Harriers in a hurry in Slovakia!
BY NIALL SHERRY, SPORTS EDITOR
SPORTSEDITOR@KILKENNYOBSERVER.IE
There was local interest in the European Athletics U18 Championships last weekend when our young stars competed against the best of their peers in Banská Bystrica, Slovakia.
Kilkenny City Harriers rising stars, Molly Daly and Pia Langton were representing Ireland in the 200m and 800m respectively. Having done fantastically well to qualify for the event in Slovakia both girls did their club, County and Country proud with excellent performances in the Národný Atletický Štadión.
Molly Daly qualified for the semi – final of the 200m by running 24.61 in her heat to take the fourth spot. The daughter of former Irish Olympian, Rob Daly, finished 7th in the semi-final with a time of 24.81. Meanwhile fellow Noresider, Pia Langton clocked a time of 2:11.00 to finish third in her heat and reach the semi-final. Langton dug even deeper in her semi-final and ran an incredible race to qualify for the 800m final with a personal best of 2:07.90. Pia had the distinction of lining up for the women’s final, alongside Lucan Harriers Saoirse Fitzgerald and both girls can be proud of their endeavors finishing fifth and eighth respectively.
Everyone in Kilkenny should be exceptionally proud of our young athletes and the work that is being done to nurture them in Kilkenny City Harriers. There’s no doubt that athletics in Ireland is on an upward curve and as recent success has shown, our little island is a match for most!
