This prestigious and always hotly-contested event takes the finest multi-talented athletes from schools throughout the 32 counties and pits them against each other over five events.
Athletes finishing in the top four in Junior and Intermediate categories are automatically selected to compete at a schools international event held in Glasgow on November 16th.
Wexford has a fine tradition in combined events thanks to Enniscorthy’s Michael Bowler, Kilmore’s Brian Murphy and the late Malachy Sheridan. More recently, another Enniscorthy athlete Saidhbhe Byrne and national decathlon champion Jack Forde of St Killian’s have continued that proud tradition.
Presently, there is a great depth of talent across the county in combined events with more and more boys and girls prepared to step outside their comfort zone.
The boys pentathlon consists of 60 metres hurdles, 200 metres, 800 metres, long jump and shot put. Girls take on four of the same events with high jump in place of 200 metres. The inclusion of technical events can mean the difference between an average and an outstanding performance.
Representing Good Counsel College New Ross was Daniel Redmond. Having won a Leinster silver medal, Daniel was intent on challenging for a podium place from the get-go.
A huge personal best in shot of 11.99 metres put him in pole position. Add to this the second best hurdles time (9.19 seconds), fourth best in long jump (5.58 metres/498 points), seventh in 200 metres (25.01 seconds) and a decent 800 metres (2.21 minutes).
His points total of 2840 was just 52 points shy of third-placed GaelCholáiste Chiarraí athlete Jack Ó Coileáin. Daniel’s fourth place finish was good enough to see him make the Irish team that will compete in Glasgow on November 16th.
Bridgetown College student, Matt Duro, burst onto the athletics scene last year, achieving great success in long jump and 200 metres.
His overall speed and technical abilities led naturally to Matt turning to combined events. Earlier this month he qualified in thirrd place in the Leinster Minor Pentathlon.
Last Saturday, he finished in seventh place on 2278 points, with less than 100 points separating him from fourth place. En route, he won the long jump with 5.28 metres and his 200 metres heat in 25.20 seconds, both pbs. He added another pb in shot (9.98 metres).
Also competing in the Minor category was Ramsgrange Community School’s Izzy Aspel.
Izzy has garnered plenty of experience over a range of events, from cross country and track to throws and jumps. Izzy, like Matt, won a Leinster bronze.
Facing stiff competition at the NIA, she finished up in tenth place on 2578 points, scoring well in hurdles (9.91 seconds), 800 metres (2.42 minutes) and long jump (4.78m).
Artem Ó Ceallaigh (Meánscoil Gharmain) was giving away a year in a very competitive Intermediate Boys event.
Being at the younger end of a category can make a big difference, especially in strength-based events. The more muscle you have in putting a 5kg sphere the better!
That said, Artem did well to get the shot out to 8.88 metres. His highest scoring events were the 60 metres hurdles (9.44 seconds) and 200 metres (24.10 seconds). Overall, he scored 2742 points, placing him in 14th place.
Well done to each of the four schools – Ramsgrange CS, Bridgetown College, Meánscoil Gharmain and Good Counsel College – and well done to their PE teachers and coaches are having the athletes in such good shape.
Well done to DMP athlete Ciara Wilson who finished tenth Senior Female in the Dublin Marathon in a time of 2 hours 45 minutes and 3 seconds. Her sister Kate was 21st in 2:58:46.