St Michael’s sprinter Jack O’Connor was one of the stars of the show at the All Ireland Schools’ Athletics finals in Tullamore last week.

The talented O’Connor recorded a Junior Boys sprint double in the 100m and 200m before leading the St Michael’s relay team home to gold on a superb weekend for the athlete.

And a hugely successful meet for St Michael’s also saw Frank Buchanan claim a first Irish title as he won the Intermediate Boys 3000m.

Indeed, there was plenty of other strong performances from local athletes who have shown in recent times that they are more than able of mixing it with the very best.

O’Connor produced personal best times in both the 100m and 200m races en route to the gold. He clocked 11.20secs in the 100m as he held off Blackrock College’s Rhys Keogh while the Belcoo sprinter crossed the line in 22.84secs in the 200m with Keogh again coming home in the silver medal position.

Barnstorming

Then in the 4x100m relay O’Connor ran the anchor leg and took the St Michael’s team including Ryan Hegarty, Rian Kennedy and Oisin McGuinness from fourth to first with a barnstorming run as they pipped a talented Blackrock squad in a time of 46.34secs.

O’Connor is now ranked third in the UK in both the 100m and 200m and coach Francie Shaw rates him as up with the best he has coached.

“I’ve had some outstanding sprinters in my time but in terms of temperament and raw ability Jack is up there with the very best. It is hard to believe that he is only competing 13 months and that is now his fifth All Ireland gold medal,” said Shaw.

In the Intermediate Boys 3000m, Buchanan ran a mature and smart race to take the gold in a time of 8.57.57mins, powering home over the last 150m to win ahead of Noah Harris, ETSS Wicklow.

Shaw was over the moon to see Buchanan land his first national title.

‘Delighted’

“After a season were there has been several great performances as well as a number of setbacks I was delighted to see Frank claim gold. He has shown great resilience and character and it is great to see him win his first national title,” he added.

Buchanan’s teammate, Charlie Reihill competed in the same race and came home in a commendable seventh spot while in the 1500m Tiernan McManus competed bravely in finishing ninth.

On St Michael’s achievements in the championships as a whole, Shaw added: “It is a unique and outstanding group of young athletes who put it altogether on the biggest stage available to them and I think if they stick at it they will have very bright futures.”

In the Intermediate Girls 3000m a clearly injury impaired Annabel Morrison of ERGS dug on to take fifth place while there was heartbreak in the Junior Boys 1500m for Harry McKenzie of ERGS.

McKenzie had set a championship record two weeks ago on his way to winning the Ulster title and looked to be very well placed with 350 metres to go in the All Irelands. However, he was tripped and fell leaving him unable to complete the race which was won by Odhran McBrearty from St Columbas Stranolar who McKenzie had beaten in the Ulster final.

St Mary’s Irvinestown had their first representative taking part at the All Ireland Championships in the shape of Jamie McDonnell. And he did not disappoint as he produced a superb nine second personal best on his way to a terrific top five finish in the Intermediate Boys 1500m final.