Track & Field: Mannheim Gala And Belfast International

Mannheim Gala

A strong Irish U20 team headed by 100m European U20 champion, Gina Akpe-Moses, competed in the Mannheim Gala at the weekend. Regarded as one of the top U20 athletics meets globally, the Irish and Northern Irish athletes proved their talent over the two day meet in Germany.

Patience Jumbo Gula (St. Gerard AC) had a smashing weekend as she ran the fastest U18 100m time in Europe this season in her heat. With a PB of 11.51, Patience moves up from 5th position to now top the current European U18 rankings as well as registering her time as 7th fastest Irish 100m of all-time.
Beechmount Harriers, Davicia Patterson, also continued her phenomenal start to the season with a win in the 400m with a time of 52.88, a new U20 National record. This time also puts 400m Irish Schools’ Champion at 6th on the Irish all-time list. Ciara Deely (Kilkenny City Harriers) finished 5th in the same race with a time of 54.66. Ciara is ranked 13th on the 400m European U20 list while Davicia is at number 2! With the likes of Phil Healy and Cliodhna Manning, Team Ireland’s 4x400m relay team looks exciting!

Event winner, new PB & National u20 Record 52.88 for @irishathletics Davicia Patterson in Mannheim. pic.twitter.com/gfcgzTPVwX

— Jacqui Freyne (@Jacfreyne) June 23, 2018

Gina Akpe-Moses (Blackrock – Louth), current European 100m U20 champion, won her 200m heat in 23.86 seconds. This was then topped by Rhasidat Adeleke who running in lane 2, tied for third in her heat as she ran a PB of 23.85. Rhasidat who is 15 year-old, is now ranked 4th in the 100m and 5th in the 200m of the European U18 rankings!
Ciara Neville (Emerald AC) who won silver at the England Athletics U23 and U20 Championships last weekend, finished 3rd in the 100m final. After winning her heat running 11.72, Ciara took bronze with a time of 11.60. Germany’s Keshia Kwadwo took home first place with a running time of 11.39.
On Sunday, the 4x100m team took victory with a time of 44.31 seconds. St. Gerard’s Patience Jumbo Gula opened the race for Team Ireland before passing the baton to Ciara Neville, who was then followed by Rhasidat Adeleke and finally Gina Akpe-Moses.
Winning gold last week in the England Athletics U23 and U20 Championships, Sommer Lecky of Finn Valley AC secured a podium finish with a jump of 1.81m in Germany. She knocked the bar when attempting 1.83m, 0.03m below her PB, but it was enough to secure the silver medal.
Sixteen year-old Sophie Meredith (St Mary’s Limerick) showed why she is so highly rated. She placed 6th in the highly competitive long jump with a jump of 6m. St Abban’s Ruby Millet jumped 5.95m.
Attention now turns to the European U18 Championships in Gyor, Hungary. Another strong and exciting Irish team has been named to compete at the meet. Teenage sensation Sarah Healy who recently ran the fastest 1500m in 32 years is on the plane! Rhasidat Adeleke will be looking to put in another top-class performance as she is also named.
One athlete to keep an eye out for is Sophie O’Sullivan (Ballymore Cobh). Daughter of world champion and Olympic silver medalist Sonia O’Sullivan, will be making her debut for Ireland in the 800m.

Belfast International 2018

Top athletes from Ireland and Northern Ireland competed in the Belfast Interanational 2018 Track & Field meet at Mary Peters Track on Tuesday 26th June.

The Sarah Healy train keeps rolling - 2:02.76 in Belfast tonight to not only beat Ciara Mageean, but take her Irish U18 and U20 800m records. Also the fastest time by a European U18 in more than two years.

📸@AthleticsNI pic.twitter.com/yKai3MrmFk

— Cathal Dennehy (@Cathal_Dennehy) June 26, 2018

One of the most anticipated races of the day was in the 800m. The race featured stars such as Claire Mooney, Ciara Mageean, Nadia Power, Alana Lally, Ellie Hartnett and Sarah Healy. It was Claire Mooney who came out on top as she ran a time of 2:02.61. 17 year-old Sarah Healy was hot on her heels and ran another incredible time of 2:02:76, an Irish youth and U20 record. This time also puts her in top position in the European U18 rankings for both the 800m and 1500m.

Norther Ireland's Megan Mars continued to impress as she ran out as winner in the 100m hurdles with a PB of 13.32. She beat Sarah Lavin finsihed 2nd, running 13.59 and Elizabeth Moreland who finished with 13.71.
In the highjump, Finn Valley star Sommer Lecky won the event with a clearance of 1.83m. She narrowly failed a 1.87m attempt which would have been a PB by 1cm.
You can see the highlights of the action by following the link to the tweet below!

🥇Watch highlights from the Belfast International Athletics Meeting at the Dame Mary Peters track where several @GoTeamNI stars were in action on home turf

➡️https://t.co/m616rLBW9F pic.twitter.com/LFZ1HxpmLE

— BBC SPORT NI (@BBCSPORTNI) June 28, 2018