Westport athletes took home a total of 11 gold, 7 silver and 3 bronze medals at the Connaught Indoor Championships over the weekend of February 25th and 26th last.  In addition to this haul of individual medals, the U13 girls team of Leila O’Malley, Lilas Houalet, Sarah Mulroy and Claire Conway took a silver medal in the 4x100m relay.  The magnificent indoor arena of AIT was once again the venue for these championships.  
The younger athletes took centre stage on the Saturday.  The first Westport AC medal of the day went to Anna O’Donnell who took 2nd place in the U12 girls shot putt.  In the high jump, David Marrey took gold in the boys U12 event.  Leila O’Malley and Sarah Mulroy continued the excellent start with silver and bronze medals respectively in the girls U13 high jump.  Leila O’Malley went one better in the long jump to take the top step on the podium.  Not to be left out, Lilas Houalet finished 3rd place in the 60m hurdles to finish off a good day for the U13 Westport girls contingent.  The final medal on the Saturday was claimed by Finley MacEvilly who impressed with a 2nd place finish in the boys U13 high jump.  
Maggie Chambers started proceedings on the Sunday on a positive note by taking gold in the girls U14 shot putt with Harry Sheridan repeating this feat in the U14 boys event.  Older brother Adam also won his customary gold medal in the boys U16 shot putt.   Rosin O’Brien ran a great race in the U14 800m to take the silver medal.  Moving up to the U15s, Malcolm MacEvilly demonstrated his power over the middle-distance discipline by taking 1st place in the 800m and later showed his versatility by claiming 3rd place in the high jump.  Club colleague, Conn McNamara, put in a great performance to finish in the silver medal position in this same high jump event. The ever-graceful Saoirse O’Brien destroyed the field in both 800m and 1500m U16 events, with very convincing wins in both races.  Oisin Ryall put in a blistering final 100m to storm to victory in his 800m heat in the boys U16 race, finishing 2nd overall.  Jack Maher ran a solid 1500m race to clinch a well-deserved 2nd place finish in the U18 boys race.  Kate O’Malley put in a typical determined performance in winning the girls U18 shot putt.  The final 2 medals of the Westport AC haul both went to Aoife O’Brien who pulled off the double by winning the girls U19 800m and 1500m events.  
Other Westport athletes who did themselves and the club proud over the 2 days were Kayleigh Hastings, Padraig Corduff, Declan Moore and Luke Durkan (all U12), Molly Williams and Emilie O’Connell (U13), Niall McLoughlin (U14), Alisha Eade Kalala (U15), Eimhear Corduff, Rossa McAlister and Tim Campion (U16) and Sarah Staunton (U17).  All battled to the end in pursuit of glory.  
Well done to all athletes who wore the Westport colours with great dignity.    Click HERE for Results