Kildare athletes bring home seven All-Ireland medals from National Indoor Championships

KILDARE athletes bagged seven All-Ireland medals at the National Indoor Championships last weekend. 

Caoimhe Cronin had a double bronze. Katie Bergin (Moyne AC) was the winner in the 60m sprint with hard battles being fought for medals behind her. None were as closely contested as the battle for bronze between Cronin and fellow Kildare athlete Sarah Millea.

Both athletes were drawn in the same heat, with Millea coming out the better of the two, completing the distance in a time of 25.51 to Cronin’s 25.74. With Katie Bergin well clear after the first bend, there was little between Emma Guion (Lagan Valley), Cronin and Millea.

Cronin fought had over the final 40m to stay ahead of Millea and grabbing the bronze medal position with a time of 25.81. 

Hannah Aspell (Celbridge) had one of her best races yet. In the ladies U23 60m Aspell finished 2nd to the favourite Katie Bergin in a time of 7.97. Aspell once again did a sub 8 sec performance when she nabbed the bronze from Erin Tahine (Corran AC) by three hundredths of a second.

Runo Ayavoro (Newbridge) claimed bronze in the 60m sprint on a time of 6.96 beating Naas AC athlete, David Oghubvu and Eoghan McGrath (Celbridge). 

There were two Kildare ladies in action in the triple jump. Aisling McHugh (Naas) in the u23 triple jump and Sophie Byrne (Crookstown-Millview) in the u20 event. McHugh has won several national titles and is a seasoned competitor. Her best jump of the competition came in round six, where she leaped 10 meters and 89cm.

Sophie Byrne had an excellent season in 2023 and intends to replicate that in 2024. She was off to a good start with a bronze medal in the U20 triple jump competition.