IN PICTURES: Laois Athletics Club triumphs in Offaly and in Europe

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Over the weekend, athletes from St Abban’s AC delivered impressive performances at the European Athletics Team Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, and the National Juvenile Championships in Tullamore. Saragh Buggy recorded a season’s best in the Women’s Triple Jump, contributing valuable points to Ireland’s strong team finish. Meanwhile, the club’s young athletes collected a remarkable 10 medals across two days at the Juvenile Championships, highlighting the club’s ongoing commitment to developing young talent. Looking ahead, the penultimate Fit4Life 4km League race will take place in Wolfhill on July 2nd. READ FULL REPORT BELOW PICTURE.

Saragh Buggy finished 10th in the Women’s Triple Jump at the European Athletics Team Championships in Maribor, Slovenia, over the weekend. She jumped a season’s best of 12.96m, scoring 7 points for the Irish team. The European Team Championships operate similarly to the National League for clubs; athletes compete across track and field events, earning points based on their positions. At the end, scores are combined to determine each team’s overall placing. Ireland finished fifth in Division 2 of the European Athletics Team Championships with a total of 349 points. Ahead of them were champions Belgium, hosts Slovenia, and Norway, who will all be promoted to Division 1. Turkey ended up 33 points ahead of Ireland with 382 points, but strong performances on both track and field helped Ireland stay ahead of Denmark in sixth place. Congratulations to Saragh on yet another international cap, demonstrating once again what a great role model she is for all athletes at St Abban’s AC.

Days 1 and 2 of the National Juvenile Championships took place over the weekend in Tullamore, where St Abban’s AC collected a total of 10 medals. Bronze was the order of the day on Day 1, with the club claiming no fewer than four bronze medals. Lily O’Neill picked up two bronzes in the U15 Girls 100m and U15 Girls Triple Jump, where she recorded a personal best of 10.24m. Elaine Miller also won bronze in the U18 Girls Triple Jump, jumping 10.04m. John Delaney claimed the final bronze of the day, finishing third in the U19 Boys 400m with a time of 50.79 seconds. Leigha Kenny competed in the U15 Triple Jump, where a jump of 8.26m earned 13th place. In the U16 Girls Shot Put, Grainne Doyle threw a personal best of 9.33m, finishing seventh. Rachel Hartnett finished in sixth place on Day 1 as well.

Day 2 of the National Juvenile Championships continued in Tullamore on Sunday. Joshua Crosby was the standout performer, winning gold in the U16 Boys Shot Put with a throw of 14.17m — a testament to his fantastic year in the throwing events. Also on the podium was Sinead Fitzpatrick in the U14 Girls 800m, and Roisin Kearney who won bronze in the U13 Girls 60m Hurdles with a time of 9.95 seconds. Will Duffy continued his great progress over the track season, securing bronze in the U17 Boys Steeplechase. Rachel Ayres ran a new personal best in the U19 Girls 800m, earning third place. John Delaney added to his Day 1 bronze by winning another bronze in the 800m with a time of 1:54. In the U13 Boys Shot Put, Oran McCarthy finished sixth with a throw of 9.92m. Faye Brennan placed 13th in the U14 Girls Long Jump with a leap of 4.50m. Laura Ayers finished 10th in the U15 Girls 800m, while Lily O’Neill narrowly missed another medal, finishing 5th in the U15 Long Jump. Annabelle Lawlor finished 6th in the U18 Girls 800m, and Elaine Miller finished 14th overall in the Long Jump with a mark of 4.49m.

Although some National Juvenile Championship events remain to be contested in two weeks’ time, St Abban’s AC’s haul of 10 medals is a phenomenal achievement. It reflects the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in preparing young athletes to compete with the best in the country. Well done to all.

The penultimate stage of the Fit4Life 4km League will take place on Wednesday, July 2nd, in Wolfhill. Registration opens at 6:30pm, with the race beginning at 7:30pm. Once again, the Michael Nolan Cup will be presented to the first St Abban’s AC club member to cross the line.