Loreto have a long history of success in athletics. In the All Ireland Schools Championships we now hold 6 records as follows:
1. 1974 - Marita Walton - Junior Discus 38.38m
2. 1976 - Marita Walton - Inter Shot 13.49m
3. 1977 - Marita Walton - Senior Shot 14.13m
4. 2002 - Joanne Cuddihy - Senior 400m 54.3sec.
5. 2005 - Catriona Cuddihy - Senior 400mHur. 60.63sec.
6. 2009 - Aoife Hickey - Senior Hammer 53.60m
This is unequalled by any other school.
All Ireland Schools Hammer record holder, Aoife Hickey, pictured in Loreto
The All Ireland Schools Athletics (June 2010) championships rounded off a great year when Mary Kate Lanigan and Cliodhna Manning represented Loreto with great distinction. The girls put in magnificent performances to win three medals for their school.
Mary Kate won Loreto`s sixth All Ireland title of the year when she jumped a magnificent 1.65M to claim Gold in the Senior Girls High Jump. She also competed in the 200M Senior final, winning bronze.
Second-year student, Cliodhna Manning, put in a terrific performance to finish 3rd in the Junior 200M final in an exciting finish. Both athletes were delighted to meet former world champion, Eamon Coughlan, at the event.
Loreto stars Cliodhna Manning and Mary Kate Lanigan meet former world champion Eamon Coughlan
Cliodhna Manning with team coach Marita Lanigan
Eamon Coughlan congratulates Mary Kate Lanigan
We also compete annually for the famous Loreto Shield. This is an All Ireland competition for Loreto schools. This Shield was first presented by the Loreto Sisters in 1902 and is probably the oldest trophy for female athletes in the world that is currently in use. It is another example of the innovation of the Loreto Sisters who first presented this trophy a full 22 years before women athletes werepermitted to compete in the Olympic Games.
Winners of the Loreto Shield 2010
Captain of the 2010 team, Mary Kate Lanigan, proudly holding the Loreto Shield
Winners of the Loreto Schools Athletics Shield 2009