Castledaly athlete sets new Irish steeplechase record

Castledaly's Ally Duffy further enhanced her sporting credentials when setting a new Irish Under 18 2000m steeplechase record at a race meeting in Milan, Italy.

Competing in the ESET WMD-Night track and field event at the Centro di Atletica, Busto Arsizio, the Moate Community School student ran a carefully executed race sitting back over the first few laps and conserving her energy.

Passing a number of competitors in the closing stages of the race, the Tullamore Harriers runner crossed the finish line in a time of 6:45:00, three seconds faster than the precious Irish record set by Sligo runner Lucy Cawley.

Her finishing time is also ten seconds inside the time Athletics Ireland have set for the European Athletics U18 Championships which will also take place on Italian soil in Rieti in July.

Ally is the daughter of Gordon and Tanya Duffy and also plays gaelic football with Cill Oige GAA Club.