Castledaly athlete adds to growing reputation with national title

Ally Duffy, the ever-promising athlete from Castledaly, has become the Irish U20 3,000m champion.

The Moate Community School student claimed the honours at last weekend's 123.ie National Senior Track & Field Championships in Morton Stadium, Dublin, further adding to a reputation as one of the country's most talented young athletes.

Duffy has enjoyed a season of success in a variety of distances from 800m through to the 1,500m, as well as at 2,000m steeplechase distances.

She led last Sunday's national final from the get-go and completed the first kilometre in 3:20. With blustery conditions and a big lead, inevitably the pace dipped a bit, but Ally still went on to achieve a new PB of 10:08.43.

Recently, Ally, also represented Ireland at the Girls' 2,000m steeplechase at the European Athletics U18 Championships in Rieti.

Ally represents the Tullamore Harriers Athletics Club and her club-mate, Madison Mooney, captured a first ever national senior title with a superb win in the 800m final having qualified comfortably in Saturday's heats. This was not only a fantastic personal achievement for Madison, but also a proud day for Tullamore Harriers, as she became the first athlete in the club's history to claim a national senior title at the National Senior Outdoor Track & Field Championships.