Eight-year-old Hannah Deely will this week enjoy the fantastic experience of travelling to New York to take part in the Millrose Games indoor athletics event.
On Saturday, Tarmonbarry’s Hannah will run in the Fastest Kid In The World race held as part of the famous track and field meet in Manhattan. She will line up alongside nine other girls for the 55-metre dash having qualified to represent Ireland.
A second-class pupil of Whitehall National School, Hannah loves to run and is very excited ahead of visiting the ‘Big Apple’ and racing at such a big event. She has been busy practising in recent weeks at our indoor track. A member of our Little Athletics group, Hannah has already enjoyed sprints success having won a medal in the 80-metres at the Community Games National finals last August.
A boys’ 55-metre dash will precede the girls race on Saturday and will include eight-year-old Charlie Casey from Sligo. Such a fantastic opportunity ahead for two young children and all with the great support of Dermot McDermott at Believe and Achieve and Richard Donovan at Space Athletics Federation.
With its 5,000-seater capacity, The Armory in Upper Manhattan has hosted the Millrose Games since 2012. Longford’s Ray Flynn has been the Event Director for over a decade and it continues to hold prestigious standing in the athletics calendar. Saturday’s programme of senior events will feature several medallists from the Paris Olympics Games and the schedule of races will conclude with the renowned Wanamaker Mile.Hannah will be accompanied by family members for the trip to the US for what will be an experience of a lifetime. Her brothers Darragh and Donnacha also attend our weekly athletics, and the boys will be there too at The Armory to cheer on sister Hannah on Saturday.
Before then, Hannah and Charlie will attend the event press conference on Friday along with some of the senior elite athletes.
We wish Hannah, Charlie and their families a great few days in NYC and best of luck to the two speedsters on Saturday when they run for Ireland at the Fastest Kid In The World!