Records broken at Tyrone Athletics Board Championships

THE annual Tyrone Athletics Board Championships held at Youth Sport Omagh proved to be another outstanding day of athletics, celebrating both modern performances and proud local tradition.

The Championships remain the only event in the UK and Ireland that still features the historic 100 yard sprint, preserved as a nostalgic tribute to Strabane AC's legendary father and son duo, MJ Doherty, who dominated national sprinting and jumping events from the 1940s through to the 2000s.

The winner earns the title of 'Tyrone's Fastest Man' and the prestigious MJ Doherty Trophy.

This year's race produced a historic moment as lightning-fast 15-year-old Loughlan Bulling became the youngest ever champion, storming to victory in 10.4 seconds representing Strabane AC.

In the women's race, Clare Quinn, of Killeashil AC successfully defended her title to retain the Gerry McDonnell Trophy as 'Tyrone's Fastest Lady' for the second consecutive year.

She finished ahead of Leona Garrity in second and Tina Gallagher in third.

The Championships also witnessed an incredible 14 Northern Ireland and Ulster records fall in the throws events.

Tyrone Athletics Board president, Trev McGlynn, of Strabane AC, led by example, throwing the 56lb Weight For Distance 5.27m to break the previous record held by Damian Crawford, while Tyrone Athletics Board chairman, Mark McBrearty, broke the M35 record with 3.15m.

Orla Colton delivered a huge personal best (PB) of 6.15m, smashing the women's record and moving to the top of the Irish rankings.

Elsewhere, Declan Duffy and Wes Kee claimed victories in their men's 100-yard categories, while Brian Breslin set a new Ulster M60 record in the 56lb throw.

Andrew McFarland added another Ulster record in the M40 Weight For Height.

A standout youth performance came from Angus Callion, who set a new U17 record with 5.56m to narrowly defeat training partner, Loughlan Bulling.

In the senior women's 100 yards, Kirsty Allerton claimed victory ahead of Emma Toal.

Veteran Shane Toolan won the M60 100 yards before poignantly recalling that the last man to beat him in the event decades ago was the legendary MJ Doherty in the 1970's - a fitting link between Tyrone's past and present.