Kate Veale (West Waterford AC) put in the performance of her career to date when competing in the finals of the 5000m walk at the inaugural Singapore youth Olympic games on Saturday at the Bishan Stadium.
The 16-year-old clipped a whopping 15.3 seconds off her national junior record, but was just outside the medals in fourth place in a very exciting finish.
With 400m to go Kate was battling for bronze, while Ukraine’s Galchenko looked likely to take gold and Russian Leontyeva silver.
However, the fast finishing Italian Clemente and Mao of China both raced past the leaders with the Italian clinching first from the Chinese girl with Leontyeva just holding on for bronze by a second from Veale, who was unlucky not to claim third position.
Team manager Bernie Alcorn expressed her absolute delight with Kate’s performance in such humid conditions and said that Kate gave it her all.
Veale has been one of the revelations of the year and has improved with every race, smashing records at all levels. Her fourth place finish at the European youth Olympics trials in Moscow in May, together with this superb effort marks her as an athlete for the big occasion.
Athletics Ireland President Liam Hennessy said he was thrilled with Kate’s performance and offered congratulations to the Dungarvan athlete. It was, he said, a huge boost to race walking in Ireland.
