All Ireland Schools Track & Field Championships 2024

Congratulations to Grosvenor’s talented track and field athletes, who performed superbly at the recent All Ireland Schools’ Track & Field Championships, held in Tullamore, Co. Offaly on Saturday 1st June 2024.

Without a doubt, the star performance of the day came from sprinter Ben Sykes (Year 11), who produced an outstanding performance to claim gold against an elite field in the Intermediate Boys 100 metres. Despite his time of 11.15 seconds falling short of the blistering 10.89 seconds produced in victory at the Ulster Schools’ Championships just a fortnight earlier, it was another phenomenal performance given the strong -3.3 headwind faced on the day.

Elsewhere, outgoing Deputy Head Boy Karl Martin produced a superb performance in the Senior Boys’ Triple Jump - hop, skipping and jumping his way to an outstanding distance of 12.88 metres to claim a fantastic silver medal. Given his fourth place finish just a year earlier – an agonising 12 centimetres short of bronze, success tasted even sweeter for Karl this time around.

Finally, Grosvenor’s medal count was rounded off by the Senior Girls’ 4 x 100 metres relay team, comprising Erin Cross (Year 13), Mia Ferguson (Year 14), Ellie Burgess (Year 13) and Martha Orr (Year 13). Here, despite stiff opposition, the girls performed superbly to circle the track in an impressive 51.23 seconds, superbly claiming bronze in the process.

Elsewhere, impressive displays were produced by Noah Harper, Year 11, who placed 5th in the Inter Boys’ 800 metres (1 minute 59.62 secs), as well as Martha Orr, Year 12, who placed 7th in the Inter Girls’ 300 metres (41. 61 secs). In addition, the Senior Girls’ 4 x 300 metres relay team, comprising the same personnel as the 4 x 100 metres team, secured 5th place (3 mins 0.7.77 secs), a feat emulated by the Senior Boys’ 4 x 400 metres team, of Noah Harper, Josh Ness, Karl Martin and Finn Cross (3 mins 39.86 secs).

Finally, the Minor Boys’ relay team, of Zayn Ahmed, Jacob Cochrane, Jeydhel Cabuhal and Isaiah Erhabor, suffered bad luck when, despite crossing the finish line in second place, they were disqualified for a faulty handover of the baton earlier in the race. Despite this obvious disappointment, the experience will prove valuable for this talented quartet going forward, who will no doubt return stronger next year.

Well done to all thirteen of Grosvenor’s talented athletes who represented the School so impressively at Tullamore, rounding off another fantastic track and field season in impressive fashion.

We look forward to building further on this success next year!