Aaron Sexton smashed the Irish U20 200m record at the All-Ireland Schools Championships in Tullamore on Saturday afternoon.
The Bangor Grammer School student won the 200m in 20.69 seconds, beating the previous record of 20.87 set by Marcus Lawler set six years ago.
The time makes Sexton the seventh fastest Irishman ever over the distance. It is also the joint seventh fastest time by an U20 in the world this year and, by 0.4, the fastest time in Europe this year by an U20.
That 200m win completed the sprint double for Sexton. Earlier in the afternoon, he ran 10.43 seconds to win the senior boys 100m. It was also a championship best performance from the 18-year-old.
The run was 0.05 outside the Irish U20 record which was set by Marcus Lawler at the Leinster Schools Championships in 2013.
10.43 makes Sexton the tenth fastest Irishman ever over 100m.
Saturday's Championship are likely to be one of Sexton's final appearances on the track. Following the completion of his A-levels this year, he will enter the Ulster Rugby Academy.
He has already made an appearance for the Ulster senior team, coming off the bench in a pre-season friendly against Gloucester last August. Last month, he was named the Ulster A Player of the Year.
Aaron Sexton. Irish Schools' Record time 10.43!! Will confirm if it was worth the trip if he wins the 200 metres! pic.twitter.com/vb73ANrZ3P
— SportBGS (@SportBGS) June 1, 2019
Video: Athletics Ireland & Picture credit: Sportsfile
