The University of Ulster Women’s Athletic team have won the Irish Universities' Indoor athletics title, following a magnificent performance at the championships held at Nenagh, Co Tipperary.

Over two days of intense competition last weekend, the University of Ulster team produced a series of outstanding performances to bring the title to the University for the first time in the history of the competition.

The sportswomen, led by World Student Games sprinter Anna Boyle, produced top-flight results across the range of disciplines, with seven of the team achieving personal bests.

In all, the women brought home thirteen medals – two gold, six silver and five bronze, with sprinter Anna Boyle taking both a silver and a bronze for her trophy cabinet. The medal winners are:

Gold:                Lyndsey Monteith, 800m and Mary Margaret Meade in the 3000m.

Silver:               Anna Boyle, 60m; Sinead Peoples, 800m; Amy Davis, shot;

                         Jennifer Simms 1500m walk; Michelle Rodgers, 400m and the 4x100m relay squad.

Bronze             Laura Kerr, Shot and WFD; Stephanie Campbell 1500 walk;

Anna Boyle, 200m and Eva McNellis, Pentathlon.

Fellow athletes Sarah Wilson, Suzanne Sheppard, Gemma Thompson and Paula Maginn all made a strong contribution to the success of the team.

In addition, the University Men’s team achieved two medals, with Johnny Davis winning a silver in the 60m and Connor Power taking bronze in the Weight for Distance (WFD) event. Ian Purcell and Liam Gray were unlucky not to make the finals in their events whilst men’s Captain Kenny Elliott narrowly missed out in a medal in finishing fourth in the 60m sprint.

Paying tribute to the team achievement, Nigel Dobson, Head of Sport and Recreation Services, said: “This phenomenal success is testament to the hours of dedicated training and coaching undertaken by all those involved in the University of Ulster Athletics Club over the last few months.

“The University of Ulster has many talented young athletes and expert coaches as members of staff. UU Sport is beginning to illustrate its medal winning potential, and indeed this is an exciting place to be for sport just now. I'd like to encourage more students and staff to get involved in sport so we can truly realise our full potential"

But despite their triumphs, the University athletes aren’t resting on their laurels: they’re already in training for the forthcoming cross country and outdoor track and field competitions to be held in the spring.

For further information, please contact:

David Young
Telephone: 028 90366074
Email: David Young