𝐌𝐮𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐮𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐥𝐞 𝐁 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐲 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭

 

Text by David Butler. Photos by David Butler & Mags McKenna

Cork Athletics Cross Country grounds in Slieveroe Riverstick is a drone free zone due to being on the flight path to Cork Airport but it was far from a medal free zone for St Brendan’s juvenile athletes today.

Hollie McKenna started off Super Sunday with a great run in the U9 girls 750m where she placed 22nd overall and was the second Kerry athlete across the line. Combining her results with her county mates from Kenmare and Tralee Harriers the girls won a bronze county medal. An excellent achievement for these girls to win a Munster medal in their first year of athletics.

James Sheehy who started off fast in the U11 boys 1000m race to get into a great position in the lead group. With 128 boys running in this race and James stepping up from his U10 age group this was not going to be an easy run but James kept pushing the whole way through the race and crossed the line in 5th place to win a bronze medal. James was the first Kerry athlete across the line with the county team placing 4th.

After watching his clubmates races Cody McKenna toed the line in the U13 boys 1500m race. Cody used his trademark speed right from the off to get to the front of the race over the first 100m. He kept his position throughout and delivered an outstanding run to lead the pack of 77 boys around the undulating leg sapping course. Pushing all the way up the same final climb as Hollie and James before him Cody finished strong and in his case to win the gold medal for 1st place. Cody was followed soon after by a large contingent of Kerry athletes and combined together with the scores from the boys from Iveragh and Star of the Laune the boys won a silver medal for the county.

Congratulations to our trio on their excellent performances and to all Kerry athletes on the day. Thanks to the parents for bringing them to represent the club and thanks to our coaching team for preparing the athletes and supporting them on the day.

Munster Juvenile Uneven Ages Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 

Text by David Butler. Photos by David Butler, Mags McKenna, Gary Scanlon

Zach Walshe won a bronze medal for his 10th place finish in the U19 boys 5000m race. Zach made his debut for his club 10 years ago and has gone from strength to strength every year. Winning that elusive Munster A cross country medal in his last year as a juvenile athlete before moving to the senior races was a great reward for him.

Brandon Scanlon raced in the U11 boys 1500m and won a bronze medal as part of the Kerry county team as they placed 3rd in the race. In the individual race he placed 34 out of a huge field of 155 runners. This was Brandon’s first time racing at Munster Cross Country and he has qualified to Nationals with the Kerry county team, scheduled for Sunday Dec 7th in Abbotstown, Dublin.

Our youngest athletes on the day were Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna & Lauren Scanlon also making their Munster Cross Country debuts in U9 girls 750m race. Big numbers in this race with 121 finishers but the girls did fantastic and gained great experience from it all. Grace (48th) was the first of our trio across the line with Hollie (77th) and then Lauren (93rd). Grace and Hollie both scored on the Kerry county team that placed 5th.

Cody McKenna and Jack Sheehy had strong performances in the U13 boys 2500m race with both boys scoring on the Kerry county team that placed 4th. The boys gained many places throughout the races and finished well up the individual placings with Cody in 19th and Jack 26th out of 121 finishers.

Kerry County Novice and Juvenile Relays Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 Text by David Butler. Photos by David Kissane

It was team medal success for the adults and juveniles at Day 3 of the county cross country championships. The men’s novice team of John Lane, Jim O’Meara, Darren Kenny and Fearghal Grimes brought home bronze team medals with Sophie Norris and Noreen Stack running in the women’s race.

To the relays and it was a great start with the U10 boys team off first where Oisín Cashell, Jack Feehan, Tadhg Quille, James Sheehy had a strong performance across the legs of their race. Their combined run saw James bring the boys home in third place to win a bronze medal in one of the largest races of the day.

Next then it was the turn of the two U10 girls team running for the club, on the A team it was Ashleigh McCarthy, Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna & Niamh McGuckin and the B team it was Roisin Flaherty, Muireann O’Sullivan, Amanda Connell Meabh O’Sullivan. Both teams featuring two U9s running stepping up an age to run. Niamh was the first St Brendan’s girl across the line as her team placed 4th just outside the medals. Meabh running the final leg for her team as they finished just close to a top 10 finish.

U12 boys next to the start line as the races ran off quickly in the bright morning sun, Fionn Cashell leading off for the U12 boys before passing to Brandon Scanlon. Brandon gaining a number of positions on his leg using his trademark fast kick from the track. The boys were in 3rd place now at the changeover before the baton passed to Daniel Collins who held his position well before

passing to Jack Sheehy to bring the team home for the bronze medal.

Our two U12 girls' teams, towed the line together. In the A team it was Éabha Cowan, Einín Lawlor, Emma O’Flaherty; Grace McGuckin and in the B team it was Lily Mai Scanlon, Aisling O’Driscoll,

Lillie Feehan and Holly O’Driscoll. Again such was the interest in the relays the club was able to field two teams in this age group with two U11s stepping up for each team. Each athlete gave all for

their teammates to try gain positions across the legs. Grace McGuckin crossed the finish line first for the club as that team placed 4th and Holly O’Driscoll brought home the baton for her team just outside the top 10.

The final action for the club came in the U14 boys race where Corey O’Carroll, Seán Collins, John McCarthy; Conor Slattery lined up. Corey lead off the team with the boys in 2nd after the first

changeover, Sean taking on the baton then keeping the intensity of the run going for the team before passing over to John. John closed ground on the leaders before passing to Conor who

worked steadily throughout his leg and put pressure on the leading team in the finishing tunnel. In the end was 2nd place for the team and a strong result given two athletes on the team were

running out of age.

That closed out the juvenile championships for the club where we placed 4th for the 2nd year in a row but with an improved points total, increased participation at training and competition and

more medals won in the discipline which is a nice trend! Thanks to our club coaches preparing the athletes for the championships since mid-August and for supporting them on the day.

Kerry County Intermediate and Juvenile Uneven Age Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 

By David Butler, juvenile head coach. Photo by David Kissane, PRO

Another successful day for the St Brendan’s athletes at the second day of the Kerry County cross

country championships.

Opening the day for the club again was Darren Kenny who was the club’s sole representative in

the adult races. Darren competed in the 7000m Intermediate Men’s race.

In the juvenile races that followed club athletes were successful in both individual and team

events.

Individual medallists

Gold – Cody McKenna for 1 st place in the BU13 race

Silver – Grace Winter for 2 nd place in the GU9 race

Silver – Zach Walshe for 2 nd place in the BU19 race

Bronze – Hollie McKenna for 5 th place in GU9 race

Bronze – James Sheehy for 4 th place in BU11 race

Bronze – Brandon Scanlon for 5th place in the BU11 race

Bronze – Jack Sheehy for 3 rd place in the BU13 race

Bronze – Aodhan Slattery for 5 th place in the BU17 race

Team medallists

Gold – BU13 (Cody McKenna, Jack Sheehy, Conor Slattery, Corey O’Carrroll, Tomás O’Flaherty

Silver – GU9 (Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna, Lauren Scanlon, Meabh O’Sullivan, Muireann

O’Sullivan)

Silver – BU11 (James Sheehy, Brandon Scanlon, Jack Feehan, Liam O’Driscoll)

Congratulations to all our medallists and well done to all the athletes representing the club at the

second day of the championships.

Girls U11 – Niamh McGuckin (7 th ), Ashleigh McCarthy, Emma O’Flaherty, Lily Mai Scanlon, Holly

O’Driscoll, Éabha Cowan

Girls U13 – Grace McGuckin (10 th )

Thanks to all the athletes who represented the club on the day and to the parents for bringing

them to the competition. Thanks to our coaching team for preparing the athletes for the

competition and supporting them on the day.

Kerry County Senior, U20 and Even Age Juvenile Cross Country Championships 2025 Report

 

By David Butler, St Brendan's AC Juvenile Head Coach.

Photos by David Kissane, PRO.

Well done to our club athletes who competed in Killarney at the Day 1 (21 September 2025) of the county cross country championships.

Individual medalists

Gold – James Sheehy for 1st place in BU10 race

Gold – Jack Sheehy for 1 st place in BU12 race

Silver – Niamh McGuckin for 2 nd place in GU10 race

Bronze – Jack Feehan for 6 th place in GU10 race

Bronze – Grace McGuckin for 5 th place in GU12 race

Bronze – Brandon Scanlon for 5 th place in BU12 race

Bronze – Zach Walshe for 3 rd place in MU20 race

Team medalists

Bronze – GU10 (Aoileann Clifford, Grace Winter, Ashleigh McCarthy, Niamh McGuckin, Hollie

McKenna; Lauren Scanlon)

Bronze – BU12 (Jack Sheehy, Sean Og O’Keefe, Daniel Collins, Brandon Scanlon, Liam O’Driscoll)

Congratulations to all our medalists and well done to all other runners representing the club on

the day.

BU10 – Ollie McCarthy & Tadhg Quille

GU12 – Aisling O'Driscoll, Einín Lawlor, Holly O'Driscoll, Lillie Feehan

BU14 – Corey O’Carroll, Seán Collins

Senior Men – Darren Kenny

National Masters' Track and Field Championship 2025

 

The club brought its largest ever contingent to the 123.ie Athletics Ireland national masters' championships in warm Tullamore on Sat, July 26th. It was an occasion filled with action, fun, a first-ever relay success, one broken toe, personal bests, maiden performances, a few surprises, runs, jumps, throws and walks and , oh yes, All Ireland medals!

The best prepared club squad ever (with months of Monday throws sessions, Tuesday interval sessions and Thursday distance sessions behind them) made their way to the mecca of national masters' athletics on Friday afternoon and Saturday morning. Valentina and David located a nice groundsman on Friday evening who opened the gate especially for them to set up the club gezebo, sponsored by McElligotts KIA. Then Jim and Geoff arrived, complete with Jim's rainbow toe which had a collision with a Fenit sandstone the previous week but declared good enough to compete both on the track and in the javelin.

Sunblock on, numbers pinned to sky blue vests, warm-ups performed, time-tables checked and all ready for action.

And first in action was newcomer to national action, Noreen Stack. The North Commons flyer entered her first ever national 100m with spikes borrowed from one of our former teen athletes, Jessica Leen. Getting a pair of new spikes to fit properly is like getting a set of dentures for the mouth of the Shannon so Noreen had to abandon socks and off she went like a rocket up the Tullamore home straight in the W60 final. It was a hotty-burny-boy race, with experienced athletes and well fitted spikes burning up the track ahead of the Tralee GP. But, despite the fact that no medal would be around Noreen's neck after the race, she finished with a trade-mark smile that encapsulated the joy of masters' athletics. Noreen's daughter, Marie Clair still has one up on her mom as she won the national Community Games gold medal in the 200m some years ago, but Noreen still had the 200m to come, so could that issue be levelled out! The day would tell!

St Brendan’s AC Results National Masters 2025

Noreen Stack W60: 5th 100m, 17.29 secs; 7th 200m, 38.66 secs

David Kissane M70: gold 5K race walk, 36:46.33; 7th shot, 7.68m and 5th discus, 21.56m

Denis Brosnan M70: silver discus, 24,30m; 4th shot, 8.83m; bronze javelin, 20.86m

Martin Butler M70: 6th discus, 19.02m; 5th WFD, 5.12m

Jim O’Meara M65: 4th javelin 14.58m; 5th 5000m, 22.56.35;

Geoff Stacey M75: gold 5000m, 26:33.14; silver javelin, 17.51m

David Butler M40: 5th WFD, 4.36m; 6th shot, 6.80m

Valentina Tykhonenko W50: bronze WFD, 2.35m; 4th shot, 5.35m; 4th hammer, 17.02m (pb)

Ursula Barrett W45: gold long jump, 4.30m

Linda O’Sullivan W35: gold long jump, 2.78m

Marian McElligott W60: gold race walk 19:54.80

Áine McKenna W45 race walk: TR54.7.1

4 X 100m relay: bronze, 61.87 secs – Ursula Barrett, Linda O’Sullivan, Noreen Stack and Áine McKenna (PB)

Total: 5 gold, 1 silver, 2 bronze.

Report and photos by David Kissane, PRO/Chair

BANNA 10K/5K Run/Walk, 2025 - INFO

 

REGISTER HERE

St Brendan’s AC will host the Banna Run 5K & 10K on Sunday, 3rd August 2025 at 9.30 am in Banna, Ardfert, Co Kerry. This is one of the club's main fundraisers and your support would be very much appreciated on the day. 

St Brendan's AC is a vibrant club in the rural North Kerry area. The club caters for athletes of all ages from juveniles to masters. 2025 has been another busy year at St Brendan's AC and all funds from this event go back into the club for the benefit of our athletes.

The route is relatively flat, perfect for chasing PB's and all finishers will get a medal. Tasty home treats will be available after the race and is enjoyed by all each year.

Please note that Athletics Ireland introduced a €2 charge in January 2023. This means that Non AAI members will be charged an additional €2 to take part in this event and is transferred directly to Athletics Ireland.

The price of the event is as follows :

10k - €23  (AAI Member)

10k - €25  (Non AAI Member)

5k -   €15  (AAI Member)

5k -   €17  (Non AAI Member)

5k -   €9   (Student rate / Aged 13-19 yrs on day of event for AAI Members) 

5k - €11 (Student rate / Aged 13-19 yrs on day of event - Non AAI Members)

• Online Registrations until the event sells out
• Walkers are also very welcome to take part

The start of the 5k and 10k is 750m approx. from the Banna Sea Rescue.

To compete in the 5k, participants have to be aged 13 or older on the day of the event as per Athletics Ireland guidelines. 

To compete in the 10k participants need to be aged 15 or older on the day of the event.

The men's winners of the 10k will be presented with the Tom O'Riordan Memorial Shield and First Lady of 10k will be presented with the Chris O'Shea Memorial Shield.

The routes are AAI certified and this a permitted road race. Chip timing will be provided by My Run Results.

St Brendan's AC look forward to welcoming you all to Ardfert again this year on Sunday 3rd August. It is an event that is enjoyed by all so spread the word. 

Munster U14-U19 (incl. 13 walks) Track & Field Championships 2025 Report

 Munster U14-U19 (incl. 13 walks) Track & Field Championships 2025 Report

By David Butler, St Brendan's AC Juvenile Head Coach. Photos by David Kissane

Another weekend on the road for St Brendan’s athletes but again more success was the order of the days. On the individual front our competitors came away with 3x gold medals, 1x silver medal, 1x bronze medal, 2x 4th places and all athletes placed in the top 10 in their events as 5x new personal bests were recorded.

Eoin Wins Again

On the jumps Eoin Malik (BU18) first competed in his favoured triple jump and hit the 13m mark on the button to win the gold medal in his age group. Eoin also competed in the long jump placing 4th in that event.

Gold, Silver and Bronze in Race Walks

Our walkers quartet of Hannah Sheehy, John McCarthy, Colm Fletcher and Tomas O’Flaherty all came away with personal bests and medals with U14s Hannah and John qualified for Nationals. Hannah recorded the second faster time of all the 2000m walker recorded across the boys and girls in the U13-U15 age groups just 1.5 seconds off the overall fastest time.

Aoibhinn's Munster Star Award

During Saturday afternoon Aoibhinn O’Driscoll was a presenting with a Munster Star Award from Munster Athletes as a reward for her stellar performances at Munster level in 2024. Aoibhinn is recovering from injury so was unable to compete on this occasion but we look forward to seeing her back in action for the club next season.

Katie into Nationals

To the throws. Katie Butler (GU14) started Saturday off with Shot Put where she was 5th overall with her 2nd longest throw in competition, then it was onto javelin where she placed 6th equaling her PB. On Sunday, Sean Collins placed in the top 10 in the BU14 javelin. Katie closed off the action for the club on Sunday where she placed 4th in the discus with a new pb and qualified to nationals.

Well Done to Parents and Coaches

Full results for this weekend’s competitors follows, very well done to them on their performances at Munster level and we look forward to national competition in the coming weeks for our qualifiers. Thanks as ever to the parents for bringing the athletes to competition and our coaching team for preparing our athletes and supporting them over the weekend.

Details

U13

Colm Fletcher – 2000m walk, 14:09.31 (pb & Silver medal)

Tomas O’Flaherty – 2000m walks, 14:11.74 (pb & Bronze medal)

U14

Hannah Sheehy – 2000m walks, 12:03.36 (pb & Gold medal)

John McCarthy – 2000m walks, 12:48.94 (pb & Gold medal)

Katie Butler – Javelin, 19.71m (6th place), Shot, 9.17m (5th place), Discus, 16.60m (pb & 4th place)

Seán Collins – Javelin, 19.26m (10th place)

U18

Eoin Malik – Triple Jump, 13m (Gold medal) & Long Jump, 5.80m (4th place)

Kerry Athletics U9-U16 & U20 Track & Field Championships 2025

 

Two busy days of action for our St Brendan’s athletes where they represented the club at the county track and field championships. Athletes competed across a wide range of events and there was success in every discipline athletes competed for the club in. This is testament to the work being done at the club, our motto is “athletics for all” but it’s can also be written as “athletes 4 all” representing run, walk, jump and throw. It’s a challenge for the coaching team and athletes to be ready to compete across so many distinct athletic events. You can see the fruits of their efforts where in a short period of time you can see one of our hurdlers crossing the line in 1st place not long after a race walker brings home the gold in their race and that’s before the sprinters and distance runners finish right up the top end of their events too...and at the same time field eventers are competing in long jump, triple jump, shot, discus, javelin, high jump...the list goes on.

Congratulations to all our athletes on the many personal bests achieved and to our athletes placing in the top 3 in their event to bring home a gold, silver or bronze medal.

Medalists over the weekend were as follows

U9

Grace Winter — Gold in 300m, Silver in 60m, Bronze in Long Jump

Lauren Scanlon — Gold in Long Jump, Gold in 60m

Muireann O’Sullivan — Silver in Turbo Javelin, Bronze in 60m

Ollie McCarthy — Bronze in 60m sprint

U10

Jack Feehan — Bronze in Turbo Javelin

James Sheehy — Gold in 500m, Silver in Long Jump

Oisin Cashell — Bronze in Long Jump

U11

Brandon Scanlon — Silver in 600m

Éabha Cowan — Silver in 500m, Bronze in 60m

Emma O’Flaherty — Gold in Turbo Javelin

U12

Aisling O’Driscoll Silver in High Jump

Aoife Aylward Bronze in High Jump

Daniel Collins — Silver in Shot Put, Silver in Turbo Javelin

Fionn Cashell — Gold in High Jump

Jack Sheehy — Gold in Long Jump, Gold in 600m, Silver in 60m sprint

U13

Cody McKenna — Silver in Hurdles, Silver in Long Jump Bronze in 80m sprint

Conor Slattery — Gold in Hurdles, Silver in Shot Put, Bronze in High Jump

Corey O’Carroll — Silver in 80m sprint

Olivia Leen — Bronze in Javelin

Tomas O’Flaherty — Bronze in Shot Put

U14

Hannah Sheehy — Gold in 2K Walk, Bronze in High Jump

John McCarthy — Gold in 2K Walk

Katie Butler — Gold in Javelin, Silver in Discus, Bronze in Shot

Sean Collins — Silver in Javelin

Willow Molloy — Silver in 1500m, Silver in 800m

U15

Aoibhinn O’Driscoll — Silver in 75mH

Daragh Sheehan — Silver in Long Jump, Silver in Long Jump

Ciaran Cowan — Bronze in Shot

Matilda Boulton — Gold in Walks

Oisin Fletcher — Gold in Walks, Silver in Hurdles, Silver in Javelin

U16

Brendan Locke Fitzgerald — Silver in Javelin, Bronze in Discus

Emily O’Sullivan — Gold in Javelin

Jayden Duma — Silver in Long Jump, Silver in Discus

Maddison O’Connor — Silver in Triple Jump

Silver in Relay (Oisin Fletcher, Jayden Duma, Ciaran Cowan, Brendan Locke Fitzgerald, Daragh Sheehan)

U20

Sadhbh Sheehan — Silver in Shot Put, Bronze in Discus

Zach Walshe — Bronze in 1500m

Thanks to our coaching team for preparing the athletes for the competition and supporting them over the weekend and to our club volunteers and the other Kerry clubs helping out in officiating duties. Thanks to Kerry Athletics for another enjoyable championships and thank you to the athletes for coming along to represent your club.

Sportshall Games 2025

 

Well done to all of our athletes who participated in the Kerry Sportshall Games where the club placed joint 3rd overall in a close competition. This development competition is often the first occasion many new club athletes get to make their debut for the club and it was no different this year with 23 athletes competing for the club for the very first time. There was success across all the age groups in the full range of events, starting with the U9s where Lauren, Muireann and Grace made it a clean sweep for the club in the sprints through to U12s where Caoimhe won bronze in the shot put and Fionn winning gold in standing long jump and bronze in sprints. Our relay teams were to the fore as all runners gave their best for the teams with gold medals won by our U9 Girls, U10 & U11 Boys, silver medals for the U12 Girls and bronze for the U9 Boys. Thanks to Kerry Athletics for hosting the event this year and all volunteers who helped to run off the events. Thanks to our club coaches for preparing the athletes for the competition and supporting them on the day and to the parents supporting our efforts in bringing the athletes to the competition.

In action today was

U9 Girls

Grace Winter, Hollie McKenna, Kate Flaherty, Lauren Scanlon, Meabh O'Sullivan, Muireann O'Sullivan

U9 Boys

Conor Lawlor, Donal Casey, Eoin O’Regan, Jack Flaherty, Jamie O’Driscoll, Micheál McCarthy

U10 Girls

Amanda Connell, Anna Winter, Aoife Clifford, Aoileann Clifford, Ashleigh McCarthy, Caoimhe O’Halloran, Roisin Flaherty

U10 Boys

Alex Diggins, Jay Hanafin, Liam Bunyan, Odhran Brosnan, Oisín Cashell, Seán Maguire, Tadhg Quille

U11 Girls

Cassie O'Connor, Hazel O’Regan, Holly O’Driscoll, Lily Mai Scanlon

U11 Boys

Liam O'Driscoll

U12 Girls

Amelia Dineen, Caoimhe O’Driscoll, Ella Casey, Ella O’Sullivan, Grace McGuckin, Kara Lawlor, Lillie Feehan, Millie Flavin, Roisín Diggins, Sarah Duggan

U12 Boys

Fionn Cashell, Tomàs Brosnan

Individual medallists

U9

Grace Winter, Gold in Speedbounce

Hollie McKenna, Bronze in Speedbounce

Lauren Scanlon, Gold in Sprint, Gold in Standing Long Jump

U10

Ashleigh McCarthy, Silver in Speedbounce

U12

Caoimhe O’Driscoll, Bronze in Shot Put

Emma Joy, Silver in Standing Long Jump

Fionn Cashell, Gold in Standing Long Jump, Bronze in Sprints

Relay medallists

U9 Girls Gold – Hollie McKenna, Grace Winter, Lauren Scanlon, Muireann O’Sullivan, Kate Flaherty, Meabh O’Sullivan

U9 Boys Bronze – Conor Lawlor, Michéal McCarthy, Jamie O’Driscoll, Donal Casey, Jack Flaherty

U10 Boys Gold – Michéal McCarthy, Oisin Cashell, Liam Bunyan, Seán Maguire, Donal Casey

U11 Boys Gold – Liam O’Driscoll, Oisin Cashell, Liam Bunyan, Seán Maguire

U12 Girls Silver – Roisin Diggins, Caoimhe O’Driscoll, Grace McGuckin, Emma Joy

David Butler, Head Juvenile Coach

National Juvenile Indoor Championships 2025

Jack Sheehy is the National U12 Boys Indoors Champion, a headline performance from a young athlete. Jack opened his account today today with a jump of 4.23m to take the lead in the event. He did not cede that lead and improved firstly to 4.26m in his second jump but kept his best till last. Going into the top 8 final Jack again jumped 4.26m as his nearest competitor closed to 4.23m, a valuable mark should countback come into place but with the gold medal secured Jack jumped last in the final round and he closed out the event with a jump of 4.31m. An exciting moment for Jack, his family and all associated with our club to see an athlete win a National gold medal at such a young age.

In the early afternoon then Conor Slattery competed in the BU13 shot putt and threw further than his old personal best of 8.84m on two occasions and made the final. Conor’s first throw of 8.74m was a good opener but then he fired the shot to 9.01m on the 2nd round and 9m on the 3rd round to show fine consistency. He qualified for the final when all the throws were completed he placed 7th overall with his mark of 9.01 in a tight competition. This was Conor’s first time reaching an individual National final and an experience he relished and is he looking forward to competed in the high jump next weekend.

Closing out the day for the club was Eoin Malik in the BU18 long jump. Eoin’s opening jump of 5.71m put him into contention for the podium positions and he reached the final in 4th place. Working his way through the rounds Eoin’s mark improved in the 5th round where he was rewarded with a season’s best long jump of 5.89m. A slight break on that final jump as he pushed towards the medal positions saw Eoin place 5th overall. Eoin will be back jumping in Athlone next Saturday in the triple jump.

Well done to our athletes today, thanks to their parents for bringing them to the competition and our club coaches for preparing the athletes for today’s events.

Hannah’s Bronze and PB

A second national medal for St Brendan’s and for the Sheehy family and this time it was Hannah Sheehy bringing home a bronze medal in a superb performance in the GU14 race walk in her debut at National level. Hannah was simply irrepressible right from the start going off as a fast pace to ensure a good position. Over the next 5 laps she gave it everything and her level of pure determination whilst maintaining the correct style caused her nearest competitors to draw the eyes of the judges as they tried everything to keep with Hannah. Hannah crossed the line in a massive pb time of 5:26.35, her previous best for the distance was 6.03.03. There was an anxious wait then to see was it going to 3rd or 4th for Hannah and when the judges’ scorecards came in Hannah was confirmed to 3rd place and great celebrations for all. A performance that will stick in the memory for a long time, this is the first national juvenile medal by one of our club walkers since the walks programme resumed at the club under the coaching David Kissane in 2022 and will provide great inspiration for the future.

Maddison’s Triple Jump

Earlier in the day Maddison O’Connor completed in GU16 triple jump. This was Maddison 2nd time competing at national indoors and opened her jumps account of the day with 8.82m. With a pb of 8.96m, Maddison had set target of 9m set for the day she made adjustments in each round to try set a mark across that threshold. With her jumps completed, 8.82m was her best jump on the day as she placed 16th overall in her age group.

John’s New PB and 7th Place

Back to the walks and it was John McCarthy who was next on the track in the BU14 race. John showed great form and jockeyed for position throughout the race. Coming into the home straight it looked like a sub 6 K was on the cards for John and a huge pb (his pb was 6:40.45) and crossing the line there was a broad smile on his face when he saw the time of 5:53.72. His position was confirmed as 7th overall in his debut at national competition.

Oisín’s 5th Place and New PB

Our final athlete in action on Day 2 was Oisín Fletcher who no doubt was inspired by his club mates for his BU15 1K race. Working hard from the start he was in close quarters with other competitors in the event as each place was challenged for. Oisín’s pb going into the event was 6:27.50. He showed good pace over the course and a clean style Oisín crossed the line in a great time of 6:16.35, a new personal and was classified in 5th place for his first time at national indoors.

Thank You

That closes off Day 1 & Day 2 of the national juvenile Indoors. Very well done to all our athletes on their performances and thank you to our club coaches for preparing them to give their best on the day. Thanks as ever to the parents for supporting our efforts and bringing the athletes on the long trip to the middle of the country.

National Indoor Masters Championships 2025

Memorable day for St Brendan's AC at the All Ireland masters' indoor championships in Athlone...three gold race walks medals by Áine (with a new club 3K record), David K and Marian, a bronze by Artur in the high jump, a bronze by David K in the shot and good WFD performances by Martin and David B.

Full results HERE.