Westport Athletics Club has a magnificent weekend at the Woodie's DIY Juvenile Indoor Championships at the Meadowbank Sports Arena in Magherafelt, Co. Derry. Over 1,000 athletes took part from all over the country in age groups from Under 12 to Under 19 categories in a wide
range of running, throwing and jumping events.
Westport AC athletes had some excellent performances over the two days, coming home with an impressive five national titles.
Saturday morning started with Alannah Gannon taking the gold in the girls Under 13 high jump by getting her first jumps in all the way up to 1.40m.
Later in the afternoon Ellen Moran took the lead early in the race and had a convincing win in the girls Under 17 1,500m. David Harper also excelled in the boys Under 17 1,500m by taking an early lead and staying clear of the field right to the end of the race.
Alice Dever was next for gold in the Under 18 girls triple jump, improving her jump by six centimetres from the Connaught competition.
Anthony Chambers won silver in the boys Under 18 1,500m in what was a closely fought battle to the end.
The club had further excellent performances for the day, with Kate Chambers coming 10th in the girls Under 12 shot putt, Ellen Noonan coming ninth in the Under 12 girls high jump, and Patrick Chambers finishing fifth in the boys Under 12 600m followed by Cian McAllister coming in eighth in the same race.
Alannah Gannon also came seventh in the girls Under 13 60m sprint, Tara McGreevy came 11th in the girls Under 13 long jump and Joe Dawson came home in eighth place in the Under 13 boys 600m in what was his first national competition.
Sunday morning saw Westport AC taking yet another national title with Niamh McLoughlin winning the girls Under 16 shot putt, making it an incredible fourth successive indoor national shot putt title for her.
Alannah Gannon took eighth place in the Under 13 girls hurdles, while Aoife Gannon just missed out on a medal in taking an impressive fourth in the Under 15 girls high jump, with Sophie Letourmey coming eighth in the same competition. Aoife was also 12th in the Under 15 girls shot putt and Sophie came eighth in the Under 15 girls long jump.
In the boys Under 15 shot putt, Brendan McLoughlin was in seventh position.
Congratulations to all athletes. A tremendous weekend was had by all, with more athletes competing in the second weekend of the national indoor championships in Nenagh on the weekend of April 2/3. For more information, please see the club's website on www.westportac.ie
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