Brilliant Kilkenny athlete gets US scholarship

A TALENTED young Kilkenny athlete has just signed scholarship papers for the University of Alabama in the US.

Aoife Hickey, a brilliant hammer thrower, has been a member of the Kilkenny City Harriers since 2000.

She is daughter of Carmel and Liam Hickey of The Weir View, Kilkenny. The family came here from Dublin nine years ago.

She has one brother Andrew who plays soccer with Evergreen and Kilkenny & District League U15s.

Aoife begins classes in Alabama on August 18 next. She then starts a four-year degree course in Nutrition and Dietetics.

She was educated at the Loreto Convent, Kilkenny. Last summer Aoife had a marvellous throw as she qualified for the European Junior Championships.

Had she been a High School student in the US at the time, the throw would have ranked her second in the United States.

As a potential student/athlete she was in great demand. She received five offers of scholarships but having visited Alabama before Christmas 2009, she chose to go there for its complete package of academics, coaching and training facilities.

And of course the good weather!