This weekend will see the conclusion of the Athletics Ireland National juvenile track and field finals in Tullamore, Co Offaly. Inishowen Athletics Club has been represented at them all and this weekend is no different, with Mary Theresa Doherty going in the under 14 girls 1500m on Saturday. The Buncrana girl has been showing great form in recent weeks and qualified for the All-Irelands with a good 4th place finish in the Ulster championships in early June in a lifetime best of 5 minutes 24.65 seconds.

Elsewhere, in the build up to the All-Irelands last weekend, Fergus Cox was a convincing winner of the under 15 boys’ javelin at the County championships on the 28th of June. The Cockhill lad had almost 3.5m to spare over Darryl Crawford from Strabane. Fergus’s winning throw reached 35.30m. He went on to finish 3rd in the long jump with 3.90m.

Urris athlete Stephen Friel impressed in the 100m and 400m. He won the under 19 boys 100m in 13.16 seconds. Stephen ran 59.95 in the 1 lap event, for first in the same age group.

Debbie Collins was another to record a double gold, winning the under 17 200m in 31.62 and the 800m in 2 minutes 55.30 seconds.

A time of 3 minutes 01.08 seconds gave Tanya Collins fourth place in the under 15 girls 800m.

Derek-Lee Doherty raced to a best of 2 minutes 36.57 seconds in the under 16 800m.

Conor Hession finished third in the under 19 1500m in a personal best of 4 minutes 32.94 seconds.

Joe McKinney finished second in the masters section in 4 minutes, 29.55 seconds.

Meanwhile, James McKinney won a closely contested and exciting 1 mile juvenile race at the Carndonagh 5km on the 29th June. The Malin runner crossed the line in 5 minutes and 22 seconds, just 5 seconds ahead of under 12 category winner Pat Loughery.
Christopher Harkin finished third overall and second in the under 14 section in a personal best of 5 minutes and 31 seconds.

Mary Theresa Doherty impressed by finishing fourth overall in 5 minutes and 53 seconds, taking the under 14 girls title in the process.