High Jump Gold and record for Longford athlete Andrew Fitzpatrick at National Juvenile Championships

Andrew Fitzpatrick leaped to gold medal success at the National Juvenile Indoor Championships in Athlone on Saturday last with a brilliant performance in the High Jump. Melview NS fourth class pupil Andrew, competing in the Under-12 age category, took the win after jumping clear at 1.43 metres which was eight centimetres higher than the next placed athlete. 

Not only did Andrew claim gold for Longford Athletics Club, he also recorded a Championship Best Ever Performance for his age group. It was a superb showing by 11-year-old Andrew in winning the event which his older brother John had won two years previously.

El’Nathan Okoh secured a podium place too in the High Jump when winning a silver medal in the Under-13 competition. A best effort of 1.46m by Stonepark’s El’Nathan was only bettered by Monaghan’s Ryan McMahon who took the honours with 1.49m. In his first year competing in the jumps, El’Nathan has shown very impressive progress in a short period of time at such a technical event.

Andrew and El’Nathan had earlier teamed up with Adam Mulleady and Paul Aigbogun in the Under-13 4 x 200m relay. Longford AC had already built up a commanding lead in their heat when Drumlish NS pupil Adam handed the baton over to Edgeworthstown’s Paul on the anchor leg with Paul going on to cross the finish line in 1:54.91 to take the win. The boys had to settle for second place overall as Dublin club Metro St. Brigid’s won the other heat in 1:54.43 with the medals decided on times.

Despite narrowly missing out on gold, four silver medals were a brilliant return for the Longford quartet who had prepared so well for the event under the guidance of coach John Fitzpatrick. The National Juvenile Indoor Championships continue in early April when a number of Longford athletes will be in action.