Finn Valley AC’s Arlene Crossan led the way yesterday as Donegal’s female athletes shone at the National Junior and Under-23 finals in Tullamore.

Crossan has turned her season around in some style in the last week.

Having had a frustrating time at the recent Schools’ Championships, Crossan is back on form again.

Last weekend in France, Crossan banged in a European qualification mark and yesterday she won the Junior 400m hurdles. Crossan has just completed her Leaving Certificate at Loreto Secondary School in Letterkenny and is set to head for the University of New Mexico in the autumn.

Crossan came home in a fine 1:01:08 to take the win from Monaghan’s Niamh Malone and will now hope to get a chance to get into p.b territory in Italy as she can be expected to be included in the Irish team for the European Juniors in Grosseto.

Tir Chonaill AC’s Kate McGowan scorched her way to a gold medal in the women’s under-23 400m hurldes. McGowan won in 1 minutes and 4.22 seconds from Aoife Conroy of Sli Cualann AC.

Finn Valley’s Jessica Roberts was the gold medal winner in the women’s under-23 1,500m event and there was a bronze for Janine Boyle in the junior 100m, which was won by Ciara Neville.

Jade Leeper of Finn Valley claimed silver in the Under-23 discus with a 33.48m attempt and Leeper also won bronze in the Under-23 shot, where she recorded a best of 9.94m.