Dalriada Athletes win medals at Irish Schools Championships

The realisation that their positions here represent their standing in their age group in the whole of Ireland was a great incentive to perform as well as they could.

Jack Magee - Inter Boy’s 200m and Senior Boy’s relay

Neil Johnston – Senior Boys 1500m

Stephen Coulter – Inter Boy’s High Jump

Robert Hanna - Senior Boy’s relay

Ewan Strang - Senior Boy’s relay

Stephen Coulter competed superbly achieving a personal best of 1.70m coming fifth in the Inter Boy’s High Jump. He will still be eligible for this age group in 2012 so is an excellent prospect.

Jack Magee ran well in a vey fast 200m race coming 5th in a time of 23.7s. Just outside his personal best.

Neil Johnston ran superbly to record a personal best time of 4.10.34 in the Senior Boy’s 1500m which was one of the best races of the day with the leaders setting a blistering pace from the start. Neil led the second placed bunch for the entire race and was edged out of 4th place in the final straight.

The last event of the day was the Senior Boys Relay. Ewan Strang ran well to hand on to Elliot Simpson in 3rd place. Elliot retained the position and handed to Jack Magee for the third leg. Jack closed the gap on Wallace School in second and handed to Robert Hanna for the final leg. Robert held on for 3rd place and after an anxious wait for a Red Flag on the first change over the final placings were confirmed - Blackrock College 1st. Wallace 2nd and Dalriada School 3rd.

The delight on the faces of the four boys as they received their Bronze medals was worth the trip! Neil Johnston was also rewarded with a commemorative medal for his involvement in a brilliant 1500m race. Overall the five hour journey down to Tullamore was worth it and credit must go to the commitment of the athletes to come through the District and Provinical events and so get the opportunity to compete on the National stage.

It was a proud day for all concerned particularly their parents and the school and equally the town of Ballymoney. It was also a happy day for the PE Department as it continued its long tradition of producing athletes who go on to win medals at both Provinical and National level.