Shane Fitzsimons was in terrific form on Day 3 (Saturday 12th April) at the AAI National Juvenile Indoor Championships in Nenagh. Competing in the under 14 boys 800m, he qualified easily from his heat and in the final showed why he is so well regarded in juvenile athletics circles by winning easily with over 4 seconds to spare in a clear demonstration of middle-distance racing at its best. Shane has proved himself time and again in Championship racing and the title won last Saturday is the latest in a long line of titles in cross country, indoors and outdoors. It’s hard to imagine how there will not be many more in the years ahead too.

Beth McGuire and Warren Walsh were also competing in Nenagh, in the under 14 girls and under 17 boys 800m respectively and were unlucky not to advance to the finals from their heats but such is the standard at a National Championships. Both have experienced breaks in their training in the recent past due to illness, which must have taken its toll, but both will be back with renewed determination in the outdoor season ahead.

The previous week-end, Amie Giles and Linda Conroy secured their first National titles in style at the AAI National Juvenile Indoor Championships in Nenagh on Days 1 and 2 (5th/6th April). Amie had a straight final in the under 16 girls 1,500m and was a convincing winner in an excellent time of 4:57.32, nearly 6 seconds ahead of the second place finisher. This was a well deserved win for Amie and comes on the back of an excellent cross country season, which is an essential prerequisite for success in middle distance track racing. Also clearly benefiting from a great cross country season, Linda came safely through the heats of the u/13 girls 600m on Saturday and never put a foot wrong in the final early on Sunday morning to also win convincingly. It’s hard to believe that this is Linda’s first year of competition and she has certainly come a very long way since her first outing for the Club back in October 2007 in the Leinster Cross Country Championships. Both girls can now look forward with confidence to the outdoor season ahead.

Also competing in Nenagh was Glen Gaffney who finished just out of the medals in 5th place in the final of the u/12 boys 600m. This was Glen’s first National indoor Championship final but will certainly not be his last and he will have gained a lot of experience competing at this level. Sprinters Diarmaid Hyland (u/17 boys 60m) and Ann Marie Kennedy (u/13 girls 60m) ran very well in their respective 60m heats and were unlucky not to progress to the finals, but such is the very high standard at a National final that even these two talented athletes found the going very tough but they will use the experience in the upcoming outdoor season.