A weekend of golden performances
Rys Johnson (Pipers Hill) winner of the South Leinster Senior Schools Cross Country Photo Credit: Pipers Hill
The action never stops in Athletics. On the international scene our elite athletes continue to raise the bar, setting new national indoor records, gain World Indoor Championship qualifying standards and personal bests. There were four new national records from: Emma Moore u23 800m, Gemma Galvin u23 1000m, Nick Griggs u23 5000m and the 2023 European u20 Long Jump Champion Elizabeth Ndudi who leaped to a new Irish senior Long Jump record in Arkansas. The World Indoors are being held in Poland in March and it looks like Ireland may have a larger team than expected. Last week, more A and B qualifying standards were achieved. Bori Akinola competing in the Scottish Athletes EAP open meet struck gold with the World A standard for 60m. There were B standards from Ciara Neville (60m), Emma Moore and Meave O’Neill (800m), Elizabeth Ndudi (Long Jump), and Darragh McIlhenny (3000m).
At home there was plenty to keep Kildare athletes busy. From the Track and Field Live in Abbottstown, the Leinster Indoor u20, Seniors and Masters along with the Leinster Juvenile relays. And just when you thought Cross-country was over for another year, the schools cross-country sub regional championships reminded us of the harsh reality of running cross-country in atrocious weather conditions. Gold medal winning performances stemmed from all events as Kildare clubs prove they are amongst the best in Leinster.
Two schools sub-regions involved Kildare athletes: The West Leinster and South Leinster championships, with the biggest cohort fitting into the latter. Topping the podiums were Jack Brennan (Patrician College, Newbridge) in the junior boys South Leinster’s held in Carlow. At the same venue Rhys Johnson (Pipers Hill) took the senior boys title. While in the Phoenix Park Isla Corcoran (Mount Sackville) won the West Leinster Junior girls.
At Fenagh in Carlow, the athletes carved out a muddy carpet across the course. The unforgiving weather did not take from any athlete’s performance. They all ran at the same venue, in the same conditions and with the same objectives. Chloe O’Neill finished second in the minor girls after a hard fought battle with Tullamore’s Matilda Cusack. The Tullamore girl proved too strong for O’Neill over the latter part of the race, with the Clane AC athlete (competing for Newbridge College) managing to stay ahead of the remainder of the field as she tired considerably. O’Neill gave a boost to her Newbridge College team mates as together with Kate Kinsella and Mia Doughty, they took silver team.
The Patricia College, Newbridge took several medals at the Carlow venue and secured both individual and team qualification for next weeks Leinster Cross-Country. Starting with the minor boys Aidan Keyes (Patrician College) was the first Kildare athlete home, finishing 6th. Despite Keyes excellent individual position it was Naas CBS that took a team medal, finishing 3rd. The team of Hugo O’Neill, Oliver Broderick, Jacob Abella and Luke Brennan will join Keyes at the Leinster Championships.
There was plenty of Kildare interest in the Junior girls as athletes from Clane, Naas, Newbridge and Crookstown-Millview represented their schools. There was no stopping the national u14 and u15 cross-country champion Sinead Fitzpatrick as she glided across the mud to take victory by a margin of nine seconds. Iris McCartan did try. The 2025 National 800m champion matched the Laois girls, every slip and glide as they navigated the muddy terrain, fought the high wind and ignored the by now pelting rain. A hard fought final 400m saw Fitzpatrick pull ahead of the tiring McCartan. Behind McCartan, Robyn Browne (St Mary’s Naas) lost the bronze medal to the fast finishing Emily O’Keeffe (Kilkenny). Matilda Ayton (Newbridge College) ran a magnificent race in 5th.
The top fifteen in each race gain individual qualification, thus McCartan, Browne and Ayton will be joined by Emma Fitzharris (Pipers Hill) and Caoimhe Brennan (Pipers Hill) at the Leinsters. The St Mary’s Naas team of Robybn Browne, Ana Garcia and Pippa Gafney managed to hang on for bronze team medals.
In Carlow, the first Kildare gold medal of the day came from Jack Brennan. Swapping the Newbridge AC colours for the colours of the Patrician College, Brennan was superb from start to finish. Initially joined by Jayden Murphy and Matthew Ennis, these three boys pulled ahead of the main leading group. Clubmates and school team mates Brennan and Murphy understood one another’s strengths and weaknesses. Dropping Ennis with 600m to go, the two Patrician College boys fought a dual to the finish with Brennan pulling clear with 200m to go. It was a full Kildare podium as Brennan was followed by Jayden Murphyt in second and Matthew Ennis (Clongowes) in third. It was a rolling line of Kildare men with Rory McCarrick (Naas CBS) in fourth, Harry Kennedy (Naas CBS) in 6th, Callum Gibbs (Patrician College) in 8th and Harry Boland (Newbridge College) in 9th. It came as no surprise as the Patricia College team of Brennan, Murphy, Gibbs and Cormac Holden took gold. Naas CBS (McCarrick, Kennedy, Harry Walsh and Conor Doyle) took silver. Reversing the team positions of 2025.
Newbridge College Inter girls were led home by Mia Lennon in 7th place. Lennon took her school to gold medals as she was joined by Robyn Rainbow, Kate Hargaden, Hannah Cash and Abby Smith. This was a marked contrast to the 2025 situation, where the girls marginally lost out on bronze medals.
The Patrician College Newbridge came into this race confident. They have done very well with this group of athletes through the minor and junior ranks and through to last years intermediate ranks. While St Kieran’s College’s Kryell Mtinsi took yet another Leinster schools title it was Alexander Guther who commanded the Patrician college forces. Finishing in 4th place, he was followed by Ben Crampton in 6th. Crampton had an excellent race, as he continues to show improved running form over the past few months. Matthew Grogan and Ciaran Coogan completed the silver medal winning quartet. Other qualifiers included Cathal Kelly (Naas CBS) and Jonathan Kenny (Ard Scoil Rathangan).
Rhys Johnson (Pipers Hill) has had a legacy of schools athletics performances. Competing in several SIAB cross-country internationals, he has now arrived at the senior ranks for the second year in a row. In 2025 he finished 4th, somewhat disappointed with his race. This year there was no hint of disappointment as he stormed to a convincing victory over the up and coming Rielly Connolly (St Pauls Monsterevin). Naas CBS went one better than their silver medals from last year as the team of Conor Cullen (who finished 4th ), Matthew Shirran, Jack Moloney and Ronan Walsh took the team title.
At the Phoenix Park the West Leinster Schools took place with just as much mud, wind and rain. Isla Corcoran (Mount Sackville) took pride of place at the top of the podium. She was joined by her team mate Gemma Ryan who finished third. Corcoran and Ryan together with sixth place finisher Aobh Corcoran led Mount Sackvillle to the team title. The St Wolstan’s team of Alexandra Gribben, Ella Connors and Aoife Walsh finished second.
In the Senior Boys Harry Cahill (Maynooth PP) faced a tough battle with Irish internationals Dylan Kelly, Charlie O’Neill and Jacob Ciomek. Kelly, O’Neill and Cahill managed to pull away from Ciomek in the closing stages of the race. Saving the best for last, it was by far the most exciting finish of the day. The three boys swapping positions as they etched towards the finishing line. With nothing between them, it was Cahill who had to settle for the bronze, an excellent performance without a doubt.
Incubated from the harsh elements, there is a reason why indoors is looked upon favourably at this time of year. With the amount of rain that has fallen this winter, you can hardly blame athletes for being excited about performing in the relative comfort of the indoor arena. Athlone was the venue for this year’s Leinster u20, Senior and Masters Indoor Championships, with plenty to happy about from the days events.
Danielle Kelly (Celbridge) kick started the day into a positive mood. Kelly took the u20 spring title as she held off Kilkenny’s Aisling Phelan. It was gold too for Eabha Brennan (Newbridge) as she recorded 2.21 to take 800m title. An hour later Brennan was back on the track taking silver in the 400m in a new personal best of 58.87. Her clubmate Olivia Smith took bronze. Lydia Fleischer (Celbridge) leaped to silver in the u20 triple jump. There was some notable successes from the Kildare u20 boys too. It proved to be a Kildare 800m double as Robert Gleeson (Newbridge) matched the feats of Eabha Brennan as he too took gold. The soon to be 16 year old, did not let his young years hold him back with a creditable 2.03.86 performance. JP Archbold was once again in winning form as he took gold in the Long Jump with a leap of 6.44 on his final jump. Just three days after another 400m PB at the Track and Field live. Senan Markey (Tir Mona) recorded a new personal best in the 3000m walk. An event which was won by John Glennon (Mullingar) in a performance that took almost two minutes off the existing Leinster record.
2025 was a special year for Celbridge AC athlete Sarah Millea. Gaining her first international vest, she raced along side a great group of female sprinters on the Irish relay team. Millea kick started her 2026 championship season with a gold in the 60m and silver over the longer distance of 200m. It was good to see Alison Dempsey (Naas) back again for another competition after last weeks National League. Dempsey took third in the long jump. Staying with the jumps it was silver for Vivian Fleischer (Celbridge) in the triple jump.
Theo Hanlon (Suncroft) took gold in his senior shot putt debut with the heavier weight of 7.25kg, His gold medal winning performance came from his initial throw of 16.43. Last year’s European u20 finalist, will be looking to up his game as the season progresses. Also taking gold was David Oghuvbu (Naas). Oghuvbu recorded a personal best over 60m the previous week and opted to move to the longer distance of 200m for the Leinster Championships. Also moving up a distance was Robert Hewison (Kildare AC). Hewison finished second to Eoin Smyth (Tara) over the longer distance of 1500m, just loosing out over by the narrowest of margins. There was silver for Eoin Murphy (Newbridge) in the senior 800m. Finally the 4x200m Celbridge AC mixed relay team of Danielle Kelly, Sean O’Sullivan, Eimear McGrath and Liam Duggan took gold.
The masters athletes from Kildare made their imprint on the podium as they took home a total of seventeen medals, many of them gold. Amongst the medal winners were many double gold performances: Alison Duff (Newbridge) over 45 800m and 1500m, Finola Moore (Celbridge) over 60 Long and High Jumps, Brian Dowling (Naas) over 80 Long and Triple Jump, Seamus Kelly (Le Cheile) over 70, 60m and 200m, Brian McGrath (Le Cheile) over 70 800m and 1500m. Furher medals came from Mary Hanlon (Celbridge), Tommy Walsh (St Coca’s), Martin Keanan (Clane), Bernard Phelan (St Coca’s), Werner Oliver (St Coca’s), Emma Wallace (St Coca’s) and Gillian Clyne (Clane). At over 80 years of age Brian Dowling (Naas) is still coaching jumps and sprints to athletes from his own club (Naas AC) and others throughout the county.
The Leinster Juvenile relays always bring plenty excitement. An indoor arena full of juveniles with enthusiasm (and voices) to match any full capacity World Championship stadium. Kildare clubs did very well at this year’s relays. Given the amount of sickness around where fielding full teams becomes an arduous task, clubs from Kildare did very well overall. There was gold from St Coca’s girls u12 and Clane girls u13, while Crookstown-Millview took home a total of five sets of relay medals. Six Kildare clubs made the medals table: St Coca’s, Clane, Newbridge, Naas, Crookstown-Millview and Celbridge. Which is by far more than the distribution in any other county.
There was plenty of excitement in the St Coca’s as the young girls u12 team won Leinster gold. The team of Maya Rus, Amelia Brogan, Pippa Donnelly, Zoe Forde, Tara Fagan and Matilda Leyden were superb with u11 athlete Amelia Brogan managing to hold off a rapidly approaching Ratoath team (the pre-race favourites). Maya Rus was spectacular. The Naas AC team of Eibhlin Valentine, Saoirse Burke, Ava Kelly, Kate Geraghty, Robyn Walsh and Fiadh Mccann ran an amazing series of relay legs to finish in third place – making it two Kildare teams on the podium.
Then came the Clane girls u13 quartet who won their heats in fine style. Annie Gray, Hayley Dunne, O Jane Isatu Bangura and Amelia Osarugue Owie were flawless In the final, finishing over two seconds ahead of the fastest qualifiers St Abbans AC. Crookstown-Millview who were the third fastest qualifiers were so close to the bronze medal – loosing out to Carlow’s St Laurence O’Toole by just one tenth of a second.
Celbridge finished third in the u19 mixed relay thanks to the fast times and excellent handovers by Eimear Mc Grath, Jack Gilmartin, Sean O` Sullivan and Isabelle Heffernan. Two Kildare teams climbed the podium in the u12 boys. The St Coca’s boys so close to overall winners St Laurence O’Toole took silver – the team consisting of Garbhán Prendergast, Ted Davis, Harry Naughton and Leo Donnelly. In third was the Newbridge team of Mccabe, Eirnin Mcelroy, Tim Barron and Robert Dowling.
For Crookstown Millview the five sets of relay medals made for several rounds of excitement for all the athletes. There were silver medals from the girls u14 team of Caoimhe Conroy, Georgia Coughlan, Roisin Allen, Ella Murphy, Amy Havens and Emma Dunne. Then came another set of silver from the boys u16 as Blessed Nleya ran a highly impressive leg. He was joined on the podium by Charlie Murphy, Dominic Binns, Oisin Mcgrath, Charlie O`Neill and Daniel Hanlon. The final set of silver came from the girls u18 team of Georgia Myerscough, Annalise Moore, Eve Wright, Rachel Beattie, Lorelle Houlihan and Ruth Farrell. Newbridge AC took bronze medal in the same race with Eabha Brennan being their stand out performer. The team consisted of Eabha Brennan, Eve Dowling, Elsa Browne and Mya McKenzie-Smith.
Crookstown’s two bronze medals came from the boys u17 and girls u16 teams. Blessed Nleya put in another sterling performance for the u17s as he joined Finian Sexton, Daire Molloy, Matthew Osadolor, Charlie Murphy and Dominic Binns on the podium. With an exhausting day from excellent triple jump performances Florence Harte and Niamh O’Shea joined clubmates Ella-Louise Donnelly, Lucy Kealy, Fia Handy and Gilda Vittet for their bronze medal winning performance.
The boys u14 were all the more determined to eclipse the performance of the girls u12. The team of Senan Smyth, Michael Brennan, Oscar Ross and Max Drennan finished a magnificent second after passing Tara AC on the final change over. Once again Kildare was well represented in the final as Newbridge finished fourth and Crookstown-Millview were sixth.
The Crookstown-Millview athletes accumulated nine medals from the triple jump with Georgia Coughlan (u14), Florence Harte (u16), Georgia Myerscough (u18) and Finian Sexton (u17) all taking gold. It was silver for Niamh O’Shea and Racheal Beattie and bronze for Oisin O’Neill. Paddy Crampton (Newbridge) took gold in the boys u14, with big brother Ben taking gold in the boys u18 High Jump. Clubmate Mia Doughty took silver in the u14 triple jump. Juliet Oliver (St Coca’s) won yet another high jump medal – silver u18. Making this a fantastic weekend of high jumping from the father and daughter combo. Tom Handy (Crookstown-Millview) got the county’s only shot putt medal, a bronze in the boys u17. Nora Bayon (Celbridge) rounded off a medal winning weekend taking gold in the u15 pole vault.
