Sports - Athletics

 

Dromore High School Athletes continue to blaze a trail at provincial and national level.

 

Irish Schools’ Track & Field Championships

Alanna Wilson (Ulster Schools’ 100m Champion) competed in the Irish Schools Track & Field Championships held at Tullamore (Co Offaly).  This event is the pinnacle of schools athletics in Ireland, with many future Olympians having competed throughout the years.  Alanna finished a very credible 6^th in the final into what was a very strong headwind and running in the outside lane.  For a Year 9 pupil this is an amazing achievement – Alanna qualifies to run in this same age group next year when she will undoubtedly challenge for medals.

Ulster Schools’ Year 9 Team Finals

The two Dromore High School Year 9 teams having both won the Co Down final, qualified for the Ulsterfinal, held at Antrim Forum. This was the first time any DromoreHigh Schoolteam has qualified for the Ulster Final.  Competing against the top schools in the province, the girls were confident of making a challenge for the medals, with the boys an outside bet for a medal.  These ‘predictions’ were smashed as the girls triumphed against their opposition to win a fantastic Ulstertitle and the boys exceeded all expectations to grab a well deserved 2^nd place.  Dromore are the first High School to win this trophy.

Coming into the traditional final event (the relay) both teams were well in the mix for the medals.  The girls lay 2pts behind ThornhillCollegeknowing that a relay win would guarantee the title – this was achieved in relatively comfortable fashion after three faultless changeovers from Alex Pelan, Brooke Shaw, Kerry McDowell and Alanna.  The fact that Thornhill were placed in 3^rd meant that the girls won the title outright.  The boys had a tenuous grip on 3^rd place before their relay.  Despite a couple of ‘nervous’ changeovers, the boys finished 2^nd in the relay (and indeed overall) to a very strongBelfastHigh School squad – instead of ‘looking over their shoulder’ in the challenge for bronze, the boys caughtBallymenaAcademy to snatch silver!!  Robin Cantley finished strongly after good work by Reece Montgomery, Dylan Branker and James Moore.  

 

Highlight performances from the girls team included Alanna Wilson (1^st 100m), Kerry McDowell (1^st High Jump), Caitlin Allen-Collins (1^st Javelin).  Unlike the girls, the boys accumulated points through strong places outside the winning mark – Dylan Branker (2^nd Long Jump) & Matthew Corbett (2^nd Javelin).

 

Girls team – Alanna Wilson, Kerry McDowell, Alex Pelan, Caitlin Spice, Caitlin Allen-Collins, Brooke Shaw.

Boys team – Robin Cantley, Reece Montgomery, Dylan Branker, James Moore, Matthew Corbett, Jay Malcolmson, David Ringland.   

 

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DROMORE High School – ATHLETICS

 ULSTER SCHOOLS’ TRACK & FIELD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Dromore HS athletes qualified for the prestigious Ulster Schools’ Track & Field Championships by virtue of winning a medal in the Down Schools’.  On what was the worst day for the ‘Ulsters’ in living memory Dromore athletes did themselves proud – the rain fell for the better part of  nine hours!!  All Dromore athletes finished in the top half of their competition which featured the top 15 athletes from all the schools inUlster.  Unfortunately triple-medallist from the Down Schools’, Miguel Marques, was prevented from competing through illness.

Alanna Wilson – Gold JG 100m

Kerry McDowell – 6^th JG High Jump

Ben McCloy – 7^th IB Javelin

Timothy McCracken – 7^th IB 3000m

Kelsea Knox 7^th IG Discus

Adam Walker 7^th IB Discus

MB Relay – Semi-Finalists

Highlight of the Championships was undoubtedly the performances of Alanna Wilson.  She scorched across the track (even in the wet) to qualify quickest from her semi-final.  In the final, and despite a very poor start, young Alanna recovered amazingly well to sweep past her opposition and claim the Ulster Schools’ title.  This is all the more impressive as Alanna has another year at this age group! 

Kerry McDowell, competing in the High Jump, had to put up the ‘horror’ of landing in a pool of water every time she jumped in her competition!!  Again for a young athlete who, like Alanna, has another year at this age group, she performed superbly.  All of the athletes competing, except Timothy McCracken, will have another ‘crack’ at their chosen events in the same age category.  This bodes well for next year!!

Alanna has now qualified for the Irish Schools’ Championships to be held at Tullamore Harriers AC (Co Offaly) on Saturday 1^st June.

YEAR 9 TEAM – CO DOWN FINAL

The Dromore Year 9 teams qualified for the Down final by virtue of finishing in the top four schools in the sem-final.  Indeed the girls won their SF, with the boys runner-up.  Held at Mary Peters Track, both teams had ambitions to make the top 2 places which would ensure qualification to the Ulster Final. 

In two of the best team performances seen in many years, Dromore HS completed the ‘double’ against the top schools in Co Down including Sullivan Upper, Grosvenor GS, Strathearn, GlenlolaColl, WellingtonColl, Banbridge Academy, Regent House, Bloomfield Coll, Down HS.  Winners on the day were Alanna Wilson (100m), Kerry McDowell (High Jump), Girls Relay, Robin Cantley (100m) and Matthew Corbett (Javelin), but really everyone contributed in what is a Team event.  Both teams eagerly await the Ulster Final on 3^rd June.

Girls – Alanna Wilson, Alex Pelan, Kerry McDowell, Brooke Shaw, Caitlin Spice, Caitlin Allen-Collins, Sophie Howard

Boys – Robin Cantley, Jay Malcolmson, James Moore, Dylan Branker, David Ringland, Matthew Corbett, Reece Montgomery