First Juvenile race of the day was the U10 Girls. Rhian McCarthy took the lead of the 1000m race. Running out of age this showed great courage and determination. With only 200m to go Rhian was overtaken by two other athletes, not holding back she picked up the pace and finished in second place overall. Mairead Walsh was not far behind finishing in the top 10. Grainne Costello and Niamh O'Shea also ran very well and in doing so won silver for the team. In the U10 Boys we had a team where they were all out of age and new to cross country. They all finished in the middle of the pack so did themselves very proud.
Next up was the U12 Girls 2000m. Competing for us was Doireann O'Shea and Eabha McCarthy, again both competing out of age. Doireann & Eabha ran the first 1000m lap just off the lead bunch, on the final stages of the last lap both Doireann & Eabha began to pick up the pace and gained a lot of positions to be placed just outside the top 10. A great show of team work by the two girls.
In the boys U12 we had Cormac Costello competing. Cormac ran the first half very strong holding fifth place, but on the final stretch Cormac felt the pace and lost a few places to finish just outside the medals.
In the U14 Girls 3000m, Shauna McCarthy was competing, again out of age. Shauna found a good pace in the first lap holding 4th position and within 20m of the leader. By the end of the second lap Shauna was now in second place and still looking comfortable. Throughout the last lap Shauna slowly picked up the pace and began to close the gap on the leader. In the final stages of the race Shauna made her break and sprinted past the leader to win the U14 title.
In the U14 Boys, Cian Spillane ran a very solid race. From the start three runners made the break, and Cian was one of those. Cian sat in behind the leader for the most of the race and with less than 500m to go Cian took the lead and held it to win the U14 Boys title. We had no athletes competing in the U16's.
David Kenny won the U18 6000m race in fine style.
In the Women's Novice & U23 4000m race, there was a big field compared to recent years. Niamh De Hora (U23) lead from the start and over the four laps slowly opened up a fine gap to win the race overall very comfortably. She was soon followed home by Marie McKenna, Mary O'Shea, Grainne Tierney, Ciara Tierney, Christine Spillane & Pauline Joseph. With some fine running by these ladies and some competing in their very first cross country race picked up silver in the Novice team. Well done to you all, great to see such a large turnout.
In the Novice & U23 mens 6000m race we had Aidan McCarthy & Dermot Dineen competing. It was great to see Aidan back again wearing the club singlet after been out for some time. Aidan ran a very good race finishing well up. Dermot equally ran well, picking up pace as the race progressed. Well done to all our club members who participated, our coaches, and family members who attended the event. It is much appreciated.
selection of pictures on facebook
Next Sunday at 11am our club will be hosting the County Intermediate, Masters & Juvenile Uneven ages XC in PJ Walshes farm, Firies. We hope to see a good turnout for this event.