Orla and Robert save the day
(by Ray Fitzsimons)

Tallaght AC Juvenile athletes competed with some success at the first weekend of the All Ireland Indoor Track and Field finals, which were in Nenagh last weekend.

Orla Nugent was the star of the weekend’s activities having won her heat in the U19 400M on Saturday, she then lined up two hours later to take the silver medal in the U19 1500M final. Orla rounded off a brilliant weekend for herself and the club on Sunday when she returned to compete in the U19 400M final and did enough to easily secure the bronze medal. Orla has the chance to bring off a medal treble as she lines up in the 800M in two weeks time.

Robert Fitzsimons also made the podium despite being spiked badly at the start of the U16 1500M final. In what was to be a tough and grueling encounter the young Tallaght athlete made little of his injuries and took the scalp of the Dublin Indoor 1500M Champion, Sean Parker (Celtic) to take the silver medal behind Star of the Sea athlete Peter Collins. Robert’s time of 4.20 was a personal best performance.

Earlier, Bronagh O Hanlon finished in 5th place in the U17 1500M final, Ger Purcell finished just outside the medals in 4th place in the U19 long jump, Kate Whelan qualified for the final of the U16 1500M on her debut visit to Nenagh, Carla Fullam achieved a PB in the U15 Shot Putt as did Chris Healy in the U19 1500M while Ciaran Dunne and Jade Corcoran also qualified for their finals.


The club will be back to compete at the final weekend of the Championships on April 3rd and 4th while next weekend the club will have over fifty athletes running at the Clondalkin Open Cross Country Races on Sunday in Corcaigh Park.