LIFFORD-STRABANE AC’S Tom Mullen gained his second Irish International Schools vest following a fantastic third place finish at the All-Ireland Schools Indoor Combined Events Championships held in Athlone at the weekend.
Mullen, representing Holy Cross College, Strabane in the Junior Boys event, performed brilliantly over the six-event competition against the best schools combined events athletes in the country.
Photo caption: Tom Mullen, Lifford Strabane AC and Holy Cross College, Strabane (right) receiving the bronze medal on finishing third in the Junior Boys competition at the All Ireland Schools Indoor Combined Events Championships held in Athlone
A 23.80 second 200m victory set the tone for a brilliant all round performance from the Lifford Strabane AC athlete who also had a fine 12.73 metres shot-putt and 5.41 metres long jump to his name. A fast two minutes 13 seconds 800 metres in the final event of a gruelling day left Mullen on 2,980 points, just 30 points adrift of Daragh Miniter from Kilrush Community School, Co Clare, in second place.
The event was won by Brian Lynch of Coláiste an Spioraid Naoimh, Co Cork. With the top four gaining selection for the upcoming Schools Combined Events International between Ireland, England, Scotland and Wales, Mullen will look to go over the 3,000-point mark for the first time.
Lifford-Strabane AC’s Shannon Craig – also representing Royal and Prior, Raphoe – will be more than happy with her performance in a high quality intermediate girls event.
With new personal bests in the 800 metres (two minutes 31 seconds) and shot putt (7.01 metres) added to a first time clearance of 1.61 metres in the high jump, Craig found herself in eighth position on a combined events total of 2,821 points just 39 points adrift of a sixth place finish.
The event was won by Anne Corcoran of Ursuline College, Waterford, on a highly impressive total of 3,500 points. Craig can look forward to next year with high hopes of a top three finish as she is underage for this age group once again.
Meanwhile Finn Valley’s, Áine Kerr representing Deele College, Raphoe, also had an eighth place finish in the Junior Girls competition. The highlight for Kerr was a fine new personal best time of 9.88 seconds in the 60m hurdles on her way to a 2,676 points total.
The event was won by Kate O’Connor of St. Vincent’s Secondary School on 3,865 points, a new national record.
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