Dearbhla Allen of St. Mary College Dundalk competes in the inter girls 1500m steeplechase during day one of the 123.ie All-Ireland Schools’ Track and Field Championships at Tullamore Harriers Athletics Club in Offaly.
© The Argus
The bank holiday weekend only means one more thing for people involved or interested in juvenile athletics and that’s the All-Ireland schools’ track and field championship, which took place in Tullamore.
The event started on Friday night with some field events and on the track, the various race walk races, steeplechase races and senior boys’ 5000m.
St Peter’s had just one athlete who qualified, Dearbhla Allen, representing her school, St Mary’s College.
Dearbhla had advanced from Leinster in the intermediate girls’ 1500m steeplechase but had an anxious few days in the build up to the event with a slight injury issue. Thankfully, though, she made it to the start line.
As soon as the gun went, Dearbhla was quick off the mark but the lead changed various times throughout the race and as the lead group of three athletes approached the last barrier, there was little or nothing between them.
Though, Dearbhla used all her experience and desire to take the title of Irish schools’ champion, in what was a memorable triumph for the teenager.