Laois athlete wins national Gold in USA

A Laois athlete from Emo has achieved one of the biggest successes of her young career by winning a national track title in the USA.

Ava O'Connor, who runs for Tullamore Harriers in Ireland, won her first national gold in the USA when she raced to victory in the 3000 metres steeplechase at the NCAA Division 2 Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

The former student of Scoil Chríost Rí in Portlaoise, O'Connor claimed gold for Adams State University on a time of 10.11.14 in a gun-to-tape win at Pueblo, Colorado.

The victory was the perfect way to sign off with the university the sports woman attends in Colorado, having graduated just a few weeks before winning gold. She graduated with a BS in Sport and Exercise Studies with a Minor in Fitness Management. 

"Thank you to Adams State for allowing me to pursue my athletic dreams while earning a college degree, my wonderful family and friends who supported me throughout my four years as a Grizzly," she posted on social media. MORE BELOW PHOTO.

O'Connor, daughter of Liam and Sinead, has had an excellent college season over a variety of distances from 1500 metres to 5,000 metres. The season saw Ava break the Irish U23 3000m Steeplechase record in California in April. The record had been held by the great Fionnuala McCormack since 2006. The time qualified her for the European U23 Championships in Norway this summer.

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A very successful underage athlete with her club in Offaly, she has gone on to represent Ireland at multiple events.

She graduated from Scoil Chriost Ri Portlaoise in June 2021. She was Sportsperson of the Year each year at the Laois girls school between 2016-2021. Ava went to the USA on a scholarship at the age of 17.