Relay squad claim title

CITY of Derry Spartans’ Girls U19 relay squad claimed National Indoors Juvenile gold on Saturday with an impressive time of 1 minute and 45.18 seconds ensuring a record breaking victory for the club.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Apr 2013, 18:20 BST
City of Derry Spartans Ladeis 4x200m relay squad which was crowned National Indoor champions and new national U19 record holders at the Athlone Arena on Saturday. Their winning time of 1 minute and 45.18 seconds defeated the 2004 figures of 1 minute and 45.36 seconds set by Cork club, Leevale AC. Pictured left to right are - Megan Devine, Ciara Armstrong, Eamonn Gee, coach, Jenny O Brien and Tamara Boyle.City of Derry Spartans Ladeis 4x200m relay squad which was crowned National Indoor champions and new national U19 record holders at the Athlone Arena on Saturday. Their winning time of 1 minute and 45.18 seconds defeated the 2004 figures of 1 minute and 45.36 seconds set by Cork club, Leevale AC. Pictured left to right are - Megan Devine, Ciara Armstrong, Eamonn Gee, coach, Jenny O Brien and Tamara Boyle.
City of Derry Spartans Ladeis 4x200m relay squad which was crowned National Indoor champions and new national U19 record holders at the Athlone Arena on Saturday. Their winning time of 1 minute and 45.18 seconds defeated the 2004 figures of 1 minute and 45.36 seconds set by Cork club, Leevale AC. Pictured left to right are - Megan Devine, Ciara Armstrong, Eamonn Gee, coach, Jenny O Brien and Tamara Boyle.

Megan Devine, Ciara Armstrong, Jenni O’Brien and Tamara Boyle delivered a collectively blistering pace, beating the record held by Cork’s Leevale AC since 2004 as Kilkenny City Harriers (1 minute and 48.32 seconds) and Galway City Harriers (1 minute and 48.65 seconds) fought it out for the minor honours.

Armstrong set the ball rolling, with the lead she created allowing O’Brien to maintain the gap with a solid effort before Boyle delivered a pace which stretched the challenging Kilkenny and Galway. The resounding win was wrapped up in by an unchallenged but proficient run from Devine which saw the Derry club pip the previous record by 0.18 seconds.

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It was a terrific performance from the local girls who emphatically lived up to their pre-race favourites tag and the victory is sure to stand them in good stead as they compete in the Premier Division of the upcoming National Track and Field League this season for the first time.

Unfortunately for the Spartans, Sunday’s National Road Relay Championships in Dublin lacked their presence. A number of injuries to star performers forced the mens’ squad to sit out the race as Sligo AC beat Raheny Shamrocks and Clonliffe Harriers into second and third in a somewhat surprising result.

DSD defended their Senior womens title succesfully despite a thrilling challenged posed to them by Raheny and Crusaders. Finn Valley were in the mix right up until the final leg but were run out of contention although their F50 squad of Noleen Bonner, Kay Byrne and Anne-Marie Speight did win their age group race, delivering some success to the North West and making the trip worthwile.

Belfast athletes Alan O’Hara (71 minutes and 38 seconds) and Andrew Considine (33 minutes and 50 seconds) won Saturday’s Decathlon Half Marathon and 10k races respectively while 2011 Waterside Half Marathon winner Julie Balmer (84 minutes and 54 seconds) took the womens Decathlon honours as Gemma Turley (38 minutes and 36 seconds) secured the 10k.