Tipperary athlete delivers masterclass to win Irish Schools Championship
Cara Ryan wins gold and sets new championship record
Loreto Secondary School student and Clonmel AC star Cara Ryan delivered a masterclass in versatility and athletic excellence to claim the Senior Girls title at the All-Ireland Schools Combined Events Championship in Athlone.
Representing her school Loreto Clonmel, Cara did not just win gold; she set a new championship record, amassing 3,774 points after a dominant display across all five disciplines.
The talented Tipperary athlete laid down a marker from the very opening events, asserting her authority by securing first place in four out of five individual competitions.
In the field events, Ryan excelled with a commanding leap of 1.66 metres in the high jump and a superb distance of 13.28 metres in the shot putt. Her form carried over to the long jump pit, where she topped the standings with a jump of 5.54 metres.
On the track, the Clonmel athlete was equally unstoppable. She left the field in her wake in the 60 metres hurdles, clocking a blistering 8.92 seconds to take maximum points. Heading into the final event with the title firmly within her sights, she showed incredible grit to run a lifetime best in the 800 metres, crossing the line in 2 minutes and 39 seconds to seal her record-breaking overall score.
This brilliant performance has earned Cara another international call-up to represent the Irish Schools team. She will wear the green singlet again next month at the prestigious SIAB Schools International Combined Events. The competition, which features the premier young athletic talent from Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales, is scheduled to take place at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow on Saturday, November 14.
Following a performance of this calibre, Ryan will undoubtedly head to Scotland full of confidence as she looks to take on the best of British athletics on the international stage, bringing immense pride to both Clonmel AC and Loreto Secondary School.
- Gerry Donovan