European Youth standards for two Finn Valley athletes

TWO FINN VALLEY athletes have made the European Youth standard in their disciplines this weekend.

Hurdler Arlene Crossan and middle-distance runner Aaron McGlynn reached the standards for the Europan Youth Championships, which will be held this summer in Tbilisi, Georgia.

Picture caption: Arlene Crossan in action for Finn Valley AC. Picture by Kieran Carlin.

Yesterday, McGlynn set a new personal best time of 1 minute 51.95 seconds in the 800 metres at the IMC Belfast Irish Milers Meet.

At the Mary Peters Track, McGlynn smashed the standard.

The Glenfin man won the Under-17 800m of the England Athletics & National Championships in February in Sheffield, while he reached the final of the 800m at the European Youths last summer, finishing seventh.

Crossan, from Lurgybrack, was in only her second ever 400m hurdles competition and she ran a superb 60.96 seconds at a race in France today.

Crossan, who last year reached the long jump final at the European Youths, where she came ninth, ran a blistering race and pressured the French Under-23 champion, who is aiming to qualify for this year’s Olympic Games in Rio, all the way to the finish.