St Cocas had a strong presence at the Leinster Juvenile Indoor Championships in Athlone, entering four relay teams across the U12 and U14 age groups and competing in a very high-quality provincial field.

Also competing in the field event was Juliet Olivier in the U18 Girls High Jump.

The heats were extremely competitive, with a large number of strong teams lining up alongside our athletes, making qualification for the finals particularly challenging across all age groups.

St Cocas fielded a team consisting of Zoe Forde, Maya Rus, Tara Fagan, Pippa Donnelly and Amelia Brogan. The girls started strongly in the heats, finishing first in their heat in 2:07.03 against some excellent opposition. Tara Fagan ran a very strong leg in the heat, showing good pace and excellent baton skills, as the team executed their changeovers well in a highly competitive race. With qualification based on heat winners plus the two fastest remaining times, the team progressed confidently to the final.

Fuelled to the gills with Haribo fizzy jellies, the U12 Girls lined up against the very best in Leinster. Zoe Forde got a fantastic start, setting the team up for a fast run. Maya Rus powered down the back straight, overtaking a strong Ratoath team to take the lead. Pippa Donnelly maintained a lightning pace to hold position before a strong Ratoath handover closed the gap.

On the anchor leg, Amelia Brogan came under intense pressure, with a strong Ratoath athlete right on her shoulder. In the final 50 metres, Amelia dug deep, lit the afterburners, and drove hard for the line to hold off the challenge and bring the team home first in a season-best time of 2:04.93, securing the title of U12 Leinster Champions for St Cocas AC.

St Cocas entered two teams in the U12 Boys, reflecting the growing depth and strength in this age group.

In the U12 Boys B heat, Quin Maguire led the team out with a solid opening leg, setting the pace early. Seán Óg Cawley ran the second leg strongly, powering around his lap and fending off sustained challenges from other competitors. After a smooth handover, Jan Mujadin attacked his leg well, overtaking through the field and moving the team into third place.

On the anchor leg, Charlie Kinsella pushed hard from the start, holding off challenges right to the closing metres and bringing the team across the line just behind third place. It was a highly competitive heat and a performance that will stand to these young athletes as they continue to develop.

The U12 Boys A team, consisting of Leo Donnelly, Garbhan Prendergast, Ted Davis and Harry Naughton, delivered a superb performance in the final.

Leo Donnelly set the tone with a very strong opening leg, settling quickly into a fast pace before handing over smoothly to Garbhan Prendergast, who accelerated hard out of the changeover zone. On the back straight, Garbhan overtook three athletes, moving St Cocas into third place.

Ted Davis took off like a rocket on the third leg, overtaking into second place and setting his sights firmly on the leaders. A great handover set Harry Naughton up for a thrilling anchor leg. Harry powered around the bend, continuing to close the gap on the leading team.

Inside the final 50 metres, now within striking distance, Harry emptied the tanks and drove hard to the line, holding off a strong challenge from behind.

The team crossed the line to claim a Leinster Silver Medal, finishing just 0.91 seconds shy of first place in a season-best time of 2:02.91.

The U14 Girls team of Lucy Doolan, May Hughes, Holly Fagan, Umu Jalloh and Savannah Maguire delivered a courageous and composed performance in their heat.

May Hughes charged hard from the start, setting a blistering pace on the opening lap. Lucy Doolan took the baton securely and attacked her leg aggressively, gaining ground and reeling in the Newbridge team running in second place. Going into the third leg, it was neck and neck between the teams battling for second and third.

Holly Fagan ran an excellent leg, staying right on the heels of the Newbridge athlete before overtaking on the final bend and charging for the line. She delivered a clean handover to Umu Jalloh, who was ready to spring into action on the anchor leg.

A lightning-fast Newbridge anchor just managed to overhaul St Cocas on the final straight, with the St Cocas team finishing third in 2:02.00, narrowly missing qualification for the final. Despite the result, the team showed real grit and composure and held off a very strong challenge for much of the race. This team of young athletes has serious potential and will be a force to be reckoned with as the outdoor season approaches.

 U18 Girls High Jump 

A fantastic result for St Cocas AC at the Leinster Indoor Championships in Athlone, with Juliet Olivier claiming silver in the U18 Girls High Jump.

Juliet produced a strong and composed performance, clearing 1.45m to secure 2nd place against high-quality Leinster competition — a well-deserved podium finish and a great reward for her hard work and consistency.

Adding an extra nice touch to the day, her dad Werner also enjoyed a strong outing in the Masters High Jump, making it a memorable championships for the Olivier family and St Cocas AC.

Overall, it was an extremely positive day for St Cocas AC. Athletes across all age groups competed with commitment, composure, and pride in the club singlet, producing championship-level performances against some of the strongest teams in Leinster.

Non-running squad members played an important role throughout the day, contributing to preparation, encouragement, and team spirit, which is an essential part of any successful relay team. 

A sincere thank you to the parents for their continued commitment and support, which plays a vital role in enabling athletes to train, travel, and compete at this level.

Next Stop- NATIONALS!!