The National Juvenile Championships came to a close last weekend and it was the time for the 4 x 200M relay teams to show their metal.  Three relay teams of Rathfarnham athletes made it to Athlone.  First into action was the Girls Under 13 team of Sophie Maxwell , Jodie Ritchie, Claudia Manning and Philipa Mc Glynn.  The girls finished 5th (1:59:00) in their heat, narrowly missing out in a place in the Final. The Boys U17 team of Andrew Kelly,  Billy Conroy Roche,  Oscar Comerford and Patrick Hickey finished 5th in their heat  (1:45:76). The Boys U14 team of Marcus Adekoya,  Ryan O'Neill,  Cormac Keogh and Tom O’Regan won their heat (1:51:58). Then in a record breaking final,  the boys in green ran 2 seconds quicker and took Silver in a time of 1:49:79. The winning team Dooneen AC took 5 seconds off the previous record.Well done to all the athletes that have put in the training throughout the Winter at Monday and Saturday track sessions . Roll on the outdoor season.

Words and photo by Shane O'Neill (SON Photography on an iPhone! !)

Rathfarnham has a new National Champion amongst it's Juvenile ranks! Zoie Ritchie was crowned Girls U14 National 800m Champion on Saturday in Athlone. Zoie came home in first position in a time of 2:17:77. Tom O'Reagen was 4th in Boys U14 60mh Final. Isabelle Doyle U 18 Girls  came agonisingly close in 4th place ( 59:92)  in her first 400m National Final. Isabelle was again in action on Day two, this time Isabelle made no mistake, placing 3rd ( 26:36)  in Girls U18 200m Final and adding to her medal collection. Amy Mc Cabe U19 Girls 2:39:00 8th 800m Final. Charlie Mc Gowan U18 Boys 1500m final 11th (4:28:89) and Alex Hill U19 Boys 800m heats 6th (2:05:01). Well done everyone as usual you where a credit to your club.

Team  200m x 4 relays kicked off the recent Dublin Juvenile Indoor Championships held in the excellent Abbotstown indoor arena. Top for the club was Boys U14 A team : Ryan O'Neill,  Cormac Keogh,  Marcus Adekoya and Tom O’Regan 2nd (1:52:72); Girls U13 A : Sophie Maxwell,  Claudia Manning,  Philipa Mc Glynn and Jodi Ritchie 3rd 2:01:83. Under 12 Boys A placed 4th 2:11:35; Under 14 Girls 6th 2:04:56, Under 18 Boys 5th 1:48:46. Further success on the track in individual events including Girls U10 60m Ellie Oldrey 1st 9:63, U14 800m Zoie Ritchie 1st 2:26:49, U16 60mH Sofia Hyland 1st 9:77 and 60m 4th 8:50. Lucie Ritchie was triumphant coming first in an exciting 1500m final (5:20:75). There was treble success for Isabelle Doyle: U18 60m 3rd 8:21, 200m 2nd 24:45 and a debut appearance in 400m brought a silver medal in a time of 61:10. Amy Mc Cabe completed the girls medal haul by winning U19 800m . For the Boys Johnny Maxwell 3rd U10 60m (9:80); Tom O’Regan 3rd 60mH (10:01) and Charlie Mc Gowan U18 placed 2nd in 1500m final (4:39:10). Well done to all who represented Rathfarnham over the course of the Champions  hips!