Kennedy completes hat-trick of titles at Claremont

NAVAN AC"s Sophie Kennedy took a break from her studies at Maynooth College to clock up an impressive hat-trick of victories at the Meath Track & Field Championships at Claremont Stadium. The championships were held over two weekends and Kennedy showed the necessary determination and pace to out-run her opponents in various competitions.. On the first weekend of action Kennedy claimed the 100-metre and the 400-metre titles and last Sunday she was once more to the fore finishing ahead of her opponents in the 200 metres to complete her impressive hat-trick. Kennedy, who is an arts student at Maynooth, announced that she is back to her best with the three wins after a lengthy spell out injured. She had picked up an injury just before the 2008 championships. Kennedy has represented Navan AC at various county and provincial championships and she has also appeared for Maynooth in inter-varsity competitions. Bohermeen athletes were also in fine form at the Meath Championships and almost 60 competitors from the club all showed determination and dedication to the black and amber. Club chairman Stephen Ball would like to extend personal gratitude to all athletes, parents and mentors for their commitment to the cause on such days. Bohermeen AC won 22 gold medals over the two weekends. The winners of the gold medals on Sunday were Dermot Farrelly (masters 3000m), Darren Vahey (u-20 triple jump), Darragh Rennicks (u-20 3000m), Feilibh O Cinneide (u-20 200m), Karen Dunne (u-16 80m hurdles), Brian McGrath (u-14 800m), Aoife Seymour (u-13 long jump), Kelly Brady (u-13 javelin), Rose Finnegan (u-12 60m hurdles), Jack Hilliard (u-10 60m), Anna McGarry (u-9 ball throw). The Bohermeen senior men"s team which was led home by Darragh Rennicks and also included Dermot Farrelly, David Hurley, Blaine Rennicks and Darren Vahey, won the 300m team event and also claimed the Mattie McGrath memorial trophy for the first time in four years. The trophy was presented to the Bohermeen squad by Brian McGrath brother of the late Mattie McGrath. Dunboyne"s Rory McDonnell retained his 3000m championship title, he defeated Mark Hoey in a sprint finish. Morgan McDonagh secured third place and he has shown good form over the distance this season. Deirdre Fitzsimons at the Sportsworld five-mile on Sunday ran a PB for the distance. Fitzsimons was also the second female in the Civil Service 5km off-road race last Friday at the Phoenix Park. William Leniston impressed as one of the juvenile athletes at the Meath Track championships as he collected five medals, four gold and one bronze. Navan athletes performed well at the Leinster Schools Track & Field Championships at Santry. Barry Kirwan continued his recent rich vein of form when he clocked up another personal best when he won the intermediate boys javelin competition and he also finished in third place in the shot competition. Robert Whelan was also in fine form when he claimed silver in both the intermediate long jump and triple jump competitions. Both will now represent Leinster at the All-Ireland Tailteann Games to be held at the end of June in Tullamore. They will also compete in the All-Ireland schools finals to be held at the same venue at the end of this month. Jamie O"Brien, although outside the medals in the senior boys discus competition, can also feel pleased with his performance. Other Navan athletes who performed well included Aisling Watters from Loreto Navan who tied for second place in the intermediate girls 80m hurdles with a time of 12.52 seconds however, she was awarded third place on the evidence of a photo finish. Niamh Lister from Mercy, Navan had a double success with second place in the junior girls shot putt with a throw of 8.90m. She also came third in the junior girls javelin with a throw of 22.66m. Karen Blaney also from Mercy Convent, Navan completed in the girls u-16 long jump and achieved second place with an impressive leap of 4.65m. Bohermeen"s Karen Dunne proved to be back to her best at the Leinster schools finals by winning the girls u-16 200m with a fine performance. Elaine Plunkett representing St Oliver"s PP Oldcastle put in a fine performance to finish second in the intermediate girls 800m Bohermeen athletes took part in the Mullingar three-mile road league at Belvedere house in midweek. Derek Croal showed fine form when he secured third place from over 330 runners with Dermot Farrelly, Declan Byrne, David Leonard and Linda Gunning also in action. In the annual Simon Cumbers Road Race in Navan on Friday evening Croal retained his encouraging midweek form to secure third place behind winner Robbie Matthews. Croal"s team-mate Shane Boyle finished sixth and Dermot Farrelly also put in a good run. Linda Gunning finished in the gold medal position when she was first in the o-45 category in the Blackwater 10km trail race in Monaghan.