All-Ireland gold for Bohermeen AC's Lauren Duffy

Stephen Ball

Bohermeen’s Lauren Duffy became the national girls u-18 high jump champion on Saturday at Tullamore, when she outjumped her main rivals from Cork and Waterford, having recently won the Leinster title at the same venue. Entering last Saturday's national final with a PB of 1-60m it would have taken a new personal best to be in with a chance of a medal and on the day she produced the performance of her life.

Entering the competition at height of 1-50m, which she cleared on the first attempt, and similarly she cleared 1-55, 1-60 and her new best of 1-63 on the first attempt and with many of her opponents failing their respective heights a medal looked on the cards for the Bohermeen girl from Jamestown, but the colour was not a certainty until she produced a clearance of 1-66 after three attempts.

Both she and Maeve Fleming from Leevele in Cork attempted 1-69 and Lauren cleared it on her final jump to take the gold medal as her main rival failed her attempts at 1-69.

Lauren pushed on to attempt 1-72 which proved a jump too far and after jumping 13 times to win the gold medal and secure top place on the national podium, the 1-72 will be a target for another day.

Lauren's gold medal winning performance at 1-69m is a new personal best. Earlier in the year she broke Karen Dunne's long standing record of 1-55m when she jumped 1-60. But, on Saturday last her achievement was outstanding on both counts, both to win the gold medal and surpass her own personal best by 9cm, which in high jumping terms was amazing.

Also on Saturday Danu McGann was competing in the girls u-15 javelin contest and having taken the bronze medal at the recent Leinster championships, she was making her debut for the first time at the National Championships, also in recent times she was in action at the All-Ireland schools in the javelin.

However, on Saturday last and against the best in Ireland she placed 10th overall and no doubt will be back again at this stage in 2024.