FOUR Donegal-based teens are among the 16-strong Irish track and field team who will participate at the European Youth Olympic Festival in Tbilisi.
Aaron McGlynn (pictured above) from Finn Valley Athletic Club and his clubmates Arlene Crossan and Somer Lecky are joined by Brendan O’Donnell from Lifford Athletic Club for the lengthy trip to the Georgian capital.
With quarter of the Irish team, it shows the stance of Donegal athletics on the national and international stage right now.
Fifteen-year-old McGlynn is coached by Peadar McGranahan and will compete in the 800 metres, a competitive distance where no more than five athletes ran inside the guideline standard of 1:56.00. McGlynn’s time of 1:53.24 shows the abilities of the Glenfin native, who attends Gairmscoil Chú Uladh.
Last weekend at the Schools Track and Field International at the Grangemouth Stadium in Scotland, where all four of the Tbilisi-bound athletes took part, Lecky was a gold medal winner in the high jump with a leap of 1.74 metres.
The Castlederg, Co Tyrone, native is 15 and a schoolgirl at the Strabane Academy. She is coached by Niall Wilkinson.
Letterkenny native Crossan, who is 16, takes part in the long jump under the watchful eye of her coach, Shauna Carlin. Last weekend, the Loreto Convent, Letterkenny, student took bronze in Scotland with a jump of 5.84 metres.
Hammer-thrower O’Donnell, who is working under the tutelage of Neil Williams is 15 and also came from Falkirk in the medals. The St Eunan’s College, Letterkenny, student finished in second place having thrown 63.78 metres.
The European Youth Olympic festival will be held in Tbilisi, Georgia from Sunday, July 26, to Saturday, August 1. Over 3,800 athletes from 50 European countries will arrive in Tbilisi to participate in the different sports of the European Youth Olympic Festival.
