SUPERB SILVER FOR SEAMUS CLARKE AS EUROPEAN U18 CHAMPIONSHIPS CONCLUDE
Seamus Clarke (Moy Valley AC) won a superb silver medal in the Men’s 5000m Race Walk as the European U18 Athletics Championships in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia concluded this evening.
The 17-year-old put himself in contention from the off, maintaining his pace throughout and gradually began to drop athletes as the race progressed. He battled bravely to the line, leaving everything out on the track and finished in a time of 21:05.70, lowering his own National U18 record for the event.
The young Mayo athlete is coached by his mother Deirdre Gallagher who represented Ireland in the 10km Race Walk at the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta.
“It feels amazing. I’m hurting a good bit now but in a couple of minutes I’ll feel a lot better. It means so much,” Clarke told Athletics Ireland after the race.
“The last 2km was some of the worst pain I’ve ever felt. It was all just willpower, thinking of the podium, that’s what got me through it.”
Matthew Newell (Tuam AC) also produced an excellent performance in the race, finishing seventh in 22:01.44.
In the Men’s Decathlon, Eoin O’Callaghan (Bandon AC) broke the Irish U18 record for the event after a gruelling two days of competition, finishing ninth overall.
O’Callaghan secured personal bests in six of the ten events to score 7023 points, becoming the first Irish U18 to break the 7000 point barrier.
Two Irish athletes raced in the final of the Women’s 800m. In what was their third race of the championships Saoirse Fitzgerald (Lucan Harriers) finished fifth in 2:07.51, while Pia Langton (Kilkenny City Harriers) was eighth in 2:10.87.
Bobby More (Bray Runners AC) finished seventh in the final of the Men’s 800m, crossing the line in 1:54.12 in what was a tactical affair.
Earlier in the day, Noah Harris (Parnell AC) finished a fine fourth in the Men’s 3000m, crossing the line in 8:18.12. Teammate Cillian Gleeson (Celbridge AC) also battled hard finishing 11th in a time of 8:26.72.
There was disappointment for Conor Penney (Craughwell AC) in the Men’s High Jump as he failed to clear the opening height of 1.93m. The 15-year-old from Galway will no doubt bounce back stronger and without question has an incredibly bright future.
The Irish team depart Slovakia with five medals, finishing tenth overall in the medal table. Along with Seamus Clarke, Thomas Williams (gold – Hammer Throw), Cian Crampton (bronze – Discus Throw), Joe Burke (bronze – 200m) and Conor Kelly (bronze – 400m) all mounted the podium and together with the excellent performances of their teammates proved that the future of Irish athletics is certainly in safe hands.
“We brought out 35 athletes here to Slovakia and we came away with five medals, five national records, fourteen PB’s and seven top-eight finishes. Two of those medals were in field events and two of those athletes were U17 so they are U18 again next year. With the help of a huge amount of work from our support staff its been a phenomenally successful championships,” Jacqui Freyne, Athletics Ireland Performance Pathway Manager said.
Four of the medallists, Thomas Williams, Seamus Clarke, Cian Crampton and Joe Burke will arrive back in Dublin Airport Terminal 2 tomorrow at 12:35pm, along with the rest of the team. Conor Kelly travels directly back to the UK.
Team Ireland Day 4 Results Summary
- Decathlon 110m Hurdles Eoin O’Callaghan 14.55 PB
- High Jump Final Conor Penney NM (12th)
- 3000m Final Noah Harris 8:18.12 (4th)
- 3000m Final Cillian Gleeson 8:26.72 (11th)
- Decathlon Discus Throw Eoin O’Callaghan 39.36m
- Decathlon Pole Vault Eoin O’Callaghan 3.90m PB
- 800m Final Saoirse Fitzgerald 2:07.51 (5th)
- 800m Final Pia Langton 2:10.87 (8th)
- 800m Final Bobby More 1:54.13 (7th)
- Decathlon Javelin Throw Eoin O’Callaghan 46.62m PB
- 5000m Race Walk Final Seamus Clarke 21:05.70 NU18R (Silver)
- 5000m Race Walk Final Matthew Newell 22:01.44 (7th)
- Decathlon 1500m Eoin O’Callaghan 4:34.28
- Decathlon Eoin O’Callaghan 7023 points NU18R (9th)
- Full Results are HERE