Fifteen Primary Schools entered 18 boys and 15 girls to contest the Karze-sponsored Primary Schools mile at the 70th Cork City Sports on the newly laid all-weather track in the Munster Technological University Stadium, on Tuesday night 9th July 2024

 

The winners of the two one-mile events recorded exceptional performances. In the girl’s race Ula Sokolowska, a pupil in Carrigtwohill National School, was a clear winner in a time of 5:38.88, Second was Leah O’Donovan from St Catherines Primary School in a time of 5:52.29, and third was Ava Coleman from Rathpeacon National School. Alison Brennan from St. Mary’s Primary School in Cobh was the other competitor to run under 6 minutes for the mile when finishing in 4th position. A formidable athlete from St.Finbarrs Athletic Club, Joan Hough coaches Ula Sokolowska. Leah O’Donovan is the daughter of Maeve English, who is a member of the coaching staff of Leevale Athletic Club.

 

 

In the boys’ event, Eoghan Looney from Rathpeacon National School was a run-away winner at 5:02.00. Second was Conor Twohig also from Rathpeacon National School in a time of 5:29.75, and third was Fionn O’Leary from Beaumont Primary School with a time of 5:36.23. The first six finishers were inside 6 minutes. The Rathpeachon School teacher, Siobhan Coleman, coaches  Eoghan Looney, Conor Twohig, and Ava Coleman (the daughter of the teacher). At the check-in before the event, the pupils’ parents expressed their gratitude to the committee members of Cork City Sports for providing their children with the opportunity, and honour to represent their schools and to compete in an international track & field competition in the presence of thousands of spectators. The parents were very impressed by having their children’s names printed on the race numbers, having their names and schools in the Events programme, both printed professionally by Quality Print and having their names called out in the Stadium during the Events. 

 

 

The times recorded by the 12-year-old pupils revealed both their athletic ability as well as their standard of fitness. The Daily Mile programme, which is to exercise and run for fifteen minutes during school time, is an initiative of Athletics Ireland to promote fitness, and wellness among Primary School pupils. The programme is operated by 1,314 Primary Schools in Ireland. Although Valerie O’Brien from the Daily Mile stated that the Primary School Mile would not fit into the “Daily Mile” programme which is a non-competitive programme, the feedback from teachers, parents and pupils was extremely encouraging to establish the Primary School Mile as a fixture for future Cork City Sports events.