Over two days last week we had a number of pupils representing the school at the Leinster schools track and field championships in Santry.
First into action on Wednesday was North Leinster minor 500m champion Aimee Ryan. Aimee was in the mix from the gun and left everyone behind with a very strong final 150m to win her first Leinster title.
Chidinma Adikaibe meanwhile was competing in the Junior Long Jump, made difficult by windy conditions. On her last jump she increased her personal best by 30cm and just missed out on a medal by 1cm.
Goda Buivydyte was next on track in the Junior 800m. Goda ran ran a well-judged race, chopping 5 seconds off her personal best and finished 2nd. Meadbh O’Leary finished joint 7th in a very competitive Junior High Jump.
Our Minor, Junior and Under 16 relay teams competed at the end of a long day’s competition. First off were our minor team of Aimee Ryan, Danielle Obioha, Erin and Aoibhinn Byrne. The girls ran extremely well and finished in 3rd place. Next up were the Junior team, who were realistically looking for a medal having won the North Leinster, but they stepped up on the day and won the gold medal, becoming the first team from St. Dominic’s to qualify for an All-Ireland Schools relay final. Huge well done to Aimee Ryan, Jocelyn Hanks, Goda Buivydyte and Chidinma Adikaibe. Also a big thank you to past pupil and Irish Athletics international Catherine McManus who did baton changing work with both teams over the previous two weekends.
Our under 16 relay team finished 4th. Well done to Niamh O’Connor, Lily Farrell, Jocelyn Hanks and Goda Buivydyte.
On day two we had Clare O’Connor competing in the senior 800m. After finishing 3rd in the North Leinster, a Leinster medal was going to be a big task. Thankfully, no one told Clare and she ran the race of her life, took six seconds off her previous best time, got 3rd place and is off to the All-Ireland schools on June Bank Holiday weekend.
Well done to all our athletes who took part and congratulations to our athletes who won medals on the day.
Many thanks to coach Mary McKenna and to Ms O’Brien.
Aimee Ryan, First Year, 1st Place in the minor 500m
Goda Biuvydyte, Second Year, 2nd Place in the Junior 800m
Minor Relay team, 3rd Place
Junior Relay team, 1st Place