The 'Rockets' Shine on Day 1 of the National Juveniles

The first day of the National Juveniles proved to be a triumphant outing for Ronnie Warde's athletes, who delivered a series of brilliant performances across various events, particularly in hurdles.

In the hurdles, Rachel Treacy from Tuam AC clinched the gold medal in the U15 category, continuing her impressive streak. Rachel Warde followed suit with a gold medal in the U16 category, adding yet another title to her collection. Lauren Kilduff emerged victorious in the U17 category, winning gold in a nail-biting finish that saw her edge out the win at the line. Emma O'Donovan put up a strong fight in the U17 category, finishing just shy of the podium in fourth place.

Alan Warde secured a 10th place finish, a commendable feat given his recent introduction to hurdles and the technical challenge of alternating legs between hurdles. Conor Penney and Sean Hoade excelled in the U17 100m hurdles, earning silver and bronze medals respectively, showcasing their ability in the discipline.

Luke O'Sullivan delivered a stellar performance in the U18 Steeplechase, securing third place and adding another medal to the team's tally. In the U17 triple jump, Joshua Whyte's exceptional effort earned him a well-deserved silver medal.

Speaking to Run Republic, Ronnie Warde expressed immense pride in his athletes' performances. He highlighted the consistency and dedication of his athletes.

"Rachel Treacy has been very consistent in her hurdling, winning the outdoors last year, winning the indoors, and now gold here," Warde remarked. "Rachel Warde has won everything from U13 all the way up to U16 except one, so she is exceptional. Lauren Kilduff was just beaten on the line last year, and this year she pipped it at the line to win, which was a testament to her hard work over the year."

Warde also praised Emma O'Donovan's fourth-place finish, noting her strong finish in the race. He commended Conor Penney and Sean Hoade for their excellent hurdling performances and acknowledged Alan Warde's technical proficiency despite the challenges he faces as a relative newcomer to hurdles.

Reflecting on Joshua Whyte's silver in the triple jump and Luke O'Sullivan's steeplechase performance, Warde said, "Joshua nailed it this year, which is great. Luke is having an outstanding outdoor season so far."

Warde emphasised the versatility and skill of his athletes, many of whom are preparing for both 250m and 300m hurdles. "Every single one of them, except Conor Penney, are working towards 250 and 300 hurdles, which shows the skill and diversity within the group as they can perform over sprint and long hurdles," he noted.

Featured Image: Rachel Treacy, Emma O'Donovan, Lauren Kilduff, and Rachel Warde