Ellie running for Ireland tomorrow

Cross and Passion student Ellie O'Toole is competing as part of Team Ireland in the SIAB Schools U17 Track & Field International on Saturday in Grangemouth Stadium, Falkirk, Scotland, writes Brian Byrne.

Ellie will be running in the 300m and the Relay in the competition, which brings together the best young athletes from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales to compete in a variety of Track & Field events.

She is currently All Ireland U17 400m Champion. She is Tailteann Games 300m Champion and was part of the 4x300m Relay team which won Gold for the Leinster team at the Tailteann Games in May. She won Silver at the All Ireland Schools 300m and is also Leinster Junior Indoor and Outdoor 400m Champion this year.

In two weeks' time Ellie is selected for the Irish Celtic Games U18 Team which will compete in the UK. She runs 400m and 4x400m Relay on that occasion.

There are 77 boys and girls on Team Ireland, which represents schools in all 32 counties. In addition to running events they will be competing in other disciplines such as walk, hurdles, long and high jumps, discus, shot, hammer and javelin.

Ellie is the daughter of Conor O'Toole and Dr Deirdre Collins, and she is pictured above with her grandparents Nuala and Jim Collins.