Six North Down AC athletes were part of the Ulster School’s Interprovincial team that took part in the Tailteann Games in Santry on Friday 19th June. Competition was fierce with places up for grabs in the Irish team that contests the Schools’ International against England, Scotland & Wales in July.
First up on track was sprinter Aaron Sexton (Bangor Grammar) in the 100m. Although Aaron is still a junior, his victory at the Irish schools earned a him a place on the Ulster team for the second consecutive year. Aaron got off to a good start and was lying in second at the halfway point but, as usual, ran a very strong second half of the race and, as the line approached, was catching the leader with every stride but just missed out on the gold by 0.02 seconds, taking an excellent silver medal with a new legal PB of 11.22.
Lauren Hamilton (Regent House), who was taking part in her first interprovincial, set a new PB of 6.27.79 to take a creditable 7th place in the 1500m steeplechase.
Olivia Cumming (Glenlola) overcame a recent injury to take her place in the girls 300m where she ran a spirited race in the difficult outside lane and was less than a tenth outside her PB, running 42.40 to claim 5th place.
Our only field event representative was Michael Gaffney in the javelin. Unfortunately he couldn’t quite match the 54m performances he produced recently at the Ulster & Irish Schools and, despite being disappointed with his own below par throw of 50.98m, still managed to win a bronze medal.
In a highly competitive 200m, Aaron Sexton returned to the track and was joined by schoolmate Aaron Blackmore (Bangor Grammar). After a good start and bend, the pair were lying 3rd & 4th respectively coming in
to the home straight. Both ran strongly down the home straight with Sexton again narrowly missing out by 0.05 secs this time taking the bronze in another impressive time of 22.59. Blackmore managed to hold off a late charge to hang on to 4th place with a legal PB of 23.10.
to the home straight. Both ran strongly down the home straight with Sexton again narrowly missing out by 0.05 secs this time taking the bronze in another impressive time of 22.59. Blackmore managed to hold off a late charge to hang on to 4th place with a legal PB of 23.10.
Craig McMeechan was one of a handful of Ulster athletes who had to sit a physics GCSE on the morning of the competition, however, this didn’t seem to affect his performance in the 3000m. Craig was in contention with the leading bunch for most of the race but by the final lap the field had become strung out and he was lying in fourth place. At the bell he gradually picked up the pace and ran down the third place runner, showing an impressive sprint finish down the home straight to secure the bronze medal in a time of 9.12.40.As usual the relays finished off the day’s proceedings. In the boys 4x100m relay, Aaron Blackmore lead off and Aaron Sexton ran the second leg for the Ulster team that won a silver medal, while in the girls 4x300m relay, Olivia Cumming ran a strong anchor leg for the Ulster team that also took the silver medal.
All in all it was a successful day with the six NDAC athletes winning 4 silver & 3 bronze medals.