Laois athletes end season on a high with impressive medal haul

It was the pinnacle of the Irish athletics calendar over the weekend with the National Senior Championships taking place in a newly renovated Morton Stadium Santry. Unfortunately, the weather did not comply with the wonderfully developed facilities and athletes had to battle against the conditions.

Saragh Buggy from St Abban's AC always saves her best for these championships and Saturday afternoon was no different. With difficult wind conditions which varied from illegal to completely calm, Saragh settled herself with an opening round of 12.71m. After this, she didn’t register a jump until the final round when she leaped her way to 13.03 a National Title in the Women’s Triple Jump this year. Remarkably, this is Saragh’s 19th National Title. It is her 8th consecutive National Outdoor Gold medal. She has been on the podium in all of the last 13 National Outdoor Championships, stretching back all the way to 2010.]

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In the Triple jump alone, Saragh has amassed a huge 15 National Titles (8 Indoors and 7 outdoors) as well as adding 4 Long Jump (3 Indoor and 1 outdoors) titles along the way. It’s a truly outstanding record and Saragh, her coaches Micheal and Eoin and all of her family should be very proud of the hard work that goes in, year in year out, to achieve such consistently impressive performances. 

Daena Kealy was also in action on Saturday in the Women’s High Jump. Deana entered the competition at 1.65m and had no problem clearing each of the heights up to 1.75m. At this stage only 4 athletes remained in the competition. Unfortunately, Deana missed narrowly at her attempts at 1.80m but nonetheless took home a silver medal in a tie for 2nd place. 

In a quality Hammer competition, Eadaoin Cody finished in 6th place with a best throw of 47.43m. Eadaoin was consistent throughout her throws with 2 reaching beyond the 45m. In throwing 47.43m, Eadaoin set a new Club Record and PB which shows the improvement she continues to make at this event. She continues to edge closer to that 50m mark. 
The final athlete in action was Jamie Pender in the Men’s 200m. Jamie competed in Heat 2 of the 200m where he crossed the line in 23:24 which was good enough for 4th place but didn’t see him secure a place in the finals on Sunday. 

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On Sunday, Cheryl Nolan toed the line in the Women’s 5000m. In a top quality field, Cheryl was right in the mix until the closing stages, eventually settling for 6th place. Saragh Buggy also returned on Sunday where she secured a silver medal in the Women’s Long Jump. Saragh was incredibly consistent with two jumps measured at 5.94m and another measured at 5.93m. She was a mere 6 cm short of claiming another National Title.

Jamie Pender was back in action in the Men’s 100m heats where he finished in 5th place in 11.61. Sarah Graham was the final club athlete in action in the Women’s Discus. Sarah’s first effort of 35.24m was her best throw of the day which saw her finish in 5th place. As Sarah continues to improve over the next few years a medal is certainly within her grasp at these championships.