Pictures- Kilkenny duo Daly and Langton deliver gold at national championships

It was another exciting weekend of athletics for the under-20 and under-23 athletes at the National Championships in Athlone, where more championship records fell for Kilkenny City Harriers (KCH) athletes Molly Daly (400m) and Pia Langton (1,500m).

Daly won her heat comfortably and then produced an outstanding performance, running two seconds faster in the final to fight off the challenge of Erin Friel (Letterkenny AC) and win the gold.

She not only set a new championship record, finishing in 53.74, but she also bettered the qualifying standards for the World under-20 Championships. Her time also places her second on the all-time under-20 indoor list behind Rhasidat Adeleke.

Pia Langton also set the track alight as she went to battle with Freya Renton (Westport AC) in the under-20 1,500m.

Langton fought to hang onto her well established lead, claiming the gold in 4:21.77 to set a new under-20 championship record. Like Daly, she has secured the world under-20 qualifying standard.

It was a good weekend also for Evan Walsh (St Joseph’s), who is returning to form after picking up an injury back in November, as he won the bronze medal in the under-20 walks. He finished with a personal best in 13.45 over the 3,000m.

National Schools Cross Country

Congrats to all who qualified and travelled to the Schools All-Ireland XC in Mallusk. There was team silverware for both Loreto Kilkenny and St Kieran’s College, while Daniel Greene (Borris College) and Kyrell Mtinsi (St Kieran’s) also won individual medals with Daniel running third in a time of 7:55 and Kyrell placing fourth in his time of 15:37.

Loreto Kilkenny, who had claimed gold in the team event in Leinsters, retained the top spot again in the All-Irelands finishing on 66 points well clear of second-placed St Mary’s of Macroom. The Kieran’s College intermediate boys’ team, led home by Kyrell Mtinsi, also held onto their Leinster third place podium finish in the nationals with the team finishing on 191 points overall.