They say patience is a virtue and today was a perfect example where our very own Katie Bergin clocked a PB 7.75 when it mattered and was crowned 2022 National u23 Champion at the AIT arena. This sub 8 second performance was 4 years in the making according to her coach Martin Flynn who was equally delighted and proud of Katie’s epic performance. She got the perfect start out of the blocks, looked incredibly composed and powered through the line in sublime style.

If that wasn’t enough, Katie then had to put this performance to the back of her mind as she re-focused and channelled her energy towards the heat of the u23 200m shortly after. To her credit she showed her maturity and experience by qualifying for the final comfortably. She won her heat which is vitally important in terms of securing the possible best lane draw. Two hours later she sat into her blocks for the 200m final. Here she was drawn in lane 5 with her rival and eventual winner Sligo’s Laura Cadden (24.46) to her outside in lane 6. Again, Katie got a terrific start, ran a fabulous first bend and tracked down the back straight. As they approached the top bend the two girls were well clear from the rest of the field. Katie pushed off the bend and with the momentum carrying her she powered home with a PB when it counted in a championship final by clocking a swift 25.10 to secure the silver. The sub 25 is not a million miles away!

Katie’s training has been going very well over the past 18months while she attends Carlow IT and trains with the squad there. She is also part of the South-East Track Team which is led by coach Kevin Cogley who is a long-standing mentor to Katie. This performance has been under construction for some time but from the outside, it looks to be the beginning of a very bright and exciting athletics career for this up-and-coming star. It takes a village to raise a child and this story is no different where a team of committed people made todays success possible. Its heart-warming to see a Moyne AC athlete stand on top of the podium at a National Championship, a rare occurrence but one we hope is the beginning of what’s to come from the club nestled between the cows and the green fields in Mid Tipperary.

So from all at Moyne AC, Comhghairdeas Katie!