Innyvale Athletics Club

The 2023 track and field athletics season got underway in Shercock on Sunday 19th February with the Cavan Spring League. The cool but dry day saw a promising start to the season for Innyvale AC with a series of strong performances from our athletes across all disciplines.

The event got underway with the discus event, where Holly Cullen took part in her first discus competition. With a throw of 10.58m, Holly won the gold medal in the U14 age group. Holly followed this up with a third place finish in the shot putt, where she threw the 2kg weight a distance of 6.03m. Holly also ran a strong 800m, pacing herself well on the opening lap before moving through the field as the race progressed to finish in the top 6.

In the U13 events, the club’s two athletes progressed through their heats to the final, with Emer Briody winning her heat and Isabella Condon taking second in her round. The two girls ran well in the final but just missed out on a top placing on this occasion. Emer and Isabella were sixth and seventh in the long jump, where just 3cm separated the well matched clubmates.

In the U12s, Kaitlin Shaw was the winner of the girls shot putt with a best throw of 6.26m, with Zoe Hogan close behind in second with a best of 5.66m. Fourth place was Saibhe Mulvey with a best of 4.83m, with Ruby Cullen in sixth with a best of 4.06m. The U12 girls 600m race proved to be an exercise in pace management, with Zoe sitting behind the leaders for the opening lap before moving up to join the top three and then passing them out as they came off the final bend. A hard earned gold medal for Zoe, with Saibhe in fifth place and Ruby seventh.

In the U11 events, Íosa Lynch was second in the long jump, while in the 60m sprint, Íosa, Zoe Tully, Riley and Jamie Condon just missed out on a top place in a tight race. Sean Murray was eighth in the long jump with a best of 1.98m.

The U10 boys saw Mason Cullen take the gold medal in the turbojavelin with a best throw of 12.40m, with Caolan Brady in fifth with a best effort of 7.00m. The boys went on the run the 300m race, with both having tough battles against their fellow athletes. Mason took the silver medal after being pipped near the finish line, while Caolan dug deep after being passed in the last 50m and managed to retake third place for a hard earned bronze medal.

In the girls events, Katie Hannon doubled up on gold medals with a win in the turbojavelin thanks to a best throw of 7.60m. In the 300m race, Katie hit the front after about one third distance and opened a comfortable lead over the pack which she held to the finish.

And finally, the under 9 boys saw Oisin Tully make a very strong start to his first competition with a silver medal in the 60m sprint. Oisin went one better in the long jump where his best effort of 2.32m earned him the gold medal.

Well done to all who took part and thank you to all the parents for travelling to Shercock.