team for the upcoming School’s International in July.
Competing in her first Interpro, Murphy Miller (Strathearn) was first up on track and despite being a junior competing against intermediates, showed great maturity and composure in the 800m. With the pack still bunched at the bell, Murphy pushed to the front and started to stretch the field down the back straight, but with 200m to go she began to be run down by the others and only narrowly missed out on a medal position, finishing fourth, however, her positive run and a gutsy last lap were rewarded with a new PB.
Holly Brannigan had to contend with a strong blustery headwind on the back straight and top bend in the 300m and despite a very even first 100m, she conceded some ground around the top bend and found herself in around 5th position entering the home straight. However, as she has demonstrated on several occasions this season, Holly is very strong and determined over the last 100m and was able to battle her way back up to 3rd position taking a well deserved bronze in 41.75s. Later in the day Holly ran a very positive lead-off leg for the Ulster girls’ 4x300m relay. After handing over in second place, the team stayed in that position to the finish line to take silver.
There is no doubt that the busiest athlete of the day was Ulster boys’ team captain Aaron Sexton who, having been selected for the 100m, 200m & 4x100m relay, was also drafted in on the day as a late addition to the 4x400m relay. In the 100m, Aaron pulled clear of his rivals over the last 40m to run another sub 11sec race and take gold in 10.96s. In his preferred 200m, he opened up a healthy round the bend and gradually eased away from the field down the home straight, crossing the line in 21.83s which is not only another PB but also a second European Youth qualifying performance. Shortly afterwards Aaron ran second leg in the 4x100m relay where, despite their obvious lack of practice, the Ulster team safely got the batten round and were subsequently promoted to second place after the winners were disqualified for a faulty changeover. With just ten minutes rest Aaron then ran an unofficial split of 48.8s on the last leg of the 4x400m relay taking Ulster from second to first and claiming his third gold of the day.
