St Gerard’s duo do Dundalk proud at Youth Olympic Festival

St Gerard's Athletic Club heptathlete Enya Silkena had another stand-out performance yesterday at the European Youth Olympic Festival (EYOF) in Maribor, with further personal bests, finishing in ninth place overall in Europe, with 5072 points.

Speaking after the final event, the 800m race, she said:

“I was just really happy to be here, I was looking around at the other people and I felt so happy that I just wanted to go over and shake everybody’s hands and help them up. I just felt amazing!

"I just want to get better and better. Coming ninth at my third heptathlon ever, I can just get better and better, four PBs, I’m just over the moon.”

Yesterday morning the DSG athlete threw 45.37 in the javelin, it was not only a personal best, but the furthest throw in the field.

Earlier that morning she also jumped a 7cm personal best with 5.6m in the Long Jump. Her final 800m run was 2.43.49.

Speaking about her morning, Enya said:

“I started with the long jump, and I started off a bit nervous because I didn’t know if I could get 550 (cm), which I wanted because I never get 550 in a heptathlon. But when I got 560, I was over the moon, I was so happy.

"For the javelin, I was really excited. In this weather normally my muscles perform better. I was doing my practice throws and I was throwing over 40m and I thought this is going great, and then on my second throw I got 45.37 and I thought no way, this is crazy. It was just amazing.”

"Well done Enya. We are all super proud of your achievements, and you deserve this moment," St Gerards AC said on their Facebook page.

Enya’s overall performance.
9th Overall with 5072 PB
100mH – 14.86 PB
High Jump – 1.54
Shot Put – 12.46
200m – 25.73 PB
Long Jump – 5.6, PB
Javelin – 45.37 PB
800m – 2:43.49

The club’s second Team Ireland athlete Tara O’Connor’s European High Jump debut was not quite what she hoped it would be, with her 1.65m jump falling just short to qualify for the Finals later this week.

The champion jumper said:

“It didn’t quite go my way today, it was very hot and there was a breeze there as well, coming more so at our faces. It wasn’t difficult but just not as easy to jump in.”

St Gerard's AC said:

"We will hopefully see lots more of these two superb athletes in the future. Their potential is remarkable. Enya and Tara should both be extremely proud of themselves, representing their country on the European stage. They are both a credit to the club, their coaches, their families and their country and have become such wonderful role models for our club’s younger juvenile athletes.

"Here’s hoping they enjoy a well deserved break now."