Ulidia golden girl Maguire smashes high jump record

Ulidia Integrated College’s Erin Maguire completed a unique gold medal treble and smashed a long-standing high jump record at the recent NEBBSA athletics competition at Antrim Forum.
By The Newsroom
Published 20th May 2015, 09:29 BST
Ulidia Integrated College: Ms Montgomery and Miss Toner with Erin Maguire. INLT 21-923-CONUlidia Integrated College: Ms Montgomery and Miss Toner with Erin Maguire. INLT 21-923-CON
Ulidia Integrated College: Ms Montgomery and Miss Toner with Erin Maguire. INLT 21-923-CON

The talented Year 8 pupil took top spot on the rostrum in the high jump, demolishing a target which has stood for 27 years. She was also crowned champion in the long jump and 100 metres.

A field of 11 was whittled down to three in the high jump and they all cleared 1.30m. Erin and a competitor from Coleraine Inst. both cleared 1.35m, setting the scene for the battle for first place.

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Erin missed her first attempt at 1.38m and her opponent went clear, but this seemed to give her the motivation she needed and she cleared it with ease on her second attempt.

The Carrick Grammar senior boys' relay team who won the District Athletics Championships. INLT 21-922-CONThe Carrick Grammar senior boys' relay team who won the District Athletics Championships. INLT 21-922-CON
The Carrick Grammar senior boys' relay team who won the District Athletics Championships. INLT 21-922-CON

The bar was raised to 1.41m - a record which has stood since 1988. Her opponent missed and Erin cleared to equal the record, leaving her in the driving seat. She went on to attempt 1.44m which she cleared on her third attempt, smashing the 27-year record to become the overall U12 NEBSSA champion.

In the long jump, she recorded 4.10m to win gold. In the 100 metres she came from fourth spot with 10 metres to go to dip for first at the line in a pacey 14.25 seconds.

Trophies were awarded at the end of the competition to the schools with the most points. As Erin was Ulidia’s only competitor, she stayed to watch and applaud the winners. No-one was more surprised than her when Ulidia finished third overall with 21 points.

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n Meanwhile, Carrick Grammar’s senior boys’ 100m relay team won the District Athletics Championships at Antrim Forum in a new district record of 44.0secs.

Christian Robinson also completed a sprint double, winning the 100m and 200m, breaking another record in the 200m in a time of 22.1 secs.

Karl McClean finished narrowly behind Christian to win two silvers and Jake Porter won a bronze in the senior boys’ shot-put.

The Inter Girls Team of Emma Graham, Lucy Morton, Nicole Alderdice and Sophie Griffith won bronze in the relay and qualified for the Ulster finals. Emma Graham picked up two silver medals in the 100m and 200m.

n Seapark AC and Barn Runners’ weekly round-ups can be found online at: www.carrickfergustimes.co.uk.