Lorcan Forde Dunne wins another National Title

There was Triple Medal Glory for Ace AC at the National Championships in Tullamore over the weekend. Some outstanding performances resulted in the club returning home with one brilliant Gold, a Silver, and a Bronze, along with impressive showings from other young athletes.

This remarkable achievement is a testament to the hard work that Ace AC's athletes put in with all athletes under the ages of 17 needing to qualify through the highly competitive Leinster Championships.

Lorcàn Forde Dunne who will be hoping for Youth Olympic selection in July, delivered a thrilling performance to claim the U18 3,000m All-Ireland title.

The race was split into two heats, with winners decided on times and, because Lorcàn ran the second heat, he knew exactly what he had to do to secure victory. With a determined group of five athletes breaking away early, Lorcàn picked up the pace with one lap to go. Showing his strength and focus, he surged ahead in the final 400m to clinch the gold medal with a fast time of 8:36.

This victory marks Lorcàn’s second All-Ireland title of the year, following his indoor 1500m win in March. A sensational performance that solidifies his position as one of Ireland’s brightest young distance runners.

Minutes after Lorcàn’s win, Ace AC turned its focus to Eimear Cooney (pictured in action above - number 940) who secured a national silver medal in the U19 girls’ 3000m. In a race dominated by Louth based athletes, Cooney fought bravely alongside Dearbhla Allen of St Peter’s AC. While Allen pulled away for the win, Eimear maintained a strong position, finishing in second place with a commanding performance.

This latest achievement adds to Eimear’s already impressive record of national podium finishes, and she continues to be one of the most consistent performers in her age group in Ireland.

One of Ace AC’s top field athletes Jaheim Humphrey had a great National Final claiming bronze in the U17 discus competition. The Leinster champion threw a personal best of 40.19 metres, securing his first ever national medal. Jaheim, still new to the event, has shown incredible promise and will undoubtedly continue to rise in the ranks of Irish discus throwers.

One of the standout stories of the weekend was the performance of Caoimhe Carolan, who became the first young Ace AC girl to qualify for a final at the national level apart from the club’s successful group of older, established athletes.

In the U13 girls’ 600m, Caoimhe showed incredible grit to finish just short of her personal best, in a time of 1:44.82, securing 12th place Ireland. Caoimhe’s broke new ground for the club and became another role model for younger athletes aspiring to make it to the national stage. Her qualification through the Leinster Championships and her performance in the final is a huge milestone for Ace AC’s future.

Daniel Hanley has shown serious improvements over the last 12 months and also represented the club in the U17 boys’ 800m, where he ran in the second of two heats. The race was tactical, with athletes bunched together for much of the first 600 metres before a fast final 200m. Daniel fought hard in the final stretch, gaining invaluable experience in what was a really challenging race.

Meanwhile, away from the National Finals, other Ace AC athletes competed well in the Irish Miler event in Santry on Saturday with Shea O'Donnell securing a new 1500m PB of 3.53. Sholah Lawrence and Daniele Adebola also both ran very well.