The juvenile Striders had a very successful first track & field outing at the open Ferrybank AC event at Waterford. From the younger age groups we had some great performances by Billy Carney, Isabella O’Connor, Hannah Carney, Gearoid Byrne and Clodagh Ryan. In the next age groups we had some real fireworks, starting with Moya Corbett and Lucy Power doing well in their middle distance races. The boys, Ruari Lyng, Sean O’Brien, Ronan Shannon and Sam Myers, were brilliant in their relay, winning silver in a big field. In addition, Ronan won another silver, in the turbo javelin event. A special mention for Sean O’Brien who had an incredible day; coming through his sprint heat to finish fourth in the final, a stunning win in his 300m event and then won his Long Jump event. 
Luca O’Connor and Sean Lennon were exceptional, with Sean’s middle distance bronze being the pick of performances. The under 13’s Isabel Bawden, Aoife Lyng, Aisling Ryan, Cosmo Hewlett, Myles Hewlett, Finn Kelly, Eoin Shannon, Ben Myers picked up lots of points towards the Best Club Shield, with Myles’s middle distance event performance being a standout performance. Going up the age groups, there were lots of fine efforts and plenty od medals for Owen Lennon, Darragh Flannelly, Aidan Shannon, Kelly Corbett, Erinn Shannon, Eve Byrne, Leah Myers, Daniel Heaphy and Adam O’Connor. The older age groups were really showing the benefit of their winter training, which was more tailored to the track and field events. Aaron Browne was exceptional over long and short distances, with Cian Flanagan and Patrick Doyle chasing him home in those respective events. Patrick, Dawid Mlodzianowski, Ryan Kielthy and Daniel Heaphy filled the first four places home in the final of their sprint hurdles event, an exceptional result for the club. Conor 
Murphy and Ciara Kelly picked up medals in the High Jump. Aisling Power, Catriona Ryan, Joanne Kelly, Alannah Byrne, Rebecca Bawden, Patrick, Aaron, Dawid and Cian all won medals in the mixed relay events. There were further sprint medals for Aoife NiEochaidh, Nic Walkden and Josh Hewlett, who have an exciting summer ahead. We were well represented in the 1,500m Walk event, with Eve, Ryan and Joanne all finishing in the medals. Aoife Muldoon, on the back of a brilliant indoor season, was again outstanding in her Long Jump event. In the senior 1,500m event Aedan Rogers was exceptional, leading home our recent double winning county road race champion, Alan O’Connor.
Well done to all who competed and supported. A big apology to anybody that I’ve missed in giving a mention to – it was a very busy day, with lots going on.
