District A Schools Track & Field

EDAC Juniors were representing their schools at the District A Track and Field last week. Racing took place at Mary Peters Track split over 2 days due to numbers. The upper end of the school were involved on Day One on Wednesday. All 4 East Down athletes who turned up were there as part of the Down High team. Ollie Robinson was in for the 400m, a relatively new distance for him but a great choice as it turns out. He won his heat with relative ease in 53.73 giving himself a personal best as a base line. After a short rest he ran first leg for the Down High 4x100m where the team placed 5th.  He then turned his focus to the 400m final. The other heat had been won in a time close to his so it was obvious that it was going to be a tight race for the medals.  When the gun went there was a surge forward by the two heat winners giving them an early lead on the others. This gap increased as they went down the back straight making it a head to head for the Gold. Ollie eased ahead ever so slightly on the final bend but as they approached the finish line he was not able to hold this slender margin and he was just pipped into second. A silver medal was a great result however and qualifies him to race again at the Ulster Meet next month.

Jacob Crawford performed well in the 800m despite a lack of track experience. He followed advice given by the coaches and tucked in behind the leaders for the first lap. On the bell he had to find another gear as the runners upped their pace for the second 400m. He kept his head and battling to the line, he managed to come a very creditable 3rd. Hannah Lennon raced in 2 events. In the 100m she was joint third  with a time of 3.14 – the judges could not split the runners even with photo finish technology. She then ran a superb final leg for Down High in the 4x100m Relay to bring them home 4th.  Both Hannah and Jacob join Ollie on the start list for the Ulsters based on their podium finishes. The final EDAC interest was in James Wright who was participating in the javelin. He did well to come 5th in a strong field. 

On the Friday it was the turn of the lower school. These races were to cut down the numbers in advance of the qualifying heats next week. Alex Robinson was the only EDAC junior taking part.  He lined up for the 800m, his first time running this distance and his first track run since 2019. He had a steady start but reduced fitness on the back of a knee injury and COVID meant that the final stretch was a push ending in a sprint finish for 5th. This gets him to the next stage where he will attempt to qualify for a place at the Ulsters.